Dataset Information

Causes of neonatal calf diarrhea and mortality in pasture-based dairy herds in Uruguay: a farm-matched case-control study.

ABSTRACT: Neonatal calf diarrhea (NCD) and mortality cause significant losses to the dairy industry. The preweaning dairy calf mortality risk in Uruguay is high (15.2%); however, causes for these losses are largely unknown. This study aimed to assess whether various pathogens were associated with NCD and death in Uruguayan dairy calves and whether these infections, diarrhea, or deaths were associated with the failure of transfer of passive immunity (FTPI). Contemporary diarrheic (n = 264,) and non-diarrheic (n = 271) 1- to 30-day-old calves from 27 farms were sampled. Feces were analyzed by antigen-capture ELISA for Cryptosporidium spp., rotavirus, bovine coronavirus, and Escherichia coli F5+, RT-PCR for bovine astrovirus (BoAstV), and bacterial cultures for Salmonella enterica. Blood/serum was analyzed by RT-PCR or antigen-capture ELISA for bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV). Serum of ? 8-day-old calves (n = 95) was assessed by refractometry to determine the concention of serum total proteins (STP) as an indicator of FTPI. Whether the sampled calves died before weaning was recorded. At least one pathogen was detected in 65.4% of the calves, and this percentage was significantly higher in diarrheic (83.7%) versus non-diarrheic (47.6%) calves. Unlike the other pathogens, Cryptosporidium spp. and rotavirus were associated with NCD. Diarrheic calves, calves infected with any of the pathogens, and calves infected with rotavirus had significantly lower concentrations of STP. Diarrheic calves had higher chances of dying before weaning than non-diarrheic calves. Diarrheic calves infected with S. enterica were at increased risk of mortality. Controlling NCD, salmonellosis, cryptosporidiosis, and rotavirus infections, and improving colostrum management practices would help to reduce calf morbi-mortality in dairy farms in Uruguay.

SUBMITTER: Caffarena RD

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7877513 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Causes of neonatal calf diarrhea and mortality in pasture-based dairy herds in Uruguay: a farm-matched case-control study.

Caffarena Rubén Darío RD Casaux María Laura ML Schild Carlos Omar CO Fraga Martín M Castells Matías M Colina Rodney R Maya Leticia L Corbellini Luis Gustavo LG Riet-Correa Franklin F Giannitti Federico F

Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology] 20210211 2

Neonatal calf diarrhea (NCD) and mortality cause significant losses to the dairy industry. The preweaning dairy calf mortality risk in Uruguay is high (15.2%); however, causes for these losses are largely unknown. This study aimed to assess whether various pathogens were associated with NCD and death in Uruguayan dairy calves and whether these infections, diarrhea, or deaths were associated with the failure of transfer of passive immunity (FTPI). Contemporary diarrheic (n = 264,) and non-diarrhe ...[more]

PMID: 33575990

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Project description: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.

Project description:The knowledge on dairy calves' needs with regards to milk feeding and social housing is expanding but to be able to make improvements, knowledge is needed on how calves are managed at present in Norway. The aim of this study was to describe selected milk-feeding practices and social housing procedures for young (pre-weaning) dairy calves in Norwegian herds. A short questionnaire was distributed to a random sample of 912 dairy producers. For each herd, we asked how much milk was fed to 3 week old dairy calves, number of daily milk feedings, usage of milk replacer, number of weeks calves were housed in single pens, and whether calves at 3 weeks had free access to drinking water. In total, 508 herd managers responded to the questionnaire (56% response rate). Descriptive statistics showed that median milk allowance for 3 week old calves was seven (IQR 6-8) L milk/d, ranging from 2 to 15 L/day. Consequently, 311 (61%) herds reportedly fed less than the current industry recommendation in Norway (8 L milk/d to young calves). Automatic milk feeders were used by 30 herds (6%). In herds feeding milk manually (n = 471), half of the herds (50%) fed milk twice daily. Median number of daily milk feedings was 3 (31%) while 13% fed four times/day or more frequent (6%). Of the 226 producers (46%) who reported to use milk replacer, this milk type was used from the calf age of (median) 2 weeks. Of all herds, 82 (16%) did not provide their 3 week old calves with free access to drinking water. In the surveyed herds, calves were housed in single pens for (median) 2 weeks (IQR 2-3), while legislation allows single housing until the age of 8 weeks. In conclusion, the milk allowances reported in this survey are low compared to industry recommendations which again are low compared to voluntary intakes of young dairy calves. Free access to drinking water is important to calf welfare but was not granted to all dairy calves. Most calves were reportedly group housed at an early age, which indicates an improved awareness with regards to the importance of social housing.

Dataset Information

Causes of neonatal calf diarrhea and mortality in pasture-based dairy herds in Uruguay: a farm-matched case-control study.

Publications

Causes of neonatal calf diarrhea and mortality in pasture-based dairy herds in Uruguay: a farm-matched case-control study.

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