A Comparison of Disease in Calves. II. Effect of Different Management and Feeding Systems on one Farm

Abstract

Disease levels in calves were examined using a system which recorded the signs observed from treatment and its cost. The result in cost per sick calf and cost per calf place gave some indication of disease severity i. e. the number and degree of signs observed and their duration. The trials were used to indicate the use of the recording system. The size of the study was not sufficient for a positive assessment of the value of the different feeding and management systems. In trial 2 diarrhoea was much more common (40%) using a machine (M2) which dispensed reconstituted milk powder as fast as it was drunk than with once-a-day (OD) bucket feeding (8%) and calves on a machine (M1) which mixed feed on a two- minute cycle (13%). A high level of respiratory disease was seen in OD calves of trial 3, and this was the main difference seen in trial 4:12 and 13% in once-a-day fed calves (OD and ODC) and 50% in machine-fed (M2) calves. Combining the information from these three trials with that from a previous study showed that OD and twice-a-day bucket feeding produced less diarrhoea than machine feeding (M1, M2). More respiratory disease occurred between entry and five weeks in animals used in a controlled environment house than in a naturally-ventilated monopitch building. More disease occurred in each trial pre-weaning than post weaning (weaning at five weeks). Overall mortality was 1·1 % and the most common diseases experienced up to 12 weeks were respiratory disease (31·2%), diarrhoea (20·1%), eye infections (11·2%) and navel and joint problems (2·2%).