Kähkönen Tuomo, Hälli Outi, Rautala Helena, Junnikkala Sami, Simojoki Heli
Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, FI-04920 Saarentaus, Finland.
Department of Production Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, FI-04920 Saarentaus, Finland.
J Dairy Sci. 2025 Aug 6. doi: 10.3168/jds.2025-26942.
Good care practices and colostrum feeding of newborn calves are important for a calf's future health and growth. This study aimed to determine cow calving and calf care practices, focusing on factors affecting calf mortality within the first week (including stillbirth) and from 1 wk to 3 mo of age on dairy farms in Finland. Our research used an online survey designed based on the literature and management practices and distributed to dairy farms via farm information channels, social media, and direct communication with veterinarians. Data were collected from September 2021 to December 2022, yielding 186 complete and usable farms for analysis. The online survey covered questions on basic farm information, calving observation, colostrum management, and calf care, along with production and mortality data. The farmer provided all data used in the study by completing the questionnaire. The responses were processed, and statistical analyses were performed using logistic regression models to identify predictors of calf mortality in calves aged less than 1 wk, including stillbirths (median mortality 4.1%), and calves aged from 1 wk to 3 mo (median mortality 1.3%). The results showed that larger herd sizes (more than 75 cows) were associated with increased mortality in both age groups (odds ratio [OR] = 2.7, 95% CI 1.3-5.9; and OR = 2.3, 95% CI 1.1-5.0, respectively). For calves less than 1 wk old, mortality was higher in insulated barns (OR = 2.1, 95% CI 1.0-4.7), when fed less than 3 times daily (OR = 2.3, 95% CI 1.1-4.8), and when no hay or straw was used as bedding (OR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.0-6.8). The mortality rate for calves aged less than 1 wk was higher on farms using a group pen for calves after separation from the dam or an automatic milking system (AMS) for the first colostrum harvest;the OR for group pens housing 2 to 4 calves compared with single pen was 2.7 (95% CI 1.0-7.7) and the OR for pipeline or parlor milking of the first colostrum compared with AMS was 0.3 (95% CI 0.1-0.7). In calves aged 1 wk to 3 mo, mortality was higher on farms using AMS as the main milking method; the OR for both, parlor and pipeline milking was 0.3 (95% CI 0.1-0.8), and the OR for feeding low-quality colostrum was 3.4 (95% CI 1.3-9.6). Mortality in calves aged 1 wk to 3 mo was lower when the farm could store colostrum in the refrigerator or a cold bath (OR = 0.5, 95% CI 0.2-1.0). This study highlights the importance of herd size, barn type, milking methods, and colostrum management in calf survival, providing valuable insights into improving dairy farm management practices. Despite the relatively low number of farms included, the findings offer guidance for dairy farmers and veterinarians aiming to enhance calf care and reduce mortality rates on dairy farms.
新生犊牛的良好护理措施和初乳喂养对其未来的健康和生长至关重要。本研究旨在确定奶牛产犊和犊牛护理措施，重点关注芬兰奶牛场中影响犊牛出生后第一周（包括死产）以及1周龄至3月龄犊牛死亡率的因素。我们的研究采用了一项基于文献和管理实践设计的在线调查，并通过农场信息渠道、社交媒体以及与兽医的直接沟通分发给奶牛场。数据收集时间为2021年9月至2022年12月，共获得186个完整且可用的农场用于分析。在线调查涵盖了关于农场基本信息、产犊观察、初乳管理和犊牛护理的问题，以及生产和死亡率数据。农民通过填写问卷提供了本研究中使用的所有数据。对这些回答进行了处理，并使用逻辑回归模型进行统计分析，以确定1周龄以下犊牛（包括死产，中位死亡率4.1%）和1周龄至3月龄犊牛（中位死亡率1.3%）死亡率的预测因素。结果表明，较大的牛群规模（超过75头奶牛）与两个年龄组的死亡率增加相关（优势比[OR]=2.7，95%置信区间1.3 - 5.9；以及OR = 2.3，95%置信区间1.1 - 5.0）。对于1周龄以下的犊牛，在隔热牛舍中死亡率更高（OR = 2.1，95%置信区间1.0 - 4.7），每天喂奶少于3次时（OR = 2.3，95%置信区间1.1 - 4.8），以及不使用干草或稻草作为垫料时（OR = 2.5，95%置信区间1.0 - 6.8）。在犊牛与母牛分开后使用犊牛群养栏或使用自动挤奶系统（AMS）进行首次初乳采集的农场中，1周龄以下犊牛的死亡率更高；与单栏饲养相比，容纳2至4头犊牛的群养栏的OR为2.7（95%置信区间1.0 - 7.7），与AMS相比，首次初乳采用管道或挤奶厅挤奶的OR为0.3（95%置信区间0.1 - 0.7）。在1周龄至3月龄的犊牛中，以AMS作为主要挤奶方法的农场死亡率更高；挤奶厅和管道挤奶的OR均为0.3（95%置信区间0.1 - 0.8），而喂养低质量初乳的OR为3.4（95%置信区间1.3 - 9.6）。当农场能够将初乳储存在冰箱或冷水浴中时，1周龄至3月龄犊牛的死亡率较低（OR = 0.5，95%置信区间0.2 - 1.0）。本研究强调了牛群规模、牛舍类型、挤奶方法和初乳管理对犊牛存活的重要性，为改善奶牛场管理实践提供了有价值的见解。尽管纳入的农场数量相对较少，但研究结果为旨在加强犊牛护理和降低奶牛场死亡率的奶农和兽医提供了指导。
