Assessment of finishing beef cattle mortality in a sustainable farming perspective

doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2015.06.013

Livestock Science

Volume 178, August 2015, Pages 313-316

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2015.06.013 Get rights and content

Highlights

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Beef cattle mortality impacts farm sustainability but is poorly investigated.
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National cattle movement database is an important source of mortality data.
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On-farm surveys allowed the identification of factors influencing mortality.
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Mortality is affected by breed and type of floor, and season of arrival.

Abstract

Cattle mortality has a relevant economic and environmental impact but it has been scarcely investigated in finishing beef cattle farms. Aim of this study was to investigate mortality rate in 45 intensive beef cattle farms located in North-Eastern Italy from 2010 to 2013 and to evaluate potential risk factors affecting it. Information from the Italian National Cattle Movement database, as source of mortality data, were crossed with descriptors of barn features and farm management gathered by an on-farm survey to identify factors influencing mortality at farm level, which could be of direct utility for the farmers to reduce cattle losses. Results showed an overall average mortality rate in the 4-year period of 1.4% ranging from 0% to 5.3%. Mortality occurred within the first half of the finishing period, on average 3.4 months after the arrival at the fattening unit. A multivariate regression model showed that mortality was affected by breed (P=0.020) and by floor type as trend (P=0.083). Pure Charolaise (Odds ratio=1.70, 95% Confidence interval=1.11-2.59; P<0.005) and Limousine breeds (Odds ratio=1.96, 95% Confidence interval=1.26–3.05; P<0.005) showed higher odds for mortality compared to other beef breeds or crosses. Bulls housed on fully slatted floor showed higher odds compared to those on deep litter (Odds ratio=1.45, 95% Confidence interval=1.01–2.08; P<0.005). Season at arrival affected mortality (P=0.013), with summer (Odds ratio=1.45, 95% Confidence interval=1.14–1.84; P<0.005) and autumn (Odds ratio=1.74, 95% Confidence interval=1.27–2.38; P<0.005) being the most critical seasons. Differently from expected, space allowance and barn features such as presence/absence of roof insulation and/or ventilation devices as well as the managerial choice of separating or not newly arrived bulls in a dedicated receiving area for quarantine did not affect mortality. Based on findings from this study, it could be concluded that the avoidance of rearing specialized French beef breeds, of using fully slatted floor and of importing young cattle during warm seasons could be considered as preventive measures to reduce the risk of mortality in intensive beef cattle farms.

Introduction

It is known that cattle mortality varies considerably between countries, herds within a region, and among years. Mortality of dairy cows and of replacement cattle has been investigated and several risk factors have been identified including characteristics of the housing environment (Crescio et al., 2010, Morignat et al., 2014), herd management (Alvåsen et al., 2014, Raboisson et al., 2014), and health management (Gulliksen et al., 2009, Walker et al., 2012). On the contrary, there is a lack of information concerning mortality rates of finishing beef cattle and the few existing literature often refers to data from large US and Canadian feedlots (Cusack et al., 2007, EFSA, 2012, Loneragan et al., 2001), which are rather different from the intensive indoors systems used in some European countries (SCAHAW, 2001). Studies regarding the factors influencing beef cattle mortality report climate and housing conditions, feeding, and management of the receiving of newly imported bulls as the main critical points (Callan and Garry, 2002, Gottardo et al., 2009, Morignat et al., 2014, SCAHAW-Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare, 2001). According to Béranger (1986) mortality decreases as air volume and space allowance per bull increase. Bulls housed on fully slatted floor have a higher mortality than those on straw bedding with the same space allowance (SCAHAW, 2001). Inappropriate or unbalanced feeding results in metabolic disorders that lead to up to 42% of the mortality in intensively fed beef cattle (Béranger, 1986). Knowledge of the factors influencing mortality would give opportunities to improve the health status of beef cattle and consequently to reduce losses. It would be particularly important to minimