Characterisation of dairy female calf management practices in southern Chile

The objective of this study was to characterise husbandry and technical-productive practices at the calf rearing stage in dairy farms Los Lagos Region, southern Chile. A face-to-face survey applied 22 Region 2017. All performed artificial under either two systems: total barn confinement (48%) or a mixed system that considers first with second open-air paddocks (52%). More than half (52%) supplied fresh colostrum from its dam rest used bottle oesophageal tube. Only 30% evaluated quality using colostrometer (densimeter) refractometer. After supply, milk replacers, waste milk, mixture both were for feeding. Most (66.7%) did not have automated milk-feeding systems bottles (88.9%) buckets (11.1%) instead. On average, calves handled by 1.5 caretakers (SD: 0.63) which 63.4% 40.2) men. average age 43.9 years 12.7), 23.8% being less 35 old. Overall, results can be identify key managements could improve calves’ productive traits.