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Table 1 Descriptive statistics and unconditional associations of variables selected as candidates for multivariable model for within-herd calf (aged 21–90 days) mortality rate in years 2017–2018 in 212 Estonian dairy herds estimated in negative binomial regression model

From: Herd-level risk factors for cow and calf on-farm mortality in Estonian dairy herds

Variable

Continuous

Categorical

n

Within-herd MRa

p-valueb

Median (Q1; Q3)

Categories

Herd size (number of cows)

129.7 (53.7; 459.7)

 

212

 

0.015

Herd average milk yield per cow per year (kg)

8787 (6950; 9758)

 

212

 

0.132

Herd proportion of stillbirths (%)

7.5 (5.6; 9.5)

 

212

 

0.018

Herd proportion of abortions (%)

0.8 (0; 1.6)

 

212

 

 < 0.001

Herd typec

 

Dairy herd

199

0.26

0.035

Mixed herd

13

0.09

 

Proportion of Holstein breed cows

 

 < 90%

89

0.20

0.160

 > 90%

119

0.28

 

Missing

4

0.35

 

Regiond

 

Northeast

59

0.29

0.402

Southeast

44

0.19

 

Southwest

71

0.26

 

Northwest

38

0.22

 

Farmer attending trainings within the last 4 years

 

Once

49

0.15

0.002

2–3 times

108

0.33

 

More than 3 times

31

0.22

 

No

24

0.14

 

Place of calving

 

Group pen

69

0.32

0.024

Individual pen

41

0.26

 

Tiestall

84

0.21

 

Combined or otherf

16

0.07

 

Missing

2

NEe

 

Time of feeding the first colostrum (hours after birth)

 

0.5

22

0.19

0.149

1

87

0.23

 

2

69

0.33

 

3

17

0.19

 

 ≥ 4

12

0.14

 

Calf drinks by itself

3

NEe

 

As soon as possible

2

NEe

 

Disinfecting navel cord

 

No

68

0.21

0.070

Sometimes

51

0.17

 

Always (in more than 95% of calves)

93

0.32

 

Prophylactic administration of vitamins to calves

 

No

64

0.22

0.101

Sometimes

70

0.21

 

Yes (in more than 95% of calves)

78

0.31

 

Housing of preweaned calves > 2 weeks of age

 

Group pen

170

0.27

0.007

Single pen

18

0.18

 

Single and group pen

23

0.11

 

Missing

1

NEe

 

Disinfection of pens of calves aged < 1 month

 

No

39

0.09

0.002

Wet disinfectants

54

0.32

 

Dry disinfectants

77

0.27

 

Wet and dry desinfectants

41

0.28

 

Missing

3

0.29

 

Frequency of milk feeding per day during first month of life

 

Two times

175

0.24

0.141

Three times

22

0.21

 

Automatic milk feeder and other

15

0.42

 

Antibiotics administered to calves with diarrhoea

 

No

87

0.17

0.019

Yes

125

0.30

 

Way of responding to questionnaire

 

Postal

127

0.24

0.667

Phone

85

0.26

 
  1. aWithin-herd mortality rate of calves in years 2017 to 2018 (per 100 calf-months)
  2. bEstimated in bivariable negative binomial regression models including herd number of cows
  3. cDairy herd—at least 75% of cattle were of dairy breed; mixed herd – more than 25% of cattle were of beef breed
  4. dNortheast Estonia: Ida-Viru, Lääne-Viru, Jõgeva, Järva county; Southeast Estonia: Tartu, Valga, Võru, Põlva county; Southwest Estonia: Pärnu, Viljandi, Saare county; Northwest Estonia: Harju, Rapla, Lääne, Hiiu county
  5. eNot estimated due to small number of farms belonging to that category
  6. fOther: calving on pasture and its combinations between other systems
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Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

ISSN: 1751-0147