Mortality and Morbidity of Beef Calves in Free-Range Farms in Alentejo, Portugal—A Preliminary Study

Santos, Rute; Cachapa, Ana; Carvalho, Graça P.; Silva, Carolina B.; Hernández, Laura; Costa, Lina; Pereira, Luísa S.; Minas, Miguel; Vala, Helena

doi:https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/3616284

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Abstract Introduction Materials and Methods Results Discussion Conclusions Data Availability Conflicts of Interest Acknowledgments References Copyright Related Articles

Research Article | Open Access

Volume 2019 | Article ID 3616284 | https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/3616284

Mortality and Morbidity of Beef Calves in Free-Range Farms in Alentejo, Portugal—A Preliminary Study

Rute Santos,^1,2Ana Cachapa,¹Graça P. Carvalho,¹Carolina B. Silva,^1,2Laura Hernández,^1,2Lina Costa,¹Luísa S. Pereira,¹Miguel Minas,¹and Helena Vala^3,4

Academic Editor: Annamaria Pratelli

Received14 May 2019

Revised22 Jul 2019

Accepted01 Aug 2019

Published16 Oct 2019

Abstract

Extensive cow-calf beef cattle farms play a significant role in Portuguese livestock production, but records of important production variables, such as calf mortality, are scarce. To assess herd-level calf mortality and its potential economic impact, farmers from the Alentejo region were asked to fill a questionnaire regarding herd size, feeding and reproductive management practices, calf mortality (from birth to weaning), and detection of the main morbidity causes, as well as of sudden, unexplained deaths during the previous 12 months. Farmers were also requested to quantitatively assess the economic impact of calf mortality on their annual revenue. In the majority of farms, the herd size was larger than 100 animals. The median stocking rate was 0.41 adult animals/hectare, and 70% of farmers stated their farm was self-sufficient in forage. The percent of live births that resulted in weaned calves averaged 94.3%, which led to the assumption of a 5.7% calf mortality rate from birth to weaning. In the previous 12 months, 78.8% of the farms identified at least one case of calf diarrhea, 60.7% identified at least one case of respiratory disease, and 82.1% had at least one sudden, unexplained calf death. As expected, farmers that assessed a higher impact of calf losses on their annual economic revenue were also those who reported higher incidences of calf diarrhea, respiratory disease, and sudden, unexplained deaths. One-quarter of the farmers were unable to assess the economic impact of calf mortality on the farm’s revenue. Herd size appears to have a predictive value on calf mortality in the first month of life, and from 30 days to weaning. The number of sudden, unexplained calf deaths seems to have a predictive value on overall calf mortality (from birth to weaning), suggesting that the farms’ management practices probably play an important role in calf mortality throughout the suckling period. Further studies are needed to fully understand calf mortality in Portuguese extensive rearing systems.

1. Introduction

According to the official economic accounts for agriculture in 2016, the value of livestock production in Portugal was 2630.9 million Euros, corresponding to 37.9% of the total value of agricultural production. Cattle were the second main product, representing 21.6% of the overall value, and showed a 5.1% increase from 2015 to 2016. Self-sufficiency in beef production in the European Union is close to 102%; however, in Portugal, this value is only 57% [1], making it the country’s meat sector with a greater dependence on imports. Beef cattle farms are mainly located in the south of the country, the Alentejo region, which holds over 65% of the grassland area and around 42% of the cattle stock in Portugal [2]. These cattle are mostly bred in extensive cow-calf production systems, wherein the farmers’ revenue is highly dependent on productive efficiency, which is aimed at obtaining one calf per cow, per year. This goal relies mainly on adequate breeding strategies and herd health management, with the latter having a significant effect on pre-weaning calf mortality and morbidity. Calf production is the main goal of beef cattle farming, for raising, fattening, and selling cattle, and rearing replacement heifers to be included in the breeding herd. Loss of young stock due to on-farm mortality is a serious concern affecting the profitability of beef production farms [3].

