Factors affecting rearing practices and health of calves on family farms

Relić, Renata (author), Lakić, Nada (author), Janković, Ljiljana (author), Davidović, Vesna (author), Starič, Jože (author), Ježek, Jožica (author)

Factors aecting rearing practices and health of calves on family farms Renata Relic1, Nada Lakic2, Ljiljana Jankovic3, Vesna Davidovic1, Joze Staric4 and Jozica Jezek4 1 University of Belgrade, Faculty of Agriculture, Dept. of Animal Science, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia 2 University of Belgrade, Faculty of Agriculture, Dept. of Agroeconomy, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia 3 University of Belgrade, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Dept. of Animal Hygiene, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia 4 University of Ljubljana, Veterinary Faculty, Clinic for Reproduction and Large Animals, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia Abstract Aim of study: Calf rearing practices vary in dierent countries and may be aected by many factors. Poor management is related to diseases outbreak and death in calves. This study aimed to analyze practices in calf rearing and the occurrence of common calf diseases on family farms in two European countries and to examine the characteristics of a farmer and his farm as factors that may aect the way of performing practices related to calves’ health. Area of study: Slovenia and Serbia. Material and methods: For collecting data, the same questionnaire-based survey was distributed among cattle farm owners in Slovenia and Serbia. Main results: The following factors showed a signicant inuence (p<0.05) on certain rearing practices: farm size (on time for checking calves, milk reheating, and providing rehydration uids to the calf with diarrhea in Slovenia), specialization of the production (on preventive antiparasitic treatments and restriction of drinking water for calves with diarrhea in Slovenia, and the time for checking calves in Serbia), breeder’s age (on colostrum quality checking in Slovenia), and breeder’s education (on time for checking calves and checking colostrum quality in Serbia). The results pointed out the rearing practices to be improved in both countries, Slovenia and Serbia, such as colostrum management and prevention strategies of calf diseases. Research highlights: Characteristics of the farmer and his farm may aect many aspects of calves’ rearing. Continuous education of farmers and appropriate production planning can contribute to better farm productivity and better health and welfare of calves.

• Language: English
• Keywords: calf, management, diarrhea, respiratory diseases, prevention, welfare
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: VF - Veterinary Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Article acceptance date: 12.02.2021
• Year: 2021
• Number of pages: 10 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 19, no. 1, art. 0501
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-132352
• UDC: 636.09:616
• ISSN on article: 2171-9292
• DOI: 10.5424/sjar/2021191-17181
• COBISS.SI-ID: 62855939
• Publication date in RUL: 22.10.2021

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Spanish journal of agricultural research
• Shortened title: Span. j. agric. res.
• Publisher: INIA
• ISSN: 2171-9292
• COBISS.SI-ID: 524060697

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.
• Licensing start date: 12.02.2021

Projects

• Funder: EC - European Commission
• Funding programme: COST Action
• Project number: FA 1308
• Name: Dairy care

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: P4-0092
• Name: Zdravje živali, okolje in varna hrana