Influence of Arrival Weight, Season and Calf Supplier on Survival in Holstein Beef Calves on a Calf Ranch

Abstract

Large calf ranches rear neonatal cattle for veal or dairy beef. Dairy beef ranches purchase bull calves from multiple sources and with questionable colostrum intake histories. They need information to help with calf purchasing strategies and on-farm management practices to avoid losses. It was the purpose of this project to describe factors associated with mortality in neonatal calves raised on a large calf ranch.