Prevalence of disorders in preweaned dairy calves from 731 dairies in Germany: A cross-sectional study

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to determine the prevalence disorders in preweaned calves 3 regions Germany, exemplary for structural diversity dairy farming. A farm visit performed on a single occasion 731 farms northern, eastern, and southern Germany between December 2016 July 2019. Farms differed herd size, geographical location, management. In northern region, had median 90 milking cows were often run as full-time family businesses, partly with external workers. eastern region tended have larger (a 251 cows), which large-scale agricultural enterprises employees. 39 traditional some these being part-time businesses. Clinical examinations 14,164 (median 12 per farm) by trained veterinarians. complete data set available 13,656 calves. Almost half (42.0%) evaluated classified affected at least 1 common calf disorders. Omphalitis (O, 20.9%; n = 2,876) diarrhea (D, 18.5%; 2,670) most frequently recorded diagnoses, whereas respiratory diseases (RD) observed lesser extent (8.7%; 1,100). striking feature fact that 7.1% (n 987) more than disorder same time (multimorbidity, M). following combinations observed: O D 596), RD 164), 140). Disorders such D, well M, predominantly aged 2 wk. gradual increase frequency age. For all except RD, male females. diagnosed summer months, M fall. We detected several statistically significant differences clinical signs regions. higher south (10.8%) north (8.2%) east (7.4%). (33.2%), other (east: 18.9%; south: 10.5%), found less (13.8%) (21.6%) (20.0%).