Digestive disorders and respiratory disease are the most frequently reported reasons for calf morbidity and mortality [3]. A recent study conducted on beef cattle farms in Canada [4] assessed the average herd-level treatment risk for preweaning calf diarrhea and bovine respiratory disease, and found these to be 4.9% and 3.0%, respectively. The same study estimated the average herd-level mortality within the first 24 hours of life, from 1 to 7 days, and from 7 days to weaning to be 2.3%, 1.1%, and 1.4%, respectively.

Morbidity and mortality in beef calves are associated with multiple infectious and noninfectious causes [5, 6], and are frequently concomitant with the failure of transfer of passive immunity (FTP). Recently, an assessment of the mean total costs associated with FTP in European systems pointed to €80 per beef calf (€20–139, in a 95% prediction interval) [7]. Although beef cows show considerable between-animal variance in first-milking colostrum yield and immunoglobulin concentration, research seems to show that factors influencing the time between birth and first suckling, including dam parity, udder and teat anatomy, and especially dystocia, are detrimental to calf passive immunity [8].

However, data on mortality and morbidity rates in extensive grazing beef cattle farms in Portugal are scarce, and mostly cover specific reproductive practices [9] or diseases [10, 11]. To the authors’ knowledge, only one previous study published data on beef calf mortality in field conditions [12], and no studies have addressed its economic impacts. Hence, we conducted a preliminary study based on a questionnaire survey of farms in the Alentejo region, to assess the main farm management practices and to evaluate farmers’ perception of how mortality and morbidity potentially affect production.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Questionnaire

Between April and June 2018, a questionnaire survey was conducted at 33 extensive beef cattle farms in North Alentejo, Portugal. Farmers were recruited at local livestock fairs and through contact with assisting veterinarians, thus representing a convenience sample. The objectives of the study were explained to the farmers, the confidentiality of individual data was assured, and their agreement with the publication of collected data was obtained. The addressed items included general feeding and reproduction management practices as well as quantitative data on the herd and the farmers’ perception of the economic impacts of calf mortality and morbidity on their annual revenue. The questions in the questionnaire and the types of answers are described in Table 1. Following the collection of completed questionnaires, a data-sheet was built to allow for subsequent statistical analysis.

2.2. Statistical Analysis

The information regarding grazing area, herd size, and feeding and reproductive management (items 1–11 in Table 1) collected from the 33 questionnaires was used to present a general characterization of the sampled farms. The stocking rate was calculated by dividing the herd size (item 2) by the grazing area (item 1). As inconsistencies were found in quantitative answers (items 12–19 in Table 1) in 5 questionnaires, these were removed from further statistical analysis of data. Statistical analysis of data from the remaining 28 questionnaires was preceded by normality tests of variables (Shapiro–Wilks test); relevant variables exhibited distributions different from normality with positive skewness and were transformed using the function or to achieve acceptable normality. Outliers were detected using Grubbs tests and were considered as missing data. Percent of weaned calves was calculated as the ratio between the number of weaned calves (item 13) and the number of live births (item 12). Correlation coefficients (Pearson’s R) between transformed variables were also calculated. To detect statistical differences in the variables according to the farmers’ perception of the economic impact of calf mortality, a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed, followed by Duncan’s multiple-range post hoc analysis. Finally, multiple regression models were tested for predictors of the number of calf deaths from birth to weaning, from birth to 30 days of age, and from 30 days to weaning. The chosen predictors were herd size and the number of cases of diarrhea, respiratory disease, and sudden deaths with no specific diagnosis in the last 12 months. Statistica v.12 software [13] was used for all statistical analyses.

3. Results

3.1. General Characterization of the Sampled Farms

Farms were sampled in North Alentejo, Portugal, a region with a characteristic hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Csa, according to Köppen climate classification system) and typically with low organic matter content and low productivity soils [14]. The sizes of the farms included in the study ranged from 80 to 1000 hectares, with most farms having between 200 and 400 hectares (Figure 1). Herd size ranged from 27 to 411 animals, with 10 herds having 27–100 animals, 14 herds having 101–200 animals, and 9 herds having more than 201 animals.

