Risk factors related to the appearance of umbilical disorders in dairy calves

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the types of calve housing used in dairy farms, the prevalence of umbilical disorders and related risk factors. The 16 farms studied were visited to characterize the types of installation and possible risk factors, as well as information obtained from a questionnaire applied to the farmers. 806 Holstein calves were physically examined, in addition to collecting blood samples for the evaluation of Failures in Passive Immunity Transfer (FPIT), in animals that manifested inflammatory omphalopathies, and were also submitted to ultrasound examination. The prevalence of omphalopathies was assessed by Fisher's test, and multivariate logistic regression to assess risk factors. Eight types of installation were found: tropical house, suspended cage, collective stall, collective picket, Argentinean type, single-story cage, individual stall, and collective picket with chain. Omphalopathies accounted for 6.45% of the calves. Small size farms (up to 99 lactation cows) had high risk for umbilical disorders, ground floor collective calves, without side protection, with sand floor, in closed sheds and without heatstroke were considered risk factors for omphalopathies. Adequate colostrum and umbilical antisepsis are not associated with disease, its appearance being related to the housing conditions of the animals.

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

“…This study clearly demonstrates that FPIT is not a risk factor for omphalitis (external and/or internal) in beef cattle, which is in line with three precedent studies conducted in dairy cattle [ 10 , 23 , 27 ]. One of the explanations may be that umbilicus infection is caused by an ascending contamination from environmental germs immediately after birth under certain conditions and may not be influenced by humoral immunity.…”