Canadian National Dairy Study

Heifer calf management

Authors

  • C. B. Winder Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
  • C. A. Bauman Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, NlG 2W1, Canada
  • T. F. Duffield Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, NlG 2W1, Canada
  • H. W. Barkema Department of Production Animal Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
  • G. P. Keefe Department of Health Management, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, ClA 4P3, Canada
  • J. Dubuc Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, J2S 2M2, Canada
  • F. Uehlinger Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan, S7N 5B4, CANADA
  • D. F. Kelton Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21423/aabppro20183218

Keywords:

dairy cattle, heifer, management, Animal welfare, pain control, heifer calf health, rearing practices, rearing strategies, Canadian dairy farms

Abstract

Care and management of dairy heifer calves early in life has substantial short- and long-term impacts, from affecting calf morbidity and mortality rates to future milk production. In the past decade, substantial changes have occurred in the way dairy heifer calves are managed. Animal welfare standards have also changed globally. While there is some evidence that the use of pain control for disbudding has increased in the province of Ontario in recent years, no national data have been collected regarding this practice. Other early life heifer calf management practices, as well as morbidity and mortality rates, have not been described at the Canadian national level. In this regard, the objectives of this study, part of phase I of the 2015 Canadian National Dairy Study, were to examine heifer calf health, adoption of rearing practices, and explore factors associated with different rearing strategies on Canadian dairy farms.

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Published

2018-09-13

Issue

Section

Research Summaries

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