Evaluation of risk factors of omphalitis in newborn beef calves with indoor housing

BACKGROUND

Omphalitis is the third most common cause for diseases and infections in newborn calves. Its risk factors are well described in dairy production, but data in beef production is limited.

OBJECTIVE

To identify and quantify the risk factors of omphalitis in cow-calf operations with seasonal indoor calving period.

ANIMALS

Nine hundred sixty-four calves included from 22 cow-calf operations in central France were included.

METHODS

A prospective cohort study involved data collection during two visits for each calf. Simple and multivariable logistic regression analyses evaluated the association between omphalitis and the variables.

RESULTS

Among 964 included calves, 311 (32.3%) calves had an omphalitis. Accounting for farms' random effect, risk factors for omphalitis highlighted by the univariable analysis were: absence of navel disinfection (odds ratio (OR) = 2.3, [1.45-3.04]), wetness of bedding calving area (OR = 1.8-2.1, [0.78-2.83]-[0.63-3.57]), cleanliness of calves' pen (OR =1.6-2.8, [1.22-2.27]-[2.02-3.84]), wetness of calves' pen bedding (OR = 1.7-3.2, [1.12-2.06]-[3.08-3.84]), calf weight at birth >50 kg (OR = 2.0-5.0, [1.02-2.38]-[1.51-11.1]), umbilical cord length <3 cm (OR = 2.2-2.3, [1.53-3.11]-[1.24-4.38]), and sex (male vs female) (OR = 2.6, [2.08-3.69]). The multivariable analysis, accounting for farms' random effect, showed that the absence of navel disinfection (OR= 2.2, [1.44-3.09]), wetness of bedding calving area (OR = 1.9-2.4, [0.55-2.83]-[0.59-3.28]), calf weight at birth >50 kg (OR = 1.9-2.6, [1.03-2.56]-[1.43-12.5]) and sex (male vs female) (OR =2.4, [2.09-3.49]) were risk factors for omphalitis.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

These observations may help identify animals at early risk (>50 kg, male, short umbilical cord) and pay particular attention to the wetness of bedding and cleanliness of housing. This study highlights the importance of calving-pen bedding, calf characteristics and navel disinfection.

Condition of surplus dairy calves during marketing: A cross-sectional study

In North America, surplus dairy calves are sold soon after birth and often marketed through a third party (e.g., live auction, livestock dealer) before entering veal or dairy beef production. Previous work has demonstrated that a percentage of calves have failed transfer of passive immunity (FTPI) and clinical signs of disease on arrival at calf-raising facilities, but little is known regarding calf condition during marketing. The objectives of this cross-sectional study were to (1) estimate the prevalence of FTPI and poor health outcomes in surplus calves on arrival at livestock dealers, and (2) investigate the association between calf-level variables (body weight, sex, source) and health outcomes. Two livestock dealers in Ohio were visited 2 to 3 times per week, with approximately 28 calves enrolled in the study per visit for a total of 1,119 calves. One blood sample per calf was obtained to evaluate FTPI by measuring serum total protein concentrations (using a cutoff <5.1 g/dL). Calves were clinically evaluated for signs of arthritis, broken ribs or tail, dehydration, depression, diarrhea, fever, navel inflammation, and respiratory disease by 2 observers; health outcomes were dichotomized using clinically relevant cut points. Descriptive statistics were used to estimate the prevalence of calves with poor health outcomes. Multivariable logistic regression models were built to investigate the effect of body weight, sex, and source on health outcomes. Nineteen percent (206/1,091) of calves had FTPI.

Prevention of umbilical outpouchings and mortality in pigs: Meloxicam, tying, cutting, and chlorhexidine versus amoxicillin or no treatment? A clinical field trial

BACKGROUND

Umbilical outpouchings (UOs) are common in Danish pigs. Neonatal antibiotics are therefore used with the hope of reducing umbilical infections and subsequently UOs. However, the effect of neonatal antibiotics on preventing UO has been the subject of mixed conclusions, and secondly, treating all animals with antibiotics might exacerbate the development of antimicrobial resistance. This study analysed the effects of different treatments on the prevalence of umbilical outpouchings and mortality from birth to nursery unit. All treatment was on the day of birth. The groups were: a negative control group, an antibiotic group receiving amoxicillin, and an experimental group where the piglets had their umbilical cord disinfected with chlorhexidine, followed by tying and clipping, and lastly, injection with meloxicam. The pigs were examined six weeks after weaning, and all pigs that died during the study were autopsied.

RESULTS

There were 5494 pigs divided across the three groups. There were no statistically significant differences in UO prevalence between the groups: control 3.9%, antibiotic 4.2%, and experimental 4.0% (p = 0.87). The only variable affecting the prevalence of UOs in this study was sex with females being at higher risk. There were no statistically significant differences in mortality between the groups from birth until departure from the nursery unit: control 22.9%, antibiotic 21%, and experimental 21.4% (p = 0.33). The variables affecting mortality were sex, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), birth weight, and cross fostering. Males had higher odds of dying, as had piglets recorded with some degree of IUGR. Also, low birth weight increased the odds of dying for all weight quartiles compared to the fourth (the heaviest piglets > 1.6 kg), as well as cross fostering increased the odds ratio of dying.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found no significant differences in the prevalence of UOs and mortality following different treatments at birth. The study showed that the prevalence of UO and mortality was not reduced following the administration of amoxicillin or meloxicam in combination with disinfection and tying of the umbilical cord.

Failure of Passive Immunity Transfer Is Not a Risk Factor for Omphalitis in Beef Calves

Omphalitis is the third most frequent disease in newborn calves after neonatal diarrhea and bovine respiratory disease (BRD), but limited data on the prevalence and risk factors are available in the literature. Failure of passive immunity transfer (FPIT) is recognized as a major risk factor for diseases and mortality in calves. However, the association between omphalitis and FPIT remains poorly described. To assess this association, 964 suckler beef calves from 22 farms were included in a longitudinal cohort study for 5 months. Each calf was examined twice (mean ages: 4.4 and 11.1 days old) to diagnose omphalitis through clinical examination and ultrasonographic evaluation (USE) if necessary. Measurements of the total solids percentage (TS-%Brix) and total protein (TP) were performed on the serum during the first visit to evaluate the calves' passive immunity status. FPIT (fair and poor) was defined as serum %Brix < 8.1 or TP < 5.1 g/dL; among calves with omphalitis, 14% had FPIT and among calves without omphalitis 12% had FPIT. The omphalitis prevalence was 32.3% in calves without any other disease (overall prevalence of 30.9%). No statistical association between the prevalence of omphalitis and FPIT was observed. Further research is needed to identify the risk factors and promote the prevention measures for omphalitis in cow-calf systems, such as calving difficulty, hygiene of housing, and navel disinfection.

Influence of birth weight, sex and disinfection on the involution of umbilical structures in calves

BACKGROUND

Umbilical disinfection for calves is often recommended, but scientific studies do not always show a positive effect on disease prevention. In addition, there is little to no metric data on umbilical involution or on factors influencing the size of umbilical structures. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the physiological involution of umbilical structures and the effect of two different umbilical treatment methods.

METHODS

After birth, calves' umbilical cord stumps were treated with either an iodine tincture (n = 43) or an antibiotic spray (n = 41) or were left untreated (n = 42). On days 0, 1, 3, 7 and 14 after birth, calves were examined and external umbilical structures were measured. In addition, on day 14 (±2 days), a sonographic examination of umbilical structures was conducted.

RESULTS

The treatment applied had no significant effect on the size of umbilical structures during the first 14 days of life. However, the diameter of the umbilical stalk was larger in male calves and calves with a higher birth weight than in female calves and calves with a lower birth weight.

LIMITATION

The study was carried out on only one farm, so the generalisability of the findings may be limited.

CONCLUSION

Umbilical structures showed significant involution over time and were influenced by birth weight and sex.

Literature Review on Technological Applications to Monitor and Evaluate Calves' Health and Welfare

Precision livestock farming (PLF) research is rapidly increasing and has improved farmers' quality of life, animal welfare, and production efficiency. PLF research in dairy calves is still relatively recent but has grown in the last few years. Automatic milk feeding systems (AMFS) and 3D accelerometers have been the most extensively used technologies in dairy calves. However, other technologies have been emerging in dairy calves' research, such as infrared thermography (IRT), 3D cameras, ruminal bolus, and sound analysis systems, which have not been properly validated and reviewed in the scientific literature. Thus, with this review, we aimed to analyse the state-of-the-art of technological applications in calves, focusing on dairy calves. Most of the research is focused on technology to detect and predict calves' health problems and monitor pain indicators. Feeding and lying behaviours have sometimes been associated with health and welfare levels. However, a consensus opinion is still unclear since other factors, such as milk allowance, can affect these behaviours differently. Research that employed a multi-technology approach showed better results than research focusing on only a single technique. Integrating and automating different technologies with machine learning algorithms can offer more scientific knowledge and potentially help the farmers improve calves' health, performance, and welfare, if commercial applications are available, which, from the authors' knowledge, are not at the moment.

Navel healing in male and female Holstein calves over the first 14 days of life: A longitudinal cohort study

The objectives of this study were (1) to describe navel healing in male and female neonatal Holstein calves over a 14-d observation period, and (2) to determine the associations of dam parity, calving factors, and calf factors with navel measurements and time to healing. A total of 68 Holstein calves (43 female and 25 male) were enrolled. Navel healing outcomes (cessation of navel discharge, navel cord remnant drying, navel cord remnant drop-off) and navel stump measurement outcomes (proximal diameter, distal diameter, length) were recorded every 24 ± 1 h for a 14-d observation period. Data were also collected for dam parity, calving factors (time of birth, calving ease), and calf factors (calf sex, calf vitality at birth, birth weight, average daily gain, serum total protein, and medical treatment or treatments). The mean time to navel cord remnant drying was 2 d, and all calves had dry navels by d 5. A total of 56% of calves retained their navel cord remnant beyond the end of the observation period, and calves began to shed their navel cord remnants as early as d 2. In addition, at least once during the observation period, 85% of calves had a proximal navel diameter measurement over a 13-mm threshold recently proposed to identify navel infections. For distal navel diameter measurements, 72% of calves had a diameter over the 13-mm threshold at least once during the observation period. No associations were identified between navel healing outcomes and dam, calving, and calf factors. Navel measurement outcomes were associated with calving and calf factors. Specifically, proximal navel stump diameter was associated with the day of observation (decreased from d 5 to 14), calf sex (smaller in female calves), time of birth (larger in calves born overnight or unobserved, compared with the morning), and birth weight (larger in birth weights >44.1 kg compared with <38.5 kg). Distal navel stump diameter was associated with calf sex, medical treatment, and day of observation; however, we observed an interaction between sex and day of observation (larger in male calves on d 3 to 7, d 9, and d 12, compared with female calves), and sex and medical treatment (larger in untreated male calves, no difference between treated male and female calves). Navel stump length was associated with time of birth (longer in calves born overnight or unobserved compared with any other time) and the interaction of birth weight and day of observation (longer in birth weights >44.1 kg compared with 38.6-41.5 kg on d 3, 8-10, and 13, and 41.6-44.0 kg on d 3, 5, 7-8, and 13). The wide range in time to navel cord remnant drying and drop-off suggest that these measures may not be adequate indicators of calf age on their own. More research on navel healing is required to improve our understanding of factors that influence navel measurements and time to healing, as well as how this information could be used in an objective assessment of navel health.

Auswirkung einer Nabeldesinfektion auf die Nabelgesundheit beim Kalb

Gegenstand und Ziel Nabelentzündungen beim Kalb sind eine regelmäßig vorkommende Erkrankung. Zur Prophylaxe wird oftmals eine frühzeitige Desinfektion des Nabels nach der Geburt empfohlen. Inwiefern diese Empfehlung wissenschaftlich belegt ist, sollte im Rahmen einer Literaturrecherche analysiert werden.

Material und Methoden Im Rahmen einer Literaturrecherche wurden nur Studien beachtet, in denen die Effektivität dieser Maßnahme hinsichtlich der Prävention von Nabelinfektionen untersucht wurde. Eine klinische Datengrundlage musste vorliegen.

Ergebnisse Insgesamt konnten nur 6 Studien gefunden werden, die den Effekt einer Nabeldesinfektion als prophylaktische Maßnahme untersucht haben. Nur in einer Studie konnte ein präventiver Effekt nachgewiesen werden.

Schlussfolgerung Einschränkend muss jedoch festgehalten werden, dass alle Studien methodische Mängel aufwiesen, sodass derzeit keine Daten dazu vorliegen, ob sich eine Nabeldesinfektion beim Kalb positiv auf die Nabelgesundheit auswirkt.

Evaluating the effectiveness of a single application of 7% iodine tincture umbilical dip as a prevention of infection of the external umbilical structures in dairy calves

The objective of this randomized clinical trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of a single application of 7% iodine tincture-based umbilical dip for preventing infection of the external umbilical structures in dairy calves. Five dairy farms in southern Ontario were visited twice weekly from September 2020 through June 2021. Female (n = 244) and male (n = 40) Holstein calves were randomly assigned at birth to receive either a 7% iodine tincture-based umbilical dip (n = 140) or no treatment (n = 144). Calves in the 7% iodine tincture umbilical dip group had the product administered once by the producer shortly after birth. For each newborn calf, the experimental group, calving difficulty, volume and timing of colostrum administration, time of birth, calving pen cleanliness, and the dam ID were recorded. Calf body weight was recorded during the first visit after birth, and a blood sample was collected for measurement of serum IgG concentration. Calves were health scored twice weekly from enrollment until approximately 30 d of age for assessment of external umbilical infection, joint inflammation, respiratory disease, and diarrhea. The primary outcome of the study was external umbilical infection, which was defined as an enlarged umbilicus with pain, heat, or a malodorous discharge. Calves were also weighed at 30 and 60 d to determine average daily gain. Serum IgG concentration and birth weight did not differ significantly between groups. Twenty-nine calves (20%) in the umbilical dip group developed an external umbilical infections, compared with 31 calves (22%) in the control group. A mixed logistic regression model, accounting for farm as a random effect, showed no effect of treatment on the incidence of an external umbilical infection. However, for every additional hour that calves received colostrum after birth, the odds of developing an external umbilical infection increased during the first month of life (odds ratio = 1.15; 95% confidence interval: 1.04-1.26). Additionally, treatment had no effect on respiratory disease, joint inflammation, diarrhea, average daily gain, or mortality, compared with the untreated control. These findings suggest that administering a single application of 7% iodine tincture dip to the umbilicus around the time of birth may not be effective for preventing external umbilical infections. Farm-level management factors, including colostrum management, appear to have more influence on risk of this disease.

Risk factors associated with mortality at a milk-fed veal calf facility: A prospective cohort study

The veal industry experiences calf losses during the growing period, which represents a challenge to animal welfare and profitability. Health status at arrival may be an important predictor of calf mortality. The objectives of this prospective cohort study were to describe the health status of calves arriving at a veal farm and determine the risk factors associated with early and late mortality. Using a standardized health scoring system, calves were evaluated immediately at arrival to a commercial milk-fed veal facility in Ontario, Canada. Weight at arrival and supplier of the calf were recorded. The calves were followed until death or the end of their production cycle. Two Cox proportional hazard models were built to explore factors associated with early (≤21 d following arrival) and late mortality (>21 d following arrival). A total of 4,825 calves were evaluated from November 2015 to September 2016. The overall mortality risk was 7%, with 42% of the deaths occurring in the first 21 d after arrival. An abnormal navel, dehydration, housing location within the farm, arriving in the summer, and the presence of a sunken flank were associated with increased hazard of early mortality. Drover-derived calves and calves with a greater body weight at arrival had lower hazard of early mortality. Housing location within the farm, being derived from auction facilities, and an abnormal navel were associated with higher hazard of late mortality. These results demonstrate that risk factors for mortality can be identified at arrival, which represents a potential opportunity to selectively intervene on these calves to reduce mortality. However, methods of preventing the development of these conditions before arrival need to be explored and encouraged to improve the welfare of the calves entering the veal industry.