The median herd size was 137 animals, and the median stocking rate was 0.41 adult animals/hectare. Only 18% of farms reared purebred indigenous breeds (namely, Alentejana and Mertolenga, the two most important indigenous beef cattle breeds in Alentejo) and 33% reared purebred exotic breeds (mostly Limousin, but Charolais in three farms), with the remaining 49% of farmers using crossbred cows as breeding stock (mostly crosses between Limousin and indigenous breeds). Thirteen farms reared livestock other than beef cattle (dairy cattle, equine, and/or pigs), but in all of them, beef cattle were the main source of revenue. In approximately half of the farms, bulls were kept with the herd all year round, while in the remaining farms, bulls stayed with the herd from late autumn to late spring, and were removed from the herd and kept in separate plots for the remaining period. Veterinary pregnancy diagnoses were performed in 21% of farms, estrus synchronization protocols were used in 18%, and artificial insemination protocols were used in 14%. All the farmers stated the need for supplementation of grazing with forage, or forage and concentrate, during the months when pasture was scarce, and the majority of farmers (70%) declared their farm was self-sufficient in forage. The geometric mean percent of weaned calves (defined as the number of weaned calves divided by the total number of live births) was 94.3% (leading to the assumption of 5.7% calf loss). In the previous 12 months, 78.8% of farms identified at least one case of calf diarrhea, 60.7% identified at least one case of respiratory disease, and 82.1% identified at least one sudden calf death, with no definitive diagnosis.

3.2. Association among Variables and the Effect of Perceived Economic Impact

As expected, positive correlations were found between herd size and calf deaths from birth to weaning, diarrhea, respiratory disease, and sudden deaths with no definitive diagnosis, but not with the percent of weaned calves. The percent of weaned calves negatively correlated with the number of deaths from birth to 30 days and the number of sudden deaths with no definite diagnosis. Mortality from birth to 30 days also positively correlated with the number of cases of diarrhea and respiratory disease (Table 2).

A one-way ANOVA showed significant differences in groups of farms, whose farmers had different perceptions of the economic impact of calf deaths on their annual revenue (Table 3) with regard to the number of cases of diarrhea and respiratory disease and the number of sudden deaths with no definitive diagnosis. Farmers who stated calf losses had a bigger impact on their annual revenue were from farms with a higher number of cases of sudden mortality and morbidity due to digestive and respiratory problems. A relatively high proportion (25%) of farmers were unable to assess the quantitative impact of calf losses on their revenue, but this group showed lower average values of the analyzed variables. We found no significant differences between groups regarding herd size, percent of weaned calves, and the number of calf deaths between birth and weaning.

We tested multiple regression models to explore the relevance of herd size and identified cases of diarrhea, respiratory disease, and sudden death as predictors of calf mortality rates. When considering calf deaths from birth to 30 days as the dependent variable (Table 4, adjusted , ), herd size was the only variable with statistical significance; the same was observed when the dependent variable was calf deaths from 30 days to weaning (Table 5, adjusted , ). Finally, when considering calf deaths from birth to weaning (Table 6, adjusted , ), the independent variable with statistical significance was the number of sudden deaths.

4. Discussion

4.1. General Characterization of the Sampled Farms

The median herd size (137 cows) was superior to the average herd size reported in the literature for the same region (55–80 animals, reported by Araújo et al. [14]). Stocking rate was also higher (0.41 vs. 0.34, reported by Carmona Belo et al. [12]), even though both values were similar to those reported by Milán et al. [15] under similar soil and climate conditions. The average herd size in cow-calf farms varies largely and may have an effect on revenue and on mortality and morbidity rates, depending on how the scale economy affects the herd size as well as how the herd size affects management intensity for optimizing production performance; the expected effect of herd size is, thus, nonlinear [16].

