It is well documented that dairy calves are extremely susceptible to enteric diseases and mortality during the first few weeks of life. The latest reports from the USDA’s National Animal Health and Monitoring System (NAHMS, 1993; 1996; 2007) report that the national mortality rate of heifer calves from 48 hours of life to weaning is approximately 7.8 to 10.8%. Producer perceived records indicat...

As a part of ANIPLAN, Norway wanted to look at health and welfare planning for calves in organic dairy production. One reason for this was relevant ongoing activity on calves in Norway. There was also information from earlier projects on welfare assessment (Good animal welfare in organic farming, Animal welfare in Arctic farming) in dairy herds, which showed that calf welfare is a challenge in ...

this study was carried out to assess the effects of alfalfa hay level and replacing corn grain by other grains in starter on daily feed intake, average daily gain (adg) and feed efficiency (fe) of pre and post-weaning dairy calves during the pre and post-weaning periods. for this purpose, a database meta-analysis used in the present study. statistical analyses were performed using proc mixed in...

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...

In Uruguay, the mortality of dairy calves due to infectious diseases is high. Escherichia coli a natural inhabitant intestinal microbiota, but can cause several infections. The aim work was characterize E. isolates from and extraintestinal origin dead newborn calves. Using PCR, virulence gene characteristics pathogenic were searched. molecularly characterized phylogroup, serogroup Stx subtype d...

African (Loxodonta africana) and Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) have lived in the care of humans for many years, yet there is no consensus concerning some basic parameters describing their newborn calves. This study provides a broad empirical basis for generalizations about the birth heights, birth weights, birth times and gestation periods of elephant calves born in captivity. I obtained 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...

New Zealand’s beef industry produces approximately 580,000 tonnes of beef per year, about 80% of which is exported, with approximately 70% of this beef destined for the North American manufacturing market. Around 65% of beef cattle originate from the dairy industry. Beef cows produce 1.1 million calves (killed as heifers or steers) per year for the prime beef market. In addition, 0.4 to 0.6 mil...

This study aimed to investigate the potential regulatory role of miRNAs in the development of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) during the early life of dairy calves. Rumen and small intestinal (mid-jejunum and ileum) tissue samples were collected from newborn (30 min after birth; n = 3), 7-day-old (n = 6), 21-day-old (n = 6), and 42-day-old (n = 6) dairy calves. The miRNA profiling was performed us...