Mortality risk factors for calves entering a multi-location white veal farm in Ontario, Canada
Open accessAbstract
Mortality in preweaned dairy-breed calves, whether they are replacement dairy heifers, veal animals, or dairy beef animals, represents both a welfare issue and a source of economic loss for the industries involved. Studies describing morbidity and mortality in veal calves have illustrated different management practices and requirements in terms of housing and nutrition around the world. Studies examining the rearing of replacement dairy heifers have shown that rates of morbidity and mortality can vary dramatically between farms, perhaps reflecting differences in management strategies. It has been over 2 decades since morbidity and mortality in veal calves in Ontario were described. The objective of this retrospective population cohort study was to describe mortality and determine whether on-arrival information could be used to predict mortality risk. Predictors could be used to both better classify and group calves on arrival and provide feedback to suppliers about the characteristics of the highest- and lowest-risk calves. We collected data from 10,910 calves entering 7 barns of a single white veal farm, all in Ontario, from January 1 to December 31, 2014. Calves were followed until death or marketing (typically 140 to 150 d). We developed logistic regression models to determine the effects of weight on arrival, season of arrival, supplier, sex, barn, and purchase price on the risk of total mortality, early mortality (0-21d after arrival), and late mortality (>21d after arrival). We identified significant associations between season, barn, supplier, weight, and total mortality risk, with lighter-weight calves arriving in winter being at increased risk. Early mortality was significantly associated with weight, season, barn, and supplier, and tended to be associated with standardized price; lighter-weight calves arriving in winter at lower prices were at increased risk. Late mortality was significantly associated with season of arrival, barn, and supplier. On-arrival measures better predicted early mortality compared with late or total mortality. A further exploration of risk factors from the dairy farm of origin for veal calf mortality would serve to improve the productivity and welfare of calves of both sexes born on dairy farms.
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Higher BW at arrival is associated with decreased mortality and infection risk, as well as higher growth rates.
“Higher BW is associated with decreased mortality [48, 49] and infection risk [25, 50, 51], as well as higher growth rates [52, 53].”
From Effects of age and feeding protocols on the metabolic and physiological condition of unweaned calves during and after long-distance transport (2026) · cites this paper as [48]
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“Higher BW is associated with decreased mortality [48, 49] and infection risk [25, 50, 51], as well as higher growth rates [52, 53].”
- Authors
- Winder, C. B., Kelton, D. F., & Duffield, T. F.
- Affiliations
- University of Guelph (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Duffield, Todd F.
- Venue
- Journal of Dairy Science
- Publisher
- American Dairy Science Association
- Published
- 2016-12
- Volume
- 99
- Issue
- 12
- Pages
- 10174-10181
- ISSN
- 0022-0302 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2528307618
- Cited by
- 79
- References
- 20
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 6
- FWCI
- 11.29
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Dairy Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- the Dairy Farmers of Ontario
- the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs
- the Veal Farmers of Ontario
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal health and immunology
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Effects of Environmental Stressors on Livestock
- Keywords
- veal calves, calf mortality, mortality risk factors, pre-weaned calves, early mortality, calf weight, suppliers, purchase price, calf welfare, Ontario
- MeSH terms
- Farms, Animals, Cattle, Cattle Diseases, Female, Ontario, Retrospective Studies, Risk Factors
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