Some factors associated with mortality rate of Friesian calves during first year of age in Egypt

ABSTRACT

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of some factors on mortality rate of Friesian calves during the first year of age. A total number of 2637 records were studied for Friesian calves during the period from 1997 to2015. All Friesian calves ranged between 3 -365 days of age. The results cleared that the mortality rate was significantly (P<0.05) higher during the months of year from May to October of calving which ranged from 11.00 to 17.18 %, while the lowest rate of mortality observed during the period of January to April of calving (5.04 to 9.36%). Mortality rate during the experimental years was low especially during the period from 1997 to 2003 ranging between 3.8 and 6.91 %, while it seemed the high mortality rate started from 2004 and lasted until the end of the research in 2015. The overall mortality rate was increased significantly (P<0.05) during the summer season (14.59%), followed by the autumn season (10.19%), while the lowest value recorded in winter season (8.13%). Mortality rate was significantly (P<0.05) higher for calves weighed at birth ≤ 20 kg (16.16%) or ≥ 40 kg (17.51%) and the lowest mortality rate was noted when birth weight was 36 to 39 kg. Sex of newborn was not significant effect on mortality rate. Mortality rate was highly significant (P<0.05) during the first month and 31-105 days of age (40.65 and 36.63%, respectively) and the lowest value measured in calves above 106-180 days of age (11.72%). Calf mortality rate was significantly (P<0.05) lower for dams in the 2^th parity (7.66 %) followed in order by the 5, 4 and 3 parities (9.04, 9.70 and 10.6%, respectively). Diseases cause in mortality rate was higher significantly in diarrhea (59.34%) followed in order by respiratory diseases (18.68%), epidemic diseases (15.01%) and other unknown conditions (6.95%).

Key words:  Friesian Calves, mortality rate, diseases, season, parity and weighed of dam.

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