Barriers to recording calf health data on dairy farms in Ontario, Canada

Abstract

Accurate data on illness and treatment rates in dairy calves are necessary for health management, yet calf health records are often incomplete. Due to the effects of illness in calves on future production, common use of antimicrobials in calf dis­ease, and concerns regarding judicious use of antimicrobials, we need to understand why calf health data are often poorly re­corded on dairy farms. Our objective was to investigate barriers for farmers for recording calf illnesses and treatments on dairy farms in Ontario, Canada.