Causes and costs of calf mortality in Colorado beef herds participating in the National Animal Health Monitoring System
Wittum, T.E.; Salman, M.D.; Odde, K.G.; Mortimer, R.G.; King, M.E.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 203(2): 232-236
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1488 PMID: 8407482 Document Number: 414295
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 labour, and carcass disposal expenses. The most commonly reported causes of calf mortality were dystocia (17.5%), stillbirth (12.4%), hypothermia (12.2%), diarrhoea (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. It was concluded that 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 programmes designed to decrease the number of calf deaths caused by these disease conditions.