Table 2 Answers given by the 1287 respondents on management regarding calving and care of the newborn calf
Variable | Answers | Overall (%) | Small farms (≤20 cows) (%) | Large farms (>20 cows) (%) | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Presence of calving pen on farm | No | 51.1 | 27.0 | 68.5 | <0.01 |
Yes | 47.0 | 70.5 | 30.4 | ||
No answer | 1.9 | 2.5 | 1.1 | ||
Cow calf separation p.n. | Immediately | 41.0 | 46.9 | 35.8 | <0.01 |
Within 1 h | 47.6 | 44.7 | 49.4 | ||
Within 4 h | 3.4 | 1.8 | 5.2 | ||
Later than 4 h | 7.8 | 6.3 | 9.4 | ||
No answer | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 | ||
Time of first colostrum feeding p.n. | Within 4 h | 83.7 | 83.0 | 84.3 | 0.36 |
4–6 h | 13.5 | 14.6 | 12.3 | ||
>6 h | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.1 | ||
No answer | 1.7 | 1.3 | 2.3 | ||
Quantity of first colostrum fed within the first 6 h p.n. | <2 L | 13.3 | 15.4 | 11.2 | 0.11 |
2–4 L | 71.9 | 69.9 | 73.5 | ||
>4 L | 12.7 | 13.3 | 12.4 | ||
No answer | 2.1 | 1.4 | 2.9 | ||
Checking colostrum quality | No | 78.7 | 80.3 | 77.7 | 0.21 |
Yes | 20.8 | 19.0 | 22.0 | ||
No answer | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.3 | ||
If yes, method | Hydrometer | 13.5 | 2.5 | 23.5 | <0.01 |
Visual inspection | 86.1 | 97.5 | 75.0 | ||
No answer | 0.4 | 0.0 | 1.5 | ||
Use of an oesophageal feeder for first colostrum | No | 63.1 | 67.5 | 58.0 | <0.01 |
Yes | 6.0 | 8.9 | 3.1 | ||
If necessary | 27.1 | 17.3 | 37.6 | ||
No answer | 3.8 | 6.3 | 1.3 | ||
Frozen colostrum stocks | No | 27.0 | 35.8 | 18.6 | <0.01 |
Yes | 72.7 | 64.2 | 80.8 | ||
No answer | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.6 | ||
Routine umbilical care | No | 26.9 | 23.8 | 29.9 | 0.02 |
Yes | 69.5 | 72.3 | 69.6 | ||
No answer | 3.6 | 3.9 | 0.5 | ||
If yes, type of umbilical care | Dipping/sprayinga | 28.4 | 28.5 | 28.6 | 0.64 |
Stripping out | 17.5 | 16.5 | 18.8 | ||
Combination | 54.1 | 55.0 | 52.6 | ||
No answer | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |