Cost of respiratory diseases in dairy heifer calves

Abstract

This paper estimates the total cost of respiratory disease in dairy heifer calves. In a typical dairy herd, 14% of dairy replacement heifer born alive are culled before first calving. Respiratory disease is involved, either directly (death) or indirectly (poor growth rate). Overall cost is a combination of many factors such as, but not limited to, veterinary treatments, loss of performances, extended rearing period, death, delay at first service and capital wasted. Young calves (3-16 weeks) are at higher risk, and mean duration of disease outbreak is 5 weeks. Morbidity and mortality are influenced by the severity of infections.