Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences , Tartu, Estonia.
Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences , Uppsala, Sweden.
J Appl Anim Welf Sci. 2020 Oct-Dec;23(4):447-466. doi: 10.1080/10888705.2019.1696679. Epub 2019 Nov 28.
The herd on-farm mortality rate is an indicator of herd animal health and welfare status. The aim of the present study was to describe herd-level on-farm mortality rates and to identify risk factors that contribute to high herd mortality rates. Online or postal questionnaires were sent to 676 Estonian beef farms, and the response rate was 25.4%. The calf (ear-tagged) and cow within-herd mortality rates for the years 2014-2016 ranged from 0.00 to 5.45 per 100 calf-months and 0.00-12.15 per 100 cow-years, respectively. The risk factors for a higher calf within-herd mortality rate in the negative binomial regression analysis were the following: calvings not being monitored at nighttime, bedding not being added daily, a low proportion of calvings occurring during summer, lack of using a consultancy service and conventional herd type compared to organic. Failure to separate sick animals and failure to use new pastures for cow-calf pairs were risk factors for cow mortality. Mortality rate was generally higher in larger herds. In order to lower the mortality rate, it is essential to ensure good calving management, a clean environment, and isolation of sick animals.
农场动物死亡率是衡量畜群动物健康和福利状况的一个指标。本研究旨在描述畜群层面的农场动物死亡率，并确定导致高畜群死亡率的风险因素。我们向 676 家爱沙尼亚肉牛养殖场发放了在线或邮寄问卷，回复率为 25.4%。2014 年至 2016 年期间，小牛（耳标）和母牛的畜群内死亡率范围分别为每 100 头小牛月龄 0.00 至 5.45 头和每 100 头母牛年 0.00 至 12.15 头。在负二项回归分析中，导致小牛畜群内死亡率较高的风险因素包括：夜间不监测分娩、不每天添加垫料、夏季分娩比例较低、缺乏咨询服务以及与有机相比采用传统畜群类型。未能将患病动物隔离开来，以及未能为母牛-小牛对使用新牧场，也是母牛死亡率的风险因素。死亡率通常在较大的畜群中更高。为了降低死亡率，必须确保良好的分娩管理、清洁的环境和患病动物的隔离。
