Percentage of calf mortality and its associated risk factors in dairy farms of Anwara Upazila, Chattogram

Abstract

The high rate of calf mortality presents a significant challenge in our country, adversely affecting the dairy sector, national economy, and overall food security. This study, conducted in Anwara Upazila, Chattogram, aimed to determine the calf mortality percentage, identify associated risk factors, and assess the effect on milk production. Data from 34 farms, with 729 calves born and 140 deaths recorded between June 2023 and May 2024, were analyzed using the lm()function in R (version 4.3.2). The overall mortality rate was 19.20%, with female calves exhibiting higher mortality than males. Mortality decreased as age increased, peaking at 45% during the first month of life. The primary causes of death were diarrhea (25%), pneumonia (21.43%), foot and mouth disease (19.28%), lumpy skin disease (16.43%), naval infections (6.44%), septicemia (3.57%), heat stress (2.85%), acidosis (2.14%), and unknown causes (2.86%). Small and medium farms experienced higher mortality rates compared to large farms. On average, the loss of each calf resulted in a reduction of 1132 liters of milk in the herd. The loss of calves has a profound effect on milk production by decreasing the available replacement stock and impacting milk letdown. Improved calf rearing and management practices are essential to reduce mortality.