Herd-level risk factors for cow and calf on-farm mortality in Estonian dairy herds
Abstract Background On-farm mortality (unassisted death and euthanasia) is the unwanted loss of animals, and it comes with negative economic consequences. On-farm mortality rates reflect a herd’s animal welfare status. The objective of this historical longitudinal single cohort study was to identify...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-03-01
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| Series: | Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13028-020-0513-x |
| _version_ | 1818776069195431936 |
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| author | Kaari Reimus Karin Alvåsen Ulf Emanuelson Arvo Viltrop Kerli Mõtus |
| author_facet | Kaari Reimus Karin Alvåsen Ulf Emanuelson Arvo Viltrop Kerli Mõtus |
| author_sort | Kaari Reimus |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background On-farm mortality (unassisted death and euthanasia) is the unwanted loss of animals, and it comes with negative economic consequences. On-farm mortality rates reflect a herd’s animal welfare status. The objective of this historical longitudinal single cohort study was to identify the associations between herd characteristics, animal housing conditions and management routines and within-herd calf and cow mortality rates in participating Estonian dairy herds. All farmers enrolled in the voluntary production recording system with a herd size of 20 or greater cow-years in 2015–2017 were contacted by mail or telephone between October 2017 and March 2018. The survey included questions about management routines and housing conditions of calves up to 3 months of age and of cows. In total, 214 completed questionnaires were returned, corresponding to a 63.3% response rate. The within-herd mortality rate of calves (aged 21–90 days) and cows (cattle over 24 months of age) in years 2017–2018 were calculated and used as outcome variables. Negative binomial and linear regression models were applied for risk factor analysis in calf and cow datasets, respectively. Results The median within-herd mortality rate for calves aged 21 to 90 days was 0.15 per 100 calf-months (quartiles 0.00; 0.36). The median within-herd mortality rate for cattle over 24 months of age was 4.57 per 100 cow-years (quartiles 2.44; 6.86). Factors significantly associated with increased mortality of calves were larger herd size, higher proportion of stillbirths and abortions in a herd, prophylactic administration of vitamins to all calves and housing pre-weaned calves in single pens only compared with housing in both single and group pens. Also, farmers who attended more frequent trainings had higher calf mortality rates. Calving in a group pen or in a tie-stall compared with calving in multiple systems was associated with higher calf mortality rates. Higher cow mortality rates were present in herds that had a higher proportion of stillbirths and on farms where employees handled cows. Housing cows in free-stall barns, grazing cows and more frequent hoof trimming were protective for cow on-farm mortality. Conclusions This study identified the importance of housing conditions for on-farm cow and calf mortality rates. Our study results suggest that providing good care might ensure better health and welfare of dairy cows and calves. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T11:07:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5071c25fd4244dd5a1675ef5e9b4d742 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1751-0147 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T11:07:04Z |
| publishDate | 2020-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica |
| spelling | doaj.art-5071c25fd4244dd5a1675ef5e9b4d7422022-12-21T21:10:04ZengBMCActa Veterinaria Scandinavica1751-01472020-03-0162111510.1186/s13028-020-0513-xHerd-level risk factors for cow and calf on-farm mortality in Estonian dairy herdsKaari Reimus0Karin Alvåsen1Ulf Emanuelson2Arvo Viltrop3Kerli Mõtus4Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life ScienceDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural SciencesDepartment of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural SciencesInstitute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life ScienceInstitute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life ScienceAbstract Background On-farm mortality (unassisted death and euthanasia) is the unwanted loss of animals, and it comes with negative economic consequences. On-farm mortality rates reflect a herd’s animal welfare status. The objective of this historical longitudinal single cohort study was to identify the associations between herd characteristics, animal housing conditions and management routines and within-herd calf and cow mortality rates in participating Estonian dairy herds. All farmers enrolled in the voluntary production recording system with a herd size of 20 or greater cow-years in 2015–2017 were contacted by mail or telephone between October 2017 and March 2018. The survey included questions about management routines and housing conditions of calves up to 3 months of age and of cows. In total, 214 completed questionnaires were returned, corresponding to a 63.3% response rate. The within-herd mortality rate of calves (aged 21–90 days) and cows (cattle over 24 months of age) in years 2017–2018 were calculated and used as outcome variables. Negative binomial and linear regression models were applied for risk factor analysis in calf and cow datasets, respectively. Results The median within-herd mortality rate for calves aged 21 to 90 days was 0.15 per 100 calf-months (quartiles 0.00; 0.36). The median within-herd mortality rate for cattle over 24 months of age was 4.57 per 100 cow-years (quartiles 2.44; 6.86). Factors significantly associated with increased mortality of calves were larger herd size, higher proportion of stillbirths and abortions in a herd, prophylactic administration of vitamins to all calves and housing pre-weaned calves in single pens only compared with housing in both single and group pens. Also, farmers who attended more frequent trainings had higher calf mortality rates. Calving in a group pen or in a tie-stall compared with calving in multiple systems was associated with higher calf mortality rates. Higher cow mortality rates were present in herds that had a higher proportion of stillbirths and on farms where employees handled cows. Housing cows in free-stall barns, grazing cows and more frequent hoof trimming were protective for cow on-farm mortality. Conclusions This study identified the importance of housing conditions for on-farm cow and calf mortality rates. Our study results suggest that providing good care might ensure better health and welfare of dairy cows and calves.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13028-020-0513-xDairy cattleEuthanasiaMortalityUnassisted deathHousing conditions |
| spellingShingle | Kaari Reimus Karin Alvåsen Ulf Emanuelson Arvo Viltrop Kerli Mõtus Herd-level risk factors for cow and calf on-farm mortality in Estonian dairy herds Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica Dairy cattle Euthanasia Mortality Unassisted death Housing conditions |
| title | Herd-level risk factors for cow and calf on-farm mortality in Estonian dairy herds |
| title_full | Herd-level risk factors for cow and calf on-farm mortality in Estonian dairy herds |
| title_fullStr | Herd-level risk factors for cow and calf on-farm mortality in Estonian dairy herds |
| title_full_unstemmed | Herd-level risk factors for cow and calf on-farm mortality in Estonian dairy herds |
| title_short | Herd-level risk factors for cow and calf on-farm mortality in Estonian dairy herds |
| title_sort | herd level risk factors for cow and calf on farm mortality in estonian dairy herds |
| topic | Dairy cattle Euthanasia Mortality Unassisted death Housing conditions |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13028-020-0513-x |
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