title: [Impact of entry age and veterinary care on health and performance of veal calves. I. Mortality and antimicrobial use].
abstract: The objective of this field study was to describe the impact of the entry age and intensive veterinary care on mortality and antimicrobial use of veal calves in Switzerland. From July until October 2012, a total of 316 young calves (aged ø 10.8 days) and from November 2012 until May 2013 a total of 425 market calves (aged ø 39.5 days) were housed on a welcome-farm, where they obtained daily veterinary care during the first 6 weeks of the production cycle. As a 3rd category 2 groups of 34 and 31 old calves (aged ø 61.5 days), respectively, were housed on a commercial farm. From entry to slaughter the daily doses of antibiotics on group level averaged 35.6 in young calves, 26.2 in commercial calves, and 21.0 in old calves. On the welcome-farm 45.9% and 48.5% of the young and market calves, respectively, were individually treated, and in the finishing period of the production cycle 10.4% and 3.3% of the young and market calves, respectively. Of the old calves 16.9% were individually treated. Mortality was 6.7% in young calves, 8.2% in commercial calves, and 4.6% in old calves. Intensive veterinary care guaranteed early recognition of disease and euthanasia of terminally morbid calves. The different entry ages did not lead to any reduction in mortality or in antimicrobial use compared to previous studies.
authors: Kälberpraxis, Rickenbach.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Bähler
authors: Zoetis GmbH, Zürich.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Tschuor
authors: Veterinary Public Health Institute, Bern.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Schüpbach-Regula
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D013557:Switzerland; D014730:Veterinary Medicine
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents
keywords: Einstallalter; Kälbermast; Mortalität; Tagesdosen Antibiotika; daily doses of antibiotics; entry age; mortality; tierärztliche Betreuung; veal production; veterinary care