Factors influencing dairy calf mortality in Michigan
Oxender, W.D.; Newman, L.E.; Morrow, D.A.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 162(6): 458-460
1973
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-1488 PMID: 4692298 Document Number: 59366
A survey of 77 Michigan dairy herds during 1971 revealed calf mortality of 17.7% between birth and 60 days of age. Stillbirth accounted for 6.4%, death between birth and 14 days of age 8.5%, and death between 2 weeks and 2 months of age 2.8%. Mortality ranged from 16.1% for herds less than 50 cows to 34.9% for herds of more than 200 cows. Diarrhoea (70% of the herds) and pneumonia (14% of the herds) were indicated by dairymen as the major health problems in young calves.