Effect of farm and animal-level factors on youngstock mortality and growth on calf rearing farms

Both calf mortality and daily weight gain have a crucial impact on profitability of calf rearing farms. In addition, high calf mortality rates represent an animal welfare problem. Mortality rates on calf rearing farms have been reported in several studies in different countries, but scant data regarding daily weight gain of the calves are available. The objectives of this observational retrospective study were to determine the average mortality and daily weight gain of calves and youngstock on Finnish calf rearing farms and to identify factors associated with these production parameters. National cattle register and national herd health register databases together with meat companies' databases were used to collect weight, age, breed, medication, and origin farm data for 28 228 calves transported to the 87 calf rearing farms between 1 January and 1 October 2016. A telephone questionnaire was completed by selected farms to collect management and farm-specific data. Calves were retrospectively followed for maximum 180 days since arrival to the farm. Average arrival age of the calves were 24 days (SD 14). Average calf mortality on Finnish calf rearing farms was 4.5 %. Mortality was 5.3 % on fattening farms buying milk calves, 4.6 % on specialized calf rearing farms, and 2.5 % on fattening farms buying weaned calves. Size of the calf rearing farms varied, being smallest on fattening farms for weaned calves and largest on specialized calf rearing farms. Average daily gain of the study calves was 1.074 kg/day (SD 0.166). Multilevel mixed effects logistic and linear regression models, where herd and calf batch were used as random effects, were generated to study calf level mortality and daily gain, respectively. Activities preventing transmission of pathogens between arrival batches and different age groups of animals, including application of the all in/all out principle and proper washing and disinfection of compartments for milk feeding calves between arrival batches, were associated with lower mortality and increased daily gain. In addition, higher arrival age was associated with lower mortality during the rearing period and relatively higher arrival age of the calf, compared to other calf in a same arrival batch, was associated with higher daily gain. By contrast, increased number of individual medications during the rearing period was associated with both increased mortality and decreased daily gain. There was no significant difference in mortality between farm types. Current study highlights several factors that can be affected in future to further develop the beef production chain.