USE OF EPIDEMIOLOGIC PRINCIPLES TO IDENTIFY RISK-FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF DIARRHEA IN CALVES IN 5 BEEF HERDS

The objective of the study reported here was to identify and measure r isk factors associated with the incidence of diarrhea in carves in 5 b eef herds in North Dakota. Risk factors associated with carves develop ing diarrhea during the 1992 calving season were used to develop the f ollowing intervention strategies that were implemented during 1993: he ifers calved in a separate location, diarrheal calves and their darns were placed in a quarantine area, and pregnant cattle were fed a diet supplemented with protein and copper. The risk of calves developing di arrhea was 5 times higher during the first year, compared with the sec ond year, suggesting that the management changes made during the secon d year were contributing factors in reducing the percentage of calves with diarrhea. The risk of diarrhea developing in calves born to heife rs was 3.9 times greater than that in carves born to cows. Analysis of our data indicated that the use of an epidemiologic approach can iden tify risk factors, which can lead to the development of intervention p rocedures that may decrease the incidence of diarrhea in calves in bee f herds.