Importance of calf management in dairy farms: an Italia investigation

In dairy farms, calves’ management is often neglected, as unproductive animals. The aim of this study is to observe the situation of dairy calves management in 118 dairy farms located mainly in northern Italy (92.3%) using a questionnaire. SAS® software was used to perform statistical analysis and calculate averages, frequencies, correlations and multiple correspondence analysis. About 60.7% of farms have herds with at least 101 lactating cows and 85.6% have intensive breeding methods, 75.2% without grazing. The 42.3% of farms take care of calves during milking, the 40.5% after the end of the same and only 22.9% declared the absence of disease. Calf area in about 69.0% of farms is outside and 31.0% is inside but only the 8.85% dedicated an area only for calves. The 46.6% of farms use single housing, 22.0% multiple box, 31.4% use different types of housing and the 29.5% keeps calves in single housing beyond the limit established by law. The 54.4% of farms separate cow-calf within 1 hour from birth. The 97.4% of farms always administer colostrum and the average time of administration is 3.03±4.38 hours, only 45.2% of farms administer colostrum within 2 hours of life and the 69.2% of farms provide maternal colostrum. Analysis of multiple correspondence showed that farms using mainly maternal colostrum generally tend to separate the calf from the mother later (>1 hour) and to provide colostrum less promptly (>2 hours). These parameters appear to be correlated with a birth to weaning mortality rate lower than 5%, maybe because staying with the mother, calf takes with breastfeeding more colostrum useful for immunity. Young animals represent the future of the herd, so their health and management are essential to obtain healthy and consequently productive adult animals. Acknowledgements: Project financed by the University of Milan, Development Plan 2019-2021.