Influence of rearing conditions and birth season on calf welfare in the first month of life
Authors
Samolovac, Ljiljana
Hristov, Slavča
Stanković, Branislav
Maletić, Radojka
Relić, Renata
Zlatanović, Zvonko
Article (Published version)
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The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of farm conditions and season of birth on body mass, respiratory system
diseases and diarrhea occurrence, and mortality during the first month of calves’ life. The study was conducted on two tie-stall–system
farms with intensive milk production and similar nutrition of dairy cows, but with differences in rearing conditions of calves in the first
week of life. The calves were tied on lying area with straw as bedding material (farm A) or free in individual boxes with straw bedding
(farm B). In the first consumption, they take 1–2 L of colostrum produced by their mother or by another cow (farm A), or 2.5–3 L of
colostrum produced by their mother or by another cow or frozen colostrum (farm B). According to the results, average body mass of
calves was significantly higher on farm B than of those on farm A at all ages (on birth, at 8 days, and 30 days). Mortality rate and diarrhea
occurrence in calves were higher on farm B, while resp...iratory system diseases incidence was higher on farm A. All observed welfare
indicators were very significantly (P < 0.01) influenced by farm conditions and birth season
Keywords:
calves / rearing conditions / birth season / body mass / welfareSource:
Turkish Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, 2019, 43, 102-109Publisher:
- TÜBİTAK ULAKBİM, Turkey
Funding / projects:
URI
https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/734656http://r.istocar.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/639