Hydration in non‐suckling neonatal Brahman‐cross calves

Fordyce, Geoffry; Olchowy, T. W. J.; Anderson, Angela E.

doi:10.1111/avj.12324

Cited by 13 publications

(62 citation statements)

References 17 publications

(30 reference statements)

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“…Neonatal calves experiencing milk deprivation in a tropical environment can lose more than 20% of body water within 1 -3 days and some calves experiencing this level of dehydration cannot recover without assistance (Fordyce et al, 2015). Based on the above general risk factors, dehydration risk and the reports that most calf mortalities occur during the neonatal stage, a highlyplausible reason for unexplained neonatal calf mortalities is dehydration due to milk deprivation.…”

Section: Dehydration As a Risk Factor For Calf Mortality In Northern mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is difficult to identify specific reasons for scour related mortality in the above study, though a possibility is that low colostrum production or low colostrum uptake by calves and therefore low immunoglobulins available for the calves may have created a risk for infectious diarrhoea and therefore mortality. The risk of infectious diarrhoea is likely not as high in northern Australia, though colostrum or milk deprivation is likely to lead to dehydration mediated calf mortality (Fordyce et al, 2015).…”

Section: General Risk Factors Influencing Calf Survivalmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Milk production increased rapidly between parturition and 5 days post-partum, with milk yield approximately tripling within this time (Wheelock et al, 1965). If tropically-adapted cows do not reach daily milk yields that meet neonatal calf fluid requirements, especially in the first 2-3 days of calf life, there is high risk of dehydration-mediated calf mortality (Fordyce et al, 2015). Specific studies focussed on initiation of lactation and daily milk yields for within the first week post-partum are limited in extensivelymanaged beef cows.…”

Section: Cow Milk Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Friesian calves bottle-fed their first colostrum ad-libitum, uptake volume was associated with calf vigour, as defined by attempting to stand within the first hour of life (Vasseur et al, 2009). It is critical that the calf is able to access milk within the first days of life for adequate hydration (Fordyce et al, 2015) and passive immunity protection (Weaver et al, 2000). Calf ability to suckle may be impeded by an inability to stand, or by an apparent insensitivity to teats during teat-seeking behaviour (Kim et al, 1988).…”

Section: Calf Ability To Sucklementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Calves are known to lose body water more rapidly in hot conditions (Fordyce et al, 2015), though this study was conducted on eight calves within one environment and the water loss for a variety of environmental conditions and birth weights could not be quantified. In tropical and subtropical environments, an interaction may exist where low birth weight calves may be more susceptible to high temperature and humidity, due to increased surface area:weight ratio and therefore increased relative loss of body water loss to dissipate excessive body heat.…”

Section: Calf Ability To Sucklementioning

confidence: 99%

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Dehydration as a risk factor for calf mortality in northern Australia

Muller¹

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It is estimated that approximately one million calves die in Australia every year, with the majority unexplained. This thesis reviews losses associated with dehydration-mediated mortality during neonatal life, when there is highest risk of mortality, and reports three studies of neonatal calf dehydration.For 12 neonatal Brahman calves at Spyglass research site (northern forest land type, Queensland), variation in hydration status was investigated (Experiment 1). Change in live-weight from birth was used as the primary measure of hydration. Half of this cohort had low live weight gain between birth and day 3 of life (p = 0.01) compared to calves growing at 0.95±0.24 kg/day from birth. Low growth and associated reduced plasma protein (p = 0.04) in 6 calves indicated reduced colostrum, milk uptake and therefore reduced body fluid replenishment compared to other calves. This positions them at high risk of mortality under adverse environmental conditions. Urea space was tested as a measure of body water; however, percentage body water estimates were unrealistically elevated (> 80% of live weight) and therefore not representative of actual calf percentage body water.Descriptive analysis of risk factors for calf mortality was conducted for 478 and 378 tropically adapted newborn calves, respectively at Spyglass and Brian Pastures (southern forest land type, central Queensland) research sites (Experiment 2). The incidence risk of neonatal mortality in the southern forest of Queensland and northern forest of Queensland was 3.1% and 4.7%, respectively. Some risk factors and the percentage of calves exposed to high mortality risk included: dam body condition score ≤2 (8%), birth weight ≤28 kg (18%), low birth vigour (2%), large udder size (1%), at least two large teats (2%) and poor maternal protectiveness (5%). The low proportion of cows in poor body condition and good nutritional management limited the opportunity for dehydration-mediated neonatal mortality. There were no cases of prolonged heat stress around calving at the level previously associated with foetal and calf mortality. Experiment 2 indicates that low calf mortality may be achieved in any country type, provided that a low proportion of calves are exposed to high risk of mortality. A simple mechanistic model was developed to describe milk uptake volumes and ambient temperature (heat stress) impacts on neonatal hydration. This model provided clarification for the possible risk of dehydration mediated mortality across breeding herds of northern Australia.This thesis demonstrated variation in milk delivery, modelled that low milk delivery is associated with dehydration-mediated mortality and demonstrated that risk of mortality is low at a herd level when the risk factors associated with reduced milk delivery have low frequency.3

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Section: Dehydration As a Risk Factor For Calf Mortality In Northern mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: General Risk Factors Influencing Calf Survivalmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Cow Milk Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Calf Ability To Sucklementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Calf Ability To Sucklementioning

confidence: 99%

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Dehydration as a risk factor for calf mortality in northern Australia

Muller¹

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Disturbances of Free Water, Electrolytes, Acid-Base Balance, and Oncotic Pressure

2017

Veterinary Medicine

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Reproductive performance of northern Australia beef herds. 8. Impact of rainfall and wild dog control on percentage fetal and calf loss

Allen¹,

Barnes

Fordyce

et al. 2020

Anim. Prod. Sci.

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Context Dingoes and hybrid domestic dogs (wild dogs) are lethally managed, principally by large-scale baiting programs, to protect Australia’s AU$11.4 billion beef cattle industry from predation. This strategy is promoted by pest management agencies as best practice. Aim To investigate the impact of baiting frequency and rainfall on percentage fetal and calf loss. Methods Using 64 property-years of data from 31 properties located across Queensland and the Northern Territory, 14 171 mating outcomes were investigated to assess whether annual rainfall, relative to 124-year mean annual rainfall, and the frequency that wild dogs were lethally controlled on each property, influenced predicted fetal and calf loss. Key results No effect of baiting frequency on fetal and calf loss in mature cows was observed. Predicted fetal and calf loss was significantly higher in dry and very wet years than in moderate-rainfall years (P < 0.001). Losses were observed to be higher in first-lactation cows when baiting was either: not conducted, conducted every 2–5 years or several times per year (P < 0.05) when compared with baiting annually, suggesting that factors other than baiting frequency are likely to have a stronger impact on calf loss. Conclusions Only limited empirical evidence was found to support lethal control. Further investigations may clarify whether the calves of first-lactation cows experience increased predation risk and whether the effect that dry conditions have on cow nutrition, milk supply and, consequently, the vigour of the cow and calf, may also increase predation risk. Implications Lethal control of wild dogs to protect calves is mostly unnecessary.

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Hydration in non‐suckling neonatal Brahman‐cross calves

Cited by 13 publications

References 17 publications

Dehydration as a risk factor for calf mortality in northern Australia

Dehydration as a risk factor for calf mortality in northern Australia

Disturbances of Free Water, Electrolytes, Acid-Base Balance, and Oncotic Pressure

Reproductive performance of northern Australia beef herds. 8. Impact of rainfall and wild dog control on percentage fetal and calf loss

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