BACKGROUND Failure of transfer of passive immunity (FTPI) is the underlying predisposing risk factor for most early losses in dairy calves. Refractometers, either optical or digital, can be used to assess FTPI as a part of calf health monitoring program on dairy operations. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the performance of and differences between digital Brix and optical refractometers for assessing ...

The objectives of this study were to determine incidence of stillbirths and heifer-calf morbidity and mortality, and their association with dystocia on 3 Colorado dairies. A total of 7,380 calvings produced 7,788 calves on 3 Colorado dairy operations between October 1, 2001, and November 5, 2002. Dystocia score and calf status (alive vs. dead) were recorded at calving. Calves that were born ali...

The successful genetic selection for higher milk production caused a dramatic decline in the reproductive performance of dairy cows all over the world during the last decades. Achievement of optimum herd reproductive performance (calving interval of 12 or 13 months with the first calf born at 24 months of age) requires concentrated management activities especially during the first 100 days foll...

Perinatal mortality rates are increasing internationally, particularly in Holstein-Friesian primiparae. The prevalence of perinatal mortality in US dairy herds is currently 8%. This article outlines our current knowledge of bovine perinatal pathophysiology and presents practical guidelines on management of the calf at calving time. Biophysical profiling of the newborn calf, without sophisticate...

BACKGROUND A study of herd-level risk factors for calf mortality in large Swedish dairy herds showed low serum concentrations of α-tocopherol and β-carotene in 1-7 day old calves to be more common in high mortality herds. Therefore, we aimed to investigate if calf mortality risk at herd level is associated with concentrations of α-tocopherol and/or β-carotene at individual level in feed, colost...

in this study 495 smallholder dairy farms in 52 villages of different township in southwestern province of iran (chaharmohal and bakhtiari province) included 1321 lactating cows and 2811 total mature cows (lactating and dry) during winter 2009 to summer 2010 were used to estimate economic opportunities insmallholder dairy farms. questionnaire survey was used to collect data from last year infor...

The objective of this study was to explore the effect dam body conformations on birth traits including stillbirth, dystocia, gestation length and weight Chinese Holstein calves provide a reference for improving cow reproductive performance. We collected phenotype data 20 conformation cows analyzed impact trait linear scores calf weight. feet angle, set rear legs, fore udder attachment height da...

Early social housing is known to benefit cognitive development in laboratory animals. Pre-weaned dairy calves are typically separated from their dam immediately after birth and housed alone, but no work to date has addressed the effect of individual housing on cognitive performance of these animals. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of individual versus social housing on two me...