Based on a review of the literature, we find that calf viability is an increasing problem in Slovenia as well as in the rest of the world. In Slovenia, we lost 18,146 calves up to six months of age in 2019, and the number of all calves born in 2019 was just over 160,000. We found that in Slovenia, the percentage of dead calves between 2014 and 2019 was between 10 and 12%. In this paper we wanted to show some ways to improve calf viability and reduce calf loss in the first year of life. The biggest problem in calves is diarrhea and pneumonia. Mistakes usually occur in the handling and care of calves after birth. Wet bedding, inadequate quantity and poor quality of colostrum, dirty water systems, poor colostrum hygiene, improper installation of feeders, enforcement of feeding routines, excessive humidity in the barn, and too low or too high temperature in the barn are some of the causes of calf losses. In this thesis, the causes of calf losses were investigated in more detail and the protocol of calf rearing from birth to 1 year of age was presented. In addition, the feeding of cows during the dry period was presented, as this can also influence the better survivability of calves at birth and in the later rearing period.
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