On-farm mortality of dairy calves in large-scale Estonian dairy herds – a multidisciplinary approach
| dc.contributor.advisor | Mõtus, Kerli (advisor) | |
| dc.contributor.advisor | Kaart, Tanel (advisor) | |
| dc.contributor.author | Viidu, Dagni-Alice | |
| dc.contributor.department | Institute of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences | eng |
| dc.contributor.other | Simojoki, Heli (opponent) | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-03-11T11:08:58Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-03-11T11:08:58Z | |
| dc.date.defensed | 2026-04-02 | |
| dc.date.issued | 2026 | |
| dc.description | Doctoral Thesis in Veterinary Science. | eng |
| dc.description | Doktoritöö loomaarstiteaduse erialal. | est |
| dc.description.abstract | ABSTRACT. The global dairy industry is undergoing rapid intensification, characterized by increasing herd sizes, technological innovation, automation, and evolving paradigms of responsibility and decision-making among producers. As herds grow, individual animal monitoring becomes more challenging, leading to delayed disease detection and increasing morbidity and mortality. Calf mortality is both an economic burden and a key animal welfare indicator, drawing concern from the public and industry stakeholders. Promoting herd health is therefore more critical than ever. This dissertation aimed to quantify pre-weaning calf mortality risk and identify herd-level factors influencing calf mortality in large Estonian dairy herds. A multidisciplinary approach was applied, using data from 118 farms with at least 100 cows, along with information on farm personnel. The mean herd-level calf mortality risk was 5.9% during the first 21 days and 2.7% from 22 to 90 days of age. Identified risk factors emphasized the importance of good hygiene and pathogen control in calves' environment. In younger calves, mortality was mainly linked to stress-inducing activities and in older calves to feeding and housing conditions during the first three weeks. Reduced losses were linked to proper colostrum management in younger calves and effective biosecurity measures and vaccination programs in older calves. Employees’ attitudes and job satisfaction were significantly associated with calf mortality, while personality traits had no independent effect. Workers in higher-mortality herds reported greater dissatisfaction and some disengagement from calf health issues. Correct implementation of a pre-calving vaccination program targeting diarrheal pathogens was also linked to reduced mortality. These findings highlight the need to integrate biological, managerial, and sociological factors into herd health planning and support evidence-based strategies to improve calf welfare in modern dairy production system. | eng |
| dc.description.abstract | LÜHIKOKKUVÕTE. Vasikate suremus on multifaktoriaalne probleem, mis peegeldab ühtaegu loomade heaolu ja farmi majanduslikku edukust. Vasikate suremuse riskitegurite senised uuringud on valdavalt keskendunud piiratud arvule üksikutele teguritele. Suurtes tootmisfarmides kasutatakse ka aina enam palgatööjõudu, mille mõju vasikate tervisele ja heaolule on seni vähe uuritud. Probleem vajab seetõttu laiapõhjalist käsitlust, et selgitada lisaks üksikutele mõjuteguritele ka eri valdkondade suhtelist olulisust. Käesoleva väitekirja eesmärgiks oli tuvastada karjataseme tegurid, mis mõjutavad vasikate suremust Eesti suurtes piimaveisefarmides. Töö põhines multidistsiplinaarsel lähenemisel ning uuringutesse kaasati 118 suure piimaveisefarmi andmed koos teabega nende töötajate arvamuste ja hoiakute kohta. Vasikate keskmine suremusrisk oli nooremas vanuserühmas (kuni 21 elupäeva) 5,9% ja vanemas vanuserühmas (22–90 elupäeva) 2,7%. Analüüsi põhjal on vasikate suremuse vähendamiseks kõige olulisem tagada hea hügieen ja tõkestada haigustekitajate levikut vasikate pidamiskeskkonnas. Noorema vanuserühma vasikate puhul olid peamised suremuse riskitegurid seotud stressi tekitavate protseduuridega, vanemate vasikate puhul aga söötmis- ja pidamistingimustega esimese kolme elunädala jooksul. Väiksema suremusega seostusid nooremas vanuserühmas korrektsed ternespiima jootmise tavad ning vanemas vanuserühmas tõhusad bioturvameetmed ja vaktsineerimisprogrammid. Töötajate hoiakud ja rahulolu olid vasikate suremuse tasemega seotud, samas kui nende isiksuseomadustel olulist mõju ei täheldatud. Kõrge suremusega karjades esines rohkem rahulolematust ja teatavat probleemist distantseerumist. Poegimiseelse vaktsineerimisprogrammi korrektne rakendamine vähendas vasikate suremust oluliselt. Doktoritöös kirjeldati mitmeid seni vähetuntud vasikate suremuse riskitegureid ning tulemused rõhutavad vajadust pöörata karjatervisealases töös suuremat tähelepanu juhtimisalastele ja sotsiaalsetele teguritele. | est |
| dc.identifier.citation | Viidu, D.-A. (2026). On-farm mortality of dairy calves in large-scale Estonian dairy herds – a multidisciplinary approach [Estonian University of Life Sciences]. https://doi.org/10.15159/EMU.172 | eng |
| dc.identifier.isbn | 978-9916-91-059-7 (print) | |
| dc.identifier.isbn | 978-9916-91-060-3 (pdf) | |
| dc.identifier.issn | 2382-7076 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10492/10313 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://doi.org/10.15159/emu.172 | |
| dc.publisher | Estonian University of Life Sciences | eng |
| dc.relation.ispartofseries | Doctoral Theses of the Estonian University of Life Sciences | eng |
| dc.relation.ispartofseries | Eesti Maaülikooli doktoritööd | est |
| dc.rights | © Dagni-Alice Viidu, 2026 | |
| dc.rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess | |
| dc.rights.uri | https://www.riigiteataja.ee/en/eli/ee/Riigikogu/act/519062017005/consolide | |
| dc.subject | pre-weaning calf mortality | eng |
| dc.subject | herd-level risk factors | eng |
| dc.subject | management practices | eng |
| dc.subject | psychosocial factors | eng |
| dc.subject | preventive measures | eng |
| dc.subject | dissertations | eng |
| dc.title | On-farm mortality of dairy calves in large-scale Estonian dairy herds – a multidisciplinary approach | eng |
| dc.title.alternative | Vasikate suremus suurtes Eesti piimaveisekarjades – multidistsiplinaarne käsitlus | est |
| dc.type | Doctoral Thesis | eng |
| dc.type.qualificationname | PhD | eng |
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