Welschen N M, Alvarado W, Miotti C, Peña A, Zbrun M V, Signorini M L, Molineri A I
Instituto de Investigación de la Cadena Láctea (INTA - CONICET), Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela, Ruta 34 Km 227, Rafaela, Santa Fe C.P. 2300, Argentina.
Prev Vet Med. 2025 Sep;242:106586. doi: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2025.106586. Epub 2025 May 28.
The aim of this study was to 1) estimate dairy calf mortality from birth to weaning in Argentinean herds, and 2) identify associated risk factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2019 and March 2020 in one of Argentina's most important dairy regions. A total of 77 dairy farms were included in the study. Potential explanatory variables were obtained from a checklist questionnaire answered by calf nursers. Dairy calf mortality was modelled using a generalized linear model applying a binomial distribution (number of calves that died in the previous year / total number of calves born alive during the last year) and logistic link function. The mean calf mortality was 10.1 % (95 %CI 9.6-10.6 %). The associated risk factors of calf mortality were work experience, navel disinfection, climate protection, colostrum management, weaning decisions, the number of calf nursers, and the ratio of live-born calves per cow. Calf mortality is higher when there is less work experience (Odds Ratio -OR- = 6.25; 95 %CI 4.17-10), no navel disinfection is performed (OR = 1.75; 95 %CI 1.50-2.02), there is less climate protection (extreme weather protection of the calves, OR = 1.66; 95 %IC 1.40-1.19), colostrum management is poor (OR = 2.17; 95 %IC 1.64-2.94), weaning is based on calf´s size (OR = 1.22; 95 %IC 1.05-1.41), there is a reduced number of calf nursers (OR = 0.84; 95 %CI 0.75-0.95), and the ratio of live-born calves per cow is low (OR = 0.63; 95 %CI 0.38-1.06). In summary, the mortality risk of dairy calves in Argentina was associated with different aspects related to the calf nursers (number and work experience), calving management (colostrum management, weaning method, climate protection, and navel disinfection), and the efficiency of the dairy farm (ratio of live-born caves per cow).
1）估计阿根廷牛群中犊牛从出生到断奶的死亡率；2）确定相关风险因素。2019年11月至2020年3月期间，在阿根廷最重要的奶牛养殖区之一开展了一项横断面研究。该研究共纳入了77个奶牛场。潜在的解释变量来自犊牛护理人员填写的清单问卷。使用广义线性模型，应用二项分布（上一年死亡犊牛数量/上一年出生存活的犊牛总数）和逻辑链接函数对犊牛死亡率进行建模。犊牛平均死亡率为10.1%（95%置信区间9.6-10.6%）。犊牛死亡率的相关风险因素包括工作经验、脐带消毒、气候防护、初乳管理、断奶决策、犊牛护理人员数量以及每头母牛的活产犊牛比例。工作经验较少时犊牛死亡率更高（优势比-OR-=6.25；95%置信区间4.17-10）、未进行脐带消毒（OR=1.75；95%置信区间1.50-2.02）、气候防护措施较少（犊牛极端天气防护，OR=1.66；95%置信区间1.40-1.19）、初乳管理不善（OR=2.17；95%置信区间1.64-2.94）、根据犊牛体型进行断奶（OR=1.22；95%置信区间1.05-1.41）、犊牛护理人员数量减少（OR=0.84；95%置信区间0.75-0.95）以及每头母牛的活产犊牛比例较低（OR=0.63；95%置信区间0.38-1.06）。总之，阿根廷奶牛犊牛的死亡风险与犊牛护理人员（数量和工作经验）、产犊管理（初乳管理、断奶方法、气候防护和脐带消毒）以及奶牛场效率（每头母牛的活产犊牛比例）等不同方面相关。