In general, the feeding and reproductive practices observed in our study were similar to those mentioned by Araújo et al. [14], even though some farms are now using reproductive monitoring and techniques, such as estrus synchronization and artificial insemination protocols, that were not traditionally used in extensive beef cattle systems in Portugal. This is probably a consequence of the recent changes in the country’s rules for applying for funds that are now in line with the agricultural policies of the European Union, which since 2014 have made calving in the last 18 months a requirement for eligibility of suckling cows. The self-sufficiency of forage in the majority of farms is compliant with extensive production systems.

Carmona Belo et al. [12] reported a 3% calf mortality rate from birth to weaning in Alentejo cow-calf farms. In the present study, we assumed a higher rate of 5.7% based on the percent of weaned calves. This is a comparatively high rate, considering values reported in the literature (Table 7), even though the method of estimation may have influenced the result. The percent of farms with cases of calf diarrhea, respiratory disease, or sudden death without a definitive diagnosis in the last 12 months (78.8%, 60.7%, and 82.1%, respectively) was also considerably higher than that found in the literature (51.7% and 35.7% for calf diarrhea and sudden, unexplained deaths, respectively [17], and 21% for respiratory disease [5]). These results should be interpreted cautiously because the recruitment of respondents cannot exclude possible bias (i.e., farmers that responded to the questionnaire, namely, those recruited through the assisting veterinarians, could a priori own farms that had identified high morbidity and mortality rates). The fact that farms were not randomly chosen may have contributed to an artificial overestimation of the mortality and morbidity rates.

4.2. Association among Variables and the Effect of Perceived Economic Impact

We obtained moderate to strong positive correlations () between herd size and calf deaths from birth to weaning, as well as the detected number of cases of calf diarrhea, respiratory disease, and sudden, unexplained deaths. In dairy cattle farms, the reported associations of herd size and calf mortality found in the literature are contradictory, with some authors finding a positive association [28, 29], some a negative association [30, 31], and others finding no association between these variables [32]. In beef cattle, calf mortality rates increased with herd size, with significant differences among small (under 29 animals), medium (30–62 animals), and large herds [18]. Herd size can influence the density of pathogens in the environment if the pasture area is limited (hence, the stocking rate is high) [18]. Furthermore, the accumulation of calvings may create favorable conditions for infection spread, together with the lack of dedicated human care and available resources, thereby leading to higher mortality rates [3]. A larger herd size has previously been associated with less intensive calving management [18]. However, studies wherein the herd size did not significantly affect calf mortality, despite the number of calves cared per operator being higher in larger herds than in smaller ones, have suggested better specialization of the workers in larger herds [32]. Considering that, in the Alentejo region, extensive cow-calf farming systems usually depend on a reduced number of low skilled workers, and that herd size in the sampled farms corresponds to medium to large herds, it is possible that the relatively high mortality rates are associated with poor calf management practices.

Significant correlations were observed between the detected number of cases of calf diarrhea, respiratory disease, and sudden, unexplained deaths. Studies have shown that perinatal diarrhea may predispose calves to respiratory disease [5, 18]. Additionally, calf diarrhea pathogens have been associated with sudden death in calves, mainly in the period from birth to 14 days, during which death can occur quickly [17], sometimes in a matter of hours, without the calves necessarily exhibiting easily identifiable symptoms [33]. This suggests that the number of cases of calf diarrhea detected by farmers can be underestimated. The detected number of sudden deaths also positively correlated with calf mortality, both from birth to 30 days and from 30 days to weaning. Sudden deaths in calves can have infectious causes (namely, neonatal septicemia due to failure of passive transfer and exposure to a virulent bacterium, such as Escherichia coli or Salmonella sp., or later onset septicemia due to virulent strains of Salmonella sp. or Mannheimia haemolytica [34]) or noninfectious causes, such as trauma or abomasal ulcers due to poor feeding management or environmental stress [35]. Regardless of the cause, a high incidence of sudden calf deaths can indicate the need for improved management strategies.

