Relation between non-infectious factors and neonatal calf health status in dairy herd

Abstract

The aim of this research was to determine some non-infectious factors (sex of calf, calf birth weight, calving season and dam parity and dam body condition score at dry and calving) that can under control by breeders affecting calf health status (CHS) in neonatal period. A total of 517 calves (from delivery of calf until 28 days) and their dams (at dry and calving) were assessed according to study criteria. Relationship between CHS and dam parity (DP), body condition score at calving (BCSC), body condition score at dry (BCSD), sex of calf (SC), calf birth weight (CBW), and calving season (CS) was examined and connection between CHS and BCSD, CS, and CBW was found important. Also, influences of DP, SC BCSC, and BCSD on CBW were examined and while effects of DP and SC on CBW were found important, effects of others were not. These results show that relation between CHS and CBW, CS, and BCSD is important and CHS is higher in female calves or calves born to multiparous dams. As a conclusion, it can be said that planning the herd management practices according to these results will be beneficial for the healthier completion of the neonatal period.