Causes and costs of calf mortality in Colorado beef herds participating in the National Animal Health Monitoring System.
Seventy-three Colorado cow/calf operations were monitored for calf mortality from birth to weaning as part of their participation in the National Animal Health Monitoring System. Producer-observed causes of calf mortality, and the costs associated with these deaths were obtained. The overall calf mortality during the study was 4.5%, with a total associated cost of $237,478. The mean cost per calf death was $216, of which $208 was attributed to the potential value of the calf and an additional $8 was for veterinary, drug, producer's labor, and carcass disposal expenses. The most commonly reported causes of calf mortality were dystocia (17.5%), stillbirth (12.4%), hypothermia (12.2%), diarrhea (11.5%), and respiratory infections (7.6%). These 5 disease conditions accounted for > 60% of all calf deaths. A cause was not determined for 19.7% of the calf deaths. Beef producers and veterinarians have the potential to decrease calf mortality and increase profits in cow/calf operations by implementing management strategies and herd health programs designed to decrease the number of calf deaths caused by these disease conditions.
Wittum
T E
TE
Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80523.
Salman
M D
MD
Odde
K G
KG
Mortimer
R G
RG
King
M E
ME
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000833:Animals, Suckling; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality*; D002423:Cause of Death; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary; D003120:Colorado; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000662:veterinary; D004420:Dystocia / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary; D011247:Pregnancy; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary