Colostrum Management in Calves’ Welfare Risk Assessment

Abstract

Successful milk production is based on proper calf rearing, especially the youngest categories. However, the intensive production can result in oversights that can have very negative effects on the survival of calves and their further growth. In order to reduce mortality and to improve rearing conditions for calves, different welfare assessment systems have been offered. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has developed a risk analysis approach to analysis of calf welfare. In this paper, data on young calves’ mortality, morbidity and elements regarding colostrum management risk assessment at three Serbian large dairy farms were considered. The study was carried out during one year and data were collected from the farm records and by survey of employees. According to the results, calves mortality in the first 7 days of life ranged from 1.57% to 3.79% at the year level, and the most frequent causes of death were enteritis and bronchopneumonia. Risk related to colostrum management in all three farms was present, and may affect the quantity and quality of colostrum that calves received were not adequate. As the major failures at most of the farms the follows can be highlighted: lack of monitoring of ingested colostrum quantity and assessment of colostrum quality with a colostrometer and lack of routine supply of adequate stocks of frozen colostrum. The results pointed on procedures of colostrum management in which changes should be made, in aim to improve health and welfare of calves and production results as well.