CALF DISEASES AND MORTALITY IN SWEDISH DAIRY HERDS

A survey of the mortality and morbidity affecting calves during the fi rst 3 months of life was carried out. Results are reported from 131 he rds with altogether 5,050 calvings. These herds kept individual calf c ards for all calves born. The incidences of abortions and stillborn ca lves were 0.6% and 3.6%, respectively. During the period 0-90 days the mortality and morbidity were 2.6% and 11.0%, respectively. The freque ncies of enteritis and pneumonia in calves were 7.2% and 0.8%. Mortali ty and morbidity were influenced by breed, season. age of the dam and time of first colostrum. The frequencies of abortions, stillborn calve s, mortality and morbidity varied considerably between herds. Herd fac tors influencing mortality and morbidity during different periods of t ime were: herd size, yield, zero-grazing, whether the calf was allowed to feed by suckling, the design of the calf pens, and previous incide nce of infectious enteritis in the herd. On average, both mortality an d morbidity in calves were low, though in certain herds, temporarily h igh frequencies were registered.