Fatores que influenciam a saúde de bezerros durante o aleitamento

Abstract

Young calf rearing corresponds to one of the most critical stages for the animal and a challenge for the producer, represented by high rates of morbidity and mortality, as well as high management costs. The study aimed to evaluate the main factors affecting the health of calves. Data from 122 animals were collected during the 75-day suckling period, stratified into weeks 1 to 11. Odds Ratio (OR) analysis was performed among the factors that could influence the risk of developing diseases in calves. It were evaluated sex, birth season, calving period, parity order, period of parity, failure of passive transfer, breastfeeding strategy and milk replaces composition. According to the results obtained, animals whose step-down strategy was adopted had a greater chance of diarrhea (OR 2,5; p < 0,05), as well as animals that were born during the day in relation to those born at night (OR 1.34; p < 0,05). So, there are factors that effect calves’s health.