Causes and costs of calf mortality in Colorado beef herds participating in the National Animal Health Monitoring System

• Published in: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association Vol. 203; no. 2; p. 232
• Main Authors: Wittum, T.E, Salman, M.D, Odee, K.G, Mortimer, R.G, King, M.E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 15.07.1993
• Subjects: AETIOLOGY; ANIMAL DISEASES; Animals; Animals, Newborn; Animals, Suckling; BEEF CATTLE; BOVIN DE BOUCHERIE; CALVES; Cattle; Cattle Diseases - economics; Cattle Diseases - mortality; Cause of Death; Clostridium Infections - economics; Clostridium Infections - mortality; Clostridium Infections - veterinary; COLORADO; COSTOS; COSTS; COUT; COWS; Death, Sudden - veterinary; Dystocia - economics; Dystocia - mortality; Dystocia - veterinary; ENFERMEDADES DE LOS ANIMALES; ETIOLOGIA; ETIOLOGIE; ETIOLOGY; Female; GANADO DE CARNE; Gastrointestinal Diseases - economics; Gastrointestinal Diseases - mortality; Gastrointestinal Diseases - veterinary; MALADIE DES ANIMAUX; MORTALIDAD; MORTALITE; MORTALITY; Pregnancy; Respiratory Tract Diseases - economics; Respiratory Tract Diseases - mortality; Respiratory Tract Diseases - veterinary; TERNERO; VACA; VACHE; VEAU; Colorado
• ISSN: 0003-1488; 1943-569X
• DOI: 10.2460/javma.1993.203.02.232

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 labor, and carcass disposal expenses. The most commonly reported causes of calf mortality were dystocia (17.5%), stillbirth (12.4%), hypothermia (12.2%), diarrhea (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. 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 programs designed to decrease the number of calf deaths caused by these disease conditions.