OPEN ACCESS: Insights into UK farmers' attitudes towards cattle youngstock rearing and disease

Abstract

There is increased industry focus on optimised welfare, productivity and antibiotic usage in cattle youngstock, however, little is known about UK farmers' attitudes and practices in rearing calves. In this cross-sectional study, 479 farmers were surveyed online about their cattle youngstock rearing approach and outcomes. Represented were 174 dairy farmers, 255 beef suckler farmers and 50 calf rearers. Farmers showed awareness of good youngstock rearing practices such as colostrum management and housing facilities. Morbidity and mortality from diarrhoea (82%, 48%) and bovine respiratory disease (BRD) (68%, 48%) were high on farms surveyed but farmers did not frequently consult their veterinary surgeon regarding these diseases. Farmers surveyed were not always aware of the efficacy of preventative methods such as vaccination, and frequently used antibiotic treatments (27% for diarrhoea and 40% for BRD) but not diagnostics when animals had disease. Veterinary surgeons could use these insights to better understand farmers' motivations and priorities, to make communication more efficient and align goals.

Stakeholder Perceptions of Disease Management for Dairy Calves: “It’s Just Little Things That Make Such a Big Difference”

“…In the present study, more of the farmers interviewed vaccinated calves against pneumonia compared to enteritis, but several questioned the efficacy of pneumonia vaccines; similar findings were reported in a recent UK survey about youngstock rearing and disease [6]. Vaccine efficacy might be impinged by improper storage [72] or administration [73], but the complex nature of BRD and its environmental interactions leaves the (cost-) effectiveness of vaccination arguably uncertain [23].…”

“…Farmer participants in the present study tended to perceive low levels of calf mortality on their farms. Calf mortality on UK farms was reported previously as low as 4.5% [7] and as high as 48% [6], which could suggest that participants in this study may have downplayed or underestimated their calf mortality rates. Santman-Berends et al [40] found that, on farms experiencing high calf mortality, farmers were often unaware of the issue.…”

“…Calf morbidity and mortality rates are often high in dairy herds worldwide, raising animal welfare concerns and negatively affecting farm economic efficiency [1][2][3]. Contagious disease, particularly bovine respiratory disease (BRD) and diarrhoea (commonly referred to as pneumonia and scour, respectively), is the leading cause of mortality in calves under 6 months of age [4,5], with some farms experiencing disease incidences of over 70% [6,7]. Costs relating to health and disease amount to an estimated 4.1% of overall rearing costs from birth to first calving, and they represent 9.6% of costs in the preweaning period, with the mean cost of heifer mortality calculated at approximately 140 GBP (198 USD) per surviving heifer [1].…”

“…There are multiple causal pathogens for BRD and diarrhoea, including viruses, protozoa, and bacteria, as well as non-infectious causes such as those relating to feeding management. Cryptosporidium parvum, coronavirus, and rotavirus are the most common pathogens causing enteric disease in calves [4,6,11]. BRD is caused by corona-and parainfluenza viruses, Pasteurella spp., and Mycoplasma spp., amongst others, but it is comparatively more challenging to determine the causal agent for respiratory disease than for diarrhoea [4].…”

The Specific Immune Response after Vaccination against Neonatal Calf Diarrhoea Differs between Apparent Similar Vaccines in a Case Study

“…It would have been ideal to check the efficacy of the different vaccines in the calves. This study paves the way to carry out additional studies focusing on efficacy in calves in order to evaluate at farm level the expected improvement of health outcomes after applying certain vaccines in cows to prevent NCD [ 51 ], the potential reduction in antibiotic use and the return of investment after implementing a neonatal diarrhoea prevention plan.…”