In young beef calves, diarrhea, and respiratory disease are the two most common causes of mortality [3], accounting for approximately 50% and 15% of all calf deaths, respectively [29]. Calf diarrhea is particularly important as a cause of death from birth to 14 days, while respiratory disease often occurs later in the preweaning period [18]. Reported on-farm mortality rates were higher between birth and 3 months of age, and declined considerably between 3 months and weaning [36]. In our study, a significant correlation was observed between mortality between birth and 30 days and mortality from 30 days to weaning; mortality between birth and 30 days positively correlated with the number of detected cases of diarrhea and respiratory disease, but mortality from 30 days to weaning did not present significant correlations with either variable.

Infectious diarrhea is one of the biggest health challenges in the beef cattle industry, as more than 20% of beef cattle owners state that calf diarrhea has a significant impact on their economic productivity [37]. Respiratory disease in nursing calves also represents an important source of loss for some cow-calf producers, but the lack of published research on risk factors makes it difficult for veterinarians to make evidence-based decisions regarding practices to minimize the disease in affected operations [38]. In this study, the number of detected cases of both diseases, as well as of sudden, unexplained deaths, were significantly different in farms with lower and higher assessments of farmers of the economic impact of calf death on annual revenue. Surprisingly, one-quarter of the farmers were unable to estimate this impact. The fact that farmers are unaware of or oblivious to the economic impacts of nursing calf morbidity and deaths on their farms probably has a negative effect over the willingness to adopt practices to mitigate this impact, with repercussions both on economic viability and animal welfare.

In the multiple regression models for calf deaths from birth to 30 days and from 30 days to weaning, herd size was a predictor with a statistically significant effect. As pointed out earlier, a larger herd size can represent a negative effect over mortality risk, since bigger herds need a larger availability of human resources to effectively monitor and intervene, when necessary, in events that can lead to calf loss, if not attended to fast enough. This can pose an even more serious problem when the calving season is concentrated in a specific period of the year, because the necessary addition to the workforce may not be met by the farmers, who usually try to minimize costs on human resources, thereby increasing the number of calf losses due to the lack of timely human care. When the regression model included calf deaths from birth to weaning as a dependent variable, the only predictor with a statistically significant value was the number of sudden deaths with no specific diagnosis. As stated previously, this suggests an influence of unmeasured management variables over calf mortality that may be influencing the causes of calf losses in both periods.

As stated by Murray et al. [4], it is important to acknowledge that the herd‐level incidence of mortality and disease was estimated by respondents and that farmers’ perception and recollection of events can lead to response and recall biases, with respondents either intentionally misrepresenting or unintentionally lacking accuracy in their responses. As this study was based on a limited number of farms, the results should be interpreted cautiously. Nevertheless, the results seem to suggest that mortality and morbidity levels in extensive cow-calf beef herds in the Alentejo region are high, with potentially serious impacts on both animal welfare and farm sustainability.

5. Conclusions

In this preliminary study on extensive beef cattle farms in Alentejo, Portugal, the reported calf mortality rates were higher than those reported in similar studies in other parts of the world. The number of cases of diarrhea, respiratory disease, and sudden death was also comparatively high. This can potentially mean that there are health and welfare issues that need improvement; nonetheless, the results should be interpreted cautiously, taking into consideration the small number of farms included in the study. Surprisingly, a considerable number of farmers seem unaware of the economic impact of calf morbidity and mortality on their farm’s revenue. Herd size showed some predictive value on calf mortality during the first month of life and from 30 days to weaning. The number of sudden, unexplained deaths can also help predict calf mortality in the overall birth to weaning period. Broader studies are needed to better understand management practices and other factors that may be affecting these results, so that measures can be taken to mitigate their impacts on animal welfare and farm sustainability.

Data Availability

The survey data used to support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Funding

This work was supported by the project RUMMUNITY [reference SAICT-POL/23757/2016], co-funded by the ERDF—European Regional Development Fund—through the Operational Program for Competitiveness and Internationalization—COMPETE 2020.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank all the farmers who responded to the survey. We would also like to thank Editage (https://www.editage.com) for English language editing.

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Copyright © 2019 Rute Santos et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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