Management practices associated with high mortality among 
preweaned dairy heifers

Losinger, Willard C; Heinrichs, A.J.

doi:10.1017/s0022029996001999

Cited by 69 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…The mortality rate for this group of artificially reared H-F and J calves was low compared with those reported in other studies (Losinger and Heinrichs, 1997;Svensson et al, 2006;Lombard et al, 2007;Gulliksen et al, 2009). However, morbidity -and in particular, incidents of BRD -was greater in this study than that generally observed for artificially reared dairy calves (Svensson et al, 2003;Lundborg et al, 2005;Gay and Barnouin, 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 51%

“…Dairy calf mortality rates vary among countries, with estimates as low as 3.1% being reported in Sweden and Denmark (Svensson et al, 2006;Gulliksen et al, 2009), and rates ranging from 7.9% to 9.4% reported in the United States (Losinger and Heinrichs, 1997;Lombard et al, 2007). In Ireland, the mortality rate for dairy calves during the first year of life is high, at 7.5% (DAFM, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Electronic feeding behavioural data as indicators of health status in dairy calves

Johnston¹,

Kenny²,

McGee³

et al. 2016

Irish Journal of Agricultural and Food Research

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The objectives of this study were (i) to characterise clinical health in dairy calves on an Irish research farm during the artificial calf-rearing period and (ii) to determine whether calves' pre-weaning intakes and feeding behaviour, recorded by electronic calf feeders, changes in response to incidents of bovine respiratory disease (BRD). Holstein-Friesian (H-F) and Jersey (J) calves were fed by automatic milk replacer (MR) and concentrate feeders. Feeding behaviour, including MR consumption, drinking speed, number of rewarded and unrewarded visits to the feeder as well as concentrate consumption, was recorded by the feeders. A modified version of the Wisconsin calf health scoring criteria chart was used to score calves' clinical measurements and identify incidences of BRD. Thus, 40% of calves were found to have at least one incident of BRD. Feeding behaviour was altered during incidents of BRD. The number of unrewarded visits to the feeder was reduced, by approximately four visits, for calves with BRD during the 3 d prior to the identification of BRD (P < 0.05) and tended to be reduced during the 7 d following the identification of BRD (P = 0.05), compared with healthy calves. Additionally, calves with BRD had a tendency for reduced net energy intake (approximately 8%) during the 3 d prior to the identification of BRD, compared with healthy calves. Therefore, calf feeding behavioural data, recorded by electronic feeders during the pre-weaning period, can indicate cases of BRD.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 51%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electronic feeding behavioural data as indicators of health status in dairy calves

Johnston¹,

Kenny²,

McGee³

et al. 2016

Irish Journal of Agricultural and Food Research

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show abstract

“…Other factors affecting calf and heifer mortality include region, herd and group size, birth type, average herd milk production level, availability of colostrums, season of birth, sex of calf and dams' parity (e.g. Losinger and Heinrichs, 1997;Svensson et al, 2006;Gulliksen et al, 2009). Among the few genetic studies Hansen et al (2003) analyzed genetic parameters of postnatal mortality of Danish Holstein calves aged up to 180 days using linear models.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mortality in Austrian dual purpose Fleckvieh calves and heifers

Fuerst-Waltl

Fuerst²

2010

Livestock Science

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“…Mortality of dairy cows has been reported in the range of 3.5 to 6.1% in previous studies conducted in different countries (Thomsen et al, 2004;McConnel et al, 2008;Raboisson et al, 2011;Alvåsen et al, 2014), mortality of youngstock has been reported from 2.4 to 9.4% (Losinger and Heinrichs, 1997;Gulliksen et al, 2009;Bleul, 2011;Azizzadeh et al, 2012, Santman-Berends et al, 2014. Previous studies have identified several animal level risk factors associated with dairy cow mortality hazard, e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reasons and risk factors for on-farm mortality in Estonian dairy herds

et al. 2017

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Mortality of dairy cattle causes financial loss for the farmer and reflects animal welfare status. The aim of this study was to determine the on-farm mortality (unassisted death and euthanasia), reasons, as well as risk factors for on-farm mortality in Estonian dairy cattle. Data of years 2013 and 2014 about all cattle from dairy herds in Estonia was collected from the Estonian Agricultural Registers and Information Board. The dataset included records of 363,380 animals from 2,616 herds. Multivariable Weibull proportional hazard models with herd as random effect were composed for detecting significant associations between potential risk factors and on-farm mortality (composed outcome including unassisted death and euthanasia). Data from Estonian Livestock Performance Recording Ltd was used to determine the reasons for on-farm mortality.The overall mortality rate (MR) including unassisted death and euthanasia was 6.95 per 100 animal-years. Mortality was highest in male (MR = 55.96 per 100 animal-years, 95% CI 54.53; 57.42) and female (MR = 27.70 per 100 animal-years, 95% CI 26.99; 28.43) calves up to three months old and lowest in female cattle aged 12-18 months (MR = 0.99 per 100 animal-years, 95% CI 0.89; 1.10). The main farmers´ stated reasons for dairy cow mortality were 'Metabolic and digestive disorders' and 'Feet/claw disorders'. The main reasons for on-farm mortality among youngstock were 'Metabolic and digestive disorders', 'Respiratory and infectious diseases' and 'Other reasons'. The risk factor analysis was carried out in three age categories: <3 months, 3-23 months and ≥24 months. Estonian Holstein breed was associated with significantly higher risk of mortality compared to Estonian Red breed cattle in every age group. The hazard of on-farm mortality was significantly higher for herds with over 400 animal-years compared to smaller herds in all age groups. Regional differences in mortality hazard were present in the model of youngstock over 3 months and adult cattle. Seasonal differences in mortality rate were present and differed by age groups. This is the first study revealing the on-farm mortality and related risk factors in Estonian dairy cattle population.

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Management practices associated with high mortality among preweaned dairy heifers

Cited by 69 publications

References 20 publications

Electronic feeding behavioural data as indicators of health status in dairy calves

Electronic feeding behavioural data as indicators of health status in dairy calves

Mortality in Austrian dual purpose Fleckvieh calves and heifers

Reasons and risk factors for on-farm mortality in Estonian dairy herds

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