Summary
This narrative review documents rising calf loss rates on modern dairy farms internationally and identifies dystocia and calving management as primary drivers of perinatal mortality. The author highlights modifiable risk factors (age at first calving, breed, gestation length, calving management) and argues that improving bovine neonatal survival requires systemic change: national-level awareness-raising and farm-level surveillance targeting high-risk herds, coupled with application of existing knowledge and targeted research on unexplained stillbirths.
Regional applicability
The findings address an international animal welfare concern applicable to United Kingdom dairy systems. UK dairy farms would benefit from improved calf mortality recording and implementation of the recommended surveillance and management interventions, though specific UK context and baseline mortality rates are not discussed in this international review.
Key measures
Calf survival rates; perinatal mortality; dystocia prevalence; risk factors including age at first calving, calf breed, gender, gestation length, and calving management practices.
Outcomes reported
The paper identifies modifiable risk factors for poor bovine neonatal survival and perinatal calf mortality on modern dairy farms, and recommends interventions at national and farm levels to improve calf welfare outcomes.
Topic tags
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