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Herd-level risk factors for calf and cow mortality in Estonian dairy herds
Reimus, K., Alvåsen, K., Emanuelson...
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Objectives
On-farm mortality (unassisted death and euthanasia) is an unwanted loss of an animal which negatively affects farm economy. On-farm mortality rates reflect animal welfare status and high rates indicate deteriorated animal health. The objective of this study was to determine the associations between herd characteristics, animal housing conditions and management routines and within-herd calf and cow mortality rates in Estonian dairy herds.
Material and methods
The study population included all dairy farms enrolled in the Estonian voluntary production recording system with herd size of ≥20 cow-years in 2015-2017. A questionnaire was developed to collect data about management routines and housing conditions of calves and cows. The 338 farmers fulfilling the inclusion criteria were contacted by mail or telephone between October 2017 and March 2018. In total, 214 completed questionnaires were gathered. The within-herd mortality rates of calves (21-90 days) and cows (over 24 months) 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 final datasets for calves and cows included 212 farms (usable response rate was 62.7%). The median within-herd mortality rate for calves aged 21-90 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 the increase of mortality of calves were larger herd size (p = 0.005), higher proportion of stillbirths and abortions (p < 0.001), prophylactic administration of vitamins to all calves (p = 0.041) and housing pre-weaned calves in single pens only compared to housing in both single and group pens (p = 0.020). Also, farmers that attended trainings more frequently had higher calf mortality rates (p = 0.008). Having calvings only in group pens or tie-stalls compared to multiple places was associated with higher calf mortality rates (p = 0.020). Higher cow mortality rates were present in farms where employees handled cows (p < 0.001). Also, farms located in the North-East part of Estonia had higher calf (p = 0.020) and cow (p < 0.001) mortality rates. Housing cows in freestall barns (p = 0.008), grazing cows (p = 0.006) and more frequent hoof trimming (p = 0.002) reduced within-herd cow mortality rates.
Conclusions
On-farm mortality rates in Estonian dairy herds are similar to what has been reported in other countries. Still, a high between-herd variability in on-farm mortality rates in calves and cows was confirmed. Study results suggest that housing conditions have impact on the health and welfare of dairy cattle. Providing more natural keeping conditions to cows (freestall housing, grazing), mitigating important herd health problems (lameness, reproduction health) and motivating farm personnel could be considered as key factors in achieving improvements in on-farm mortality rates.
Keywords: Dairy cattle, euthanasia, mortality, unassisted death, housing conditions.
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