Abstract

There are no published data on the risk factors associated with morbidity, mortality and passive transfer failure in Chianina beef-suckler calves. To implement prevention strategies in beef enterprises, gaining management information and identifying risk factors are essential. This cross-sectional study aimed to identify calf-level management practices and farm characteristics associated with disease incidence, mortality and serum IgG concentration in Chianina beef-suckler calves from farms in Umbria, Italy. In total, 202 Chianina beef-suckler calves aged 2–7 days from nine farms were enrolled. For each calf born, blood samples were collected and specific information on management practices and farm characteristics was obtained through farmer interviews. Serum immunoglobulin concentrations were measured using radial immunodiffusion. Mortality and morbidity data were extracted from the farm’s cow file six months after the last farm visit. The impact of farm characteristics and calf management practices on the mortality rate could not be assesses due to low case fatality in our enrolled calves (10/202). A multivariable logistic regression model indicated that prepartum vaccination against Escherichia coli, rotavirus and coronavirus, and bottle-fed colostrum were associated with serum IgG concentration. Birth season and serum IgG concentration were associated with the development of neonatal calf diarrhoea and the development of both neonatal calf diarrhoea and respiratory disease, respectively. Furthermore, family-owned farms represent an important factor related to respiratory disease episodes. The possible influence of these factors on passive immunity and neonatal calf diarrhoea and respiratory disease appearance should be considered when advising farmers.

• Highlights

• Effects of farm characteristics and management practices on health were investigated in 202 Chianina calves.

• Dam vaccination against Escherichia coli, Rotavirus and Coronavirus, and colostrum feeding assistance affect calf passive immunity.

• Calves with low serum IgG concentrations became sick; diarrhoea was common during cold months; respiratory disease was more common in family-run farms.

摘要

没有关于与 Chianina 肉牛犊的发病率、死亡率和被动转移失败相关的风险因素的公开数据。为了在牛肉企业中实施预防策略，获取管理信息和识别风险因素是必不可少的。这项横断面研究旨在确定与来自意大利翁布里亚农场的 Chianina 牛乳小牛的疾病发生率、死亡率和血清 IgG 浓度相关的小牛水平管理实践和农场特征。总共有 202 头来自 9 个农场的 2-7 天龄的 Chianina 牛乳小牛被纳入研究。对于每头出生的小牛，都收集了血液样本，并通过农民访谈获得了有关管理实践和农场特征的具体信息。使用径向免疫扩散测量血清免疫球蛋白浓度。死亡率和发病率数据是在最后一次农场访问六个月后从农场的奶牛档案中提取的。由于我们登记的犊牛病死率较低，因此无法评估农场特征和犊牛管理实践对死亡率的影响 (10/202)。多变量逻辑回归模型表明产前疫苗接种大肠杆菌、轮状病毒和冠状病毒以及瓶喂初乳与血清 IgG 浓度有关。出生季节和血清 IgG 浓度分别与新生小牛腹泻的发生以及新生小牛腹泻和呼吸系统疾病的发生有关。此外，家庭农场是与呼吸道疾病发作相关的重要因素。在为养殖者提供建议时，应考虑这些因素对被动免疫和新生犊牛腹泻和呼吸道疾病外观的可能影响。

• 强调

• 在 202 头 Chianina 犊牛中调查了农场特征和管理实践对健康的影响。

• 针对大肠杆菌、轮状病毒和冠状病毒的大坝疫苗接种以及初乳喂养辅助会影响犊牛被动免疫。

• 血清 IgG 浓度低的小牛生病了；在寒冷的月份腹泻很常见；呼吸道疾病在家庭经营的农场中更为常见。