USDA and Kansas State researchers
surveyed 2490 beef herds in 23 states to study the impact of management
factors on calf sickness from birth to weaning. Herds that reported
more than 10% of the calves becoming sick from scours, respiratory illness,
pinkeye, or footrot were classified as "high sickness herds". From
their survey data they concluded that herds having 70% or more of the cows
and heifers calve in confinement was associated with increased risk of
being a high calf sickness herd. Herds with increased calving difficulty
were also likely to be high calf sickness herds. In this data set,
the average percentage difficult births for cows and heifers combined was
4%, whereas the average for just heifers alone was 16.7%. Approximately
40% of the herds experienced high sickness from the effect of calving difficulty
and 10% from the effect of confined calving. Source: Sanderson and
Dargatz, KSU
Cattlemen's Day 2000.
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