Improving calf health in Denmark

Tackling pre-weaning mortality through better gut performance can lead to improved calf health and future profits. Dairy calves, the cornerstone of any dairy farm, have long been overlooked. Pre-weaning mortality is a major issue in dairy farming around the world. US data (NAHMS, 2007) found a mortality rate for heifers of 7.8%, with digestive problems being responsible for 56.5% of those losses, with respiratory problems being responsible for another 22.5%, data collected in 2010 (NAHMS, 2011)