From: Herd-level risk factors for cow and calf on-farm mortality in Estonian dairy herds
Variable | Categories | n | Within-herd MRa | p-valueb |
---|---|---|---|---|
Herd typec | Dairy herd | 199 | 4.88 | 0.281 |
Mixed herd | 13 | 3.20 | ||
Proportion of Holstein breed cows | < 90% | 89 | 3.75 | 0.001 |
> 90% | 119 | 5.59 | ||
Missing | 4 | 3.60 | ||
Regiond | Northeast | 58 | 6.80 | < 0.001 |
Southeast | 44 | 3.79 | ||
Southwest | 72 | 3.88 | ||
Northwest | 38 | 4.55 | ||
Farmer attending trainings within the last 4 years | Once | 49 | 4.10 | 0.018 |
2–3 times | 108 | 5.61 | ||
More than 3 times | 31 | 4.36 | ||
No | 24 | 2.97 | ||
Farmer using consultancy service within the last 4 years | No | 14 | 3.68 | 0.046 |
Once | 43 | 4.23 | ||
2–3 times | 109 | 5.58 | ||
More than 3 times | 46 | 3.75 | ||
Handling animals | Farmer and/or family members | 51 | 2.95 | < 0.001 |
Employees in addition to farmer/family | 26 | 3.12 | ||
Employees only | 135 | 5.79 | ||
Veterinarian involved in detecting sick cows | No | 168 | 4.36 | 0.026 |
Yes | 44 | 6.37 | ||
Milking method | Pipeline milking/jug | 81 | 3.71 | 0.033 |
Milking parlour | 91 | 5.41 | ||
Automatic milking system | 35 | 5.48 | ||
Combined | 5 | 5.65 | ||
Housing system | Tie stall | 76 | 3.75 | 0.022 |
Free stall | 130 | 5.30 | ||
Combined | 6 | 6.72 | ||
Grazing | No | 83 | 5.79 | < 0.001 |
Yes | 96 | 3.29 | ||
Only dry cows | 33 | 6.57 | ||
Bed surface material | Concrete | 83 | 4.01 | 0.058 |
Rubber | 72 | 4.68 | ||
Mattress | 35 | 6.58 | ||
Deep litter | 17 | 4.90 | ||
Combined | 5 | 5.96 | ||
Analysing roughages in the laboratory | No | 35 | 3.02 | 0.002 |
Yes, not every year | 29 | 4.13 | ||
Yes, every year | 148 | 5.32 | ||
Dry period feed ratio based on silage analysis | No | 99 | 3.57 | < 0.001 |
Sometimes (in less than 50% of times) | 13 | 4.75 | ||
Mostly (in more than 50% of times) | 22 | 5.63 | ||
Always | 76 | 6.16 | ||
Missing | 2 | NEe | ||
Frequency of hoof trimming | No | 39 | 4.05 | 0.016 |
Less than once a year | 31 | 3.62 | ||
Once a year | 60 | 4.24 | ||
≥ 2 times per year | 82 | 5.96 | ||
Digital dermatitis diagnosed in a herd | No or unaware | 148 | 4.19 | 0.019 |
Yes | 62 | 6.18 | ||
Missing | 2 | NEe | ||
Place of calving | Group pen | 69 | 5.94 | 0.005 |
Individual pen | 41 | 4.46 | ||
Tiestall | 84 | 4.32 | ||
Combined or otherf | 16 | 3.25 | ||
Missing | 2 | NEe | ||
Use intramammary products at dry-off | No | 23 | 3.84 | 0.045 |
Sometimes (less than 50% of cows) | 36 | 4.10 | ||
Often (50–75% of cows) | 16 | 6.70 | ||
Mostly (75–95% of cows) | 23 | 3.99 | ||
Always (more than 95% of cows) | 114 | 5.07 | ||
Way of responding to questionnaire | Postal | 127 | 4.62 | 0.332 |
Phone | 85 | 5.02 |