Table 1.
Summary of animala and herdb level variables examined as potential risk factors for calf treatment during the 2002 calving season.
| Variable examined as a potential risk factor | Percent (number) of cows with attribute | Percent (number) of herds with at least one cow with attribute |
|---|---|---|
| Ecoregion | ||
| 1. Aspen Parkland | 26 (7516) | 26 (53) |
| 2. Boreal Transition | 11 (3047) | 11 (22) |
| 3. Fescue Grassland | 13 (3773) | 12 (25) |
| 4. Mixed Grassland | 15 (4202) | 14 (29) |
| 5. Moist Mixed Grassland | 13 (3566) | 13 (26) |
| 6. Northern Continental Divide | 4.2 (1193) | 3.9 (8) |
| 7. Peace Lowland | 9.5 (2710) | 12 (25) |
| 8. Western Alberta Upland | 4.7 (1338) | 3.9 (8) |
| 9. Western Boreal | 4.3 (1228) | 3.5 (7) |
| Vaccinated for BVD/IBR prebreeding 2001 | ||
| 1. Live vaccine | 42 (11,896) | 42 (85) |
| 2. Inactivated vaccine | 16 (4491) | 17 (35) |
| 3. No vaccine | 4 (1177) | 3.5 (7) |
| 4. Not reported | 39 (11,009) | 37 (76) |
| Heifers vaccinated for diarrhea (E. coli) precalving 2002c | 39 (1828/4748) | 35 (65/184) |
| Cows vaccinated for diarrheas (E. coli) precalving 2002d | 33 (7737/23,825) | 32 (65/203) |
| Heifers vaccinated for diarrhea (viral) precalving 2002c | 38 (1785/4748) | 34 (63/184) |
| Cows vaccinated for diarrhea (viral) precalving 2002d | 32 (7518/23,825) | 31 (63/203) |
| BCS pre-calving <5 (9-point scale)e | 5.7 (1636) | 70 (142) |
| BCS at pregnancy testing <5 (9-point scale)e | 8.3 (2357) | 83 (168) |
| Cow born on farm and not purchased | 67 (18,997) | 92 (187) |
| Twin births | 4.4 (1256) | 88 (178) |
| Calf gender | ||
| 1. Male | 51. (14,526) | 100 (203) |
| 2. Female | 47. (13,416) | 100 (203) |
| 3. Not recorded | 2.2 (631) | 56 (113) |
| No cow problem other than dystocia | 99 (28,242) | 100 (203) |
| Prolapse | 0.2 (50) | 21 (43) |
| Retained fetal membrane (RFM) | 1.0 (275) | 40 (82) |
| Metritis | <0.1 (6) | 2.5 (5) |
| Calving assistance reported | ||
| 1. No assistance | 92 (26,291) | 100 (203) |
| 2. Easy pull | 4.9 (1395) | 87 (177) |
| 3. Hard pull | 1.7 (474) | 68 (138) |
| 4. Malpresentation | 1.0 (285) | 55 (111) |
| 5. Caesarean section surgery | 0.5 (128) | 34 (69) |
| Calving month | ||
| 1. January 2002 | 8.0 (2271) | 48 (98) |
| 2. February 2002 | 21 (6115) | 75 (152) |
| 3. March 2002 | 39 (11,109) | 97 (197) |
| 4. April 2002 | 25 (7176) | 96 (195) |
| 5. May 2002 | 6.7 (1902) | 81 (165) |
| Predominant breed type | ||
| 1. British | 43 (12,353) | 83 (168) |
| 2. Continental | 48 (13,692) | 79 (160) |
| 3. Cross | 7.9 (2270) | 32 (64) |
| 4. No record | 0.9 (258) | 17 (34) |
| Age category | ||
| 1. Yearling heifer (born 2002) | 0.1 (32) | 10 (21) |
| 2. 2 year old heifer (born 2000) | 17 (4748) | 91 (184) |
| 3. 3 year old heifer (born 1999) | 16 (4497) | 97 (196) |
| 4. Mature cow (born 1993 to 1998) | 53 (15,206) | 100 (203) |
| 5. Old cow (born 1991 or earlier) | 12 (3300) | 94 (191) |
| 6. No record of age | 2.8 (790) | 21 (42) |
a
Total number of calves enrolled, n = 28,573.
b
Total number of herds enrolled, N = 203.
c
These data pertain to bred heifers that had a live calf between January 1st and May 31st, 2002.
d
These data pertain to bred cows that had a live calf between January 1st and May 31st, 2002.
e
BCS, body condition score.