Table 2.
Protocol-, facility-, and animal-based measurements gathered through interviews with calf managers, visual inspection by the researcher, and farm records during visits to 29 dairy farms using group pens in Los Ríos region, Chile.
| Measurement and Variable | Source of Data | Scale | Score/Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protocol-based Measurements | |||
| N° calves in the calf barn | Interview | Continuous | 165 ± 136 calves |
| Main breed on the farm | Interview | 0: Holstein; 1: dairyXbeef; 2: HolsteinXJersey | 0: 12; 1: 8; 2: 9 farms |
| Presence of maternity pen | Interview | 0: yes; 1: no | 0: 19; 1: 10 farms |
| Supervision during calving | Interview | 0: yes; 1: no | 0: 27; 1: 2 farms |
| Time mother-calf spent together | Interview | Continuous | 23.12 ± 31.95 hours |
| Colostrum source | Interview | 0: manual; 1: mother | 0: 15; 1: 14 farms |
| Evaluation colostrum quality | Interview | 0: yes or 1: no | 0: 9; 1: 20 farms |
| Evaluation passive transfer | Interview | 0: yes or 1: no | 0: 8; 1: 21 farms |
| Type of milk | Interview | 0: milk replacer; 1: treated waste milk; 2: untreated waste milk | 0: 8; 1: 6; 2:15 farms |
| Liters of milk | Interview | 0: ≤4 L/day; 1: >4 L/day | 0: 21; 1: 8 farms |
| Milk feeding frequency | Interview | 0: 2 times/day; 1: 4 times/day | 0: 28; 1: 1 farms |
| Age of access to water | Interview | Continuous | 10.3 ± 15.5 days |
| Age of access to starter | Interview | Continuous | 6.3 ± 8.3 days |
| Age of access to hay | Interview | Continuous | 14.9 ± 16.9 days |
| Weaning criteria | Interview | 0: age; 1: weight | 0: 25; 1: 4 farms |
| Weaning age | Interview | Continuous | 79.8 ± 18.0 days |
| Weaning weight | Interview | Continuous | 79.4 ± 14.8 kg |
| Disbudding: age | Interview | Continuous | 44.9 ± 28.3 days |
| Disbudding: analgesic | Interview | 0: yes; 1: no | 0: 3; 1: 26 farms |
| Disbudding: anaesthetic | Interview | 0: yes; 1: no | 0: 6; 1: 23 farms |
| Euthanasia protocol | Interview | 0: yes; 1: no | 0:10; 1:16 farms |
| Facility-based measurements | |||
| Time in individual hutches | Interview | Continuous | 6.4 ± 4.7 days |
| Bedding material | Inspection | 0: straw; 2: pasture; 3: without bedding material | 0: 25; 1: 2; 2: 2 farms |
| Bed material depth | Inspection | Continuous | 7.9 ± 4.4 cm |
| Space allowance | Inspection | 0: ≤1.8 m2/calf; 1: >1.8 m2/calf | 0: 23; 1: 56 pens |
| Bed cleaning frequency | Inspection | 0: every day; 1: 2–3 times/week; 2: 1 time/week | 0: 12; 1: 11; 2: 4 farms |
| Animal-based measurements | |||
| Body condition score | Inspection | 0: normal; 1: lower condition; 2: severe lower condition | 0: 596; 1: 89; 2: 15 calves |
| Calf cleanliness score | Inspection | 0: clean; 1: moderately dirty; 2: dirty | 0: 494; 1: 176; 1: 23 calves |
| Season of birth | Record | 1:autumn; 2: summer; 3: spring; 4: winter | 1: 227; 2: 178; 3: 143; 4: 152 calves |
| Sex | Record | 1: female; 2: male | 1: 443; 2: 252 calves |
| Age | Record | Continuous | 45 ± 20 days |