Recording of calf diseases for potential use in breeding programs: a case study on calf respiratory illness and diarrhea
van Staaveren, Nienke; Hyland, Emma; Houlahan, Kerry; Lynch, Colin; Miglior, Filippo; Kelton, David F.; Schenkel, Flavio S.; Baes, Christine F.
(2023) Canadian Journal of Animal Science, volume 103, issue 2, pp. 192 - 203
(Article)
Abstract
Calf diseases remain a challenge for dairy producers from both an economic and welfare perspective. Genetically selecting for disease resistance in calves is a promising approach that could contribute to sustainable dairy farming. Genetic evaluations, however, require well-defined and consistently recorded phenotypes to be successful. Therefore, this study aimed to
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understand the current state of calf disease recording on Ontario farms. Calf disease records of respiratory illness and diarrhea were available from the national milk recording organization (Lactanet Canada, Guelph, Ontario, Canada) from 2009 to 2020. A case study was conducted to describe calf disease diagnoses and recording practices by surveying a subset of 13 Ontario dairy producers. The percentage of milk recorded farms that recorded calf respiratory illness and calf diarrhea increased from 2.6% in 2009 to 11.1% in 2020. Potential sources of data loss were identified along the information chain from farm to genetic evaluation database. Clear definitions and thresholds to diagnose calf disease, standard operating procedures for data recording, as well as a data transfer pipeline, which includes exchange formats, are needed to facilitate the inclusion of calf health traits in genetic evaluations.
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Keywords: calf health, data recording, genetics, pneumonia, scours
ISSN: 0008-3984
Publisher: Agricultural Institute of Canada
Note: Funding Information: This study was part of the Resilient Dairy Genome Project (RDGP). We gratefully acknowledge all funding and support for the Resilient Dairy Genome Project from the organizations listed at http://www.resilientdairy.ca/funders-and-part ners/, as administered by Genome Canada, Genome Alberta, Ontario Genomics, Genome Quebec, and Genome British Columbia. This research was also supported by a contribution from the Dairy Research Cluster 3 (Lactanet and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership AgriScience Program. As per the research agreement, the funders had no role in the design and conduct of the studies, data collection, and analysis or interpretation of the results as well as the decision to publish the findings. Dr. Christine Baes also gratefully acknowledges support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Canada Research Chair and Discovery programs. We also gratefully acknowledge the Canadian Dairy Network for Antimicrobial Stewardship and Resistance (CaDNetASR), funded by Dairy Farmers of Canada and Agriculture and Agri-food Canada under the Dairy Research Cluster 3, for their collaboration in recruiting dairy producers. Finally, a heartfelt thanks to the dairy producers themselves who kindly allowed us to work with them and visit their farms when possible despite the pandemic. Funding Information: This study was part of the Resilient Dairy Genome Project (RDGP). We gratefully acknowledge all funding and support for the Resilient Dairy Genome Project from the organizations listed at http://www.resilientdairy.ca/funders-and-part ners/, as administered by Genome Canada, Genome Alberta, Ontario Genomics, Genome Quebec, and Genome British Columbia. This research was also supported by a contribution from the Dairy Research Cluster 3 (Lactanet and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership AgriScience Program. As per the research agreement, the funders had no role in the design and conduct of the studies, data collection, and analysis or interpretation of the results as well as the decision to publish the findings. Dr. Christine Baes also gratefully acknowledges support from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Canada Research Chair and Discovery programs. We also gratefully acknowledge the Canadian Dairy Network for Antimicrobial Stewardship and Resistance (CaD-NetASR), funded by Dairy Farmers of Canada and Agriculture and Agri-food Canada under the Dairy Research Cluster 3, for their collaboration in recruiting dairy producers. Finally, a heartfelt thanks to the dairy producers themselves who kindly allowed us to work with them and visit their farms when possible despite the pandemic. Publisher Copyright: © 2023, Agricultural Institute of Canada. All rights reserved.
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