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Calf Mortality

Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850

ABSTRACT

Various feeding, management, and housing systems of 247 New York dairy farms were examined to establish predisposing conditions of calf losses. Cooperating farmers hand-recorded the data for 1 April 1972 to 31 March 1973.

Annual calf losses for herds under 100 cows, 100 to 200, and >200 averaged 15.8, 19.3, and 27.2%. The percent of calves born dead or abnormal was unrelated to herd size or environmental efforts and averaged 8.2. The person feeding the calves played an important role in calves dying before 3 mo of age: wife feeds calves, 6.3% mortality; children, 8.4%; owner or manager, 8.8%; and hired man, 11.7%. Fewer calves reared on elevated stalls were lost (13.9%) than in pens on the floor (16.0%). Mortality averaged 14.5% on farms with stanchion barns and 18.8% in free stall bams. Calves fed whole milk or milk replacer did not differ in mortality. Housing calves separately from cows had no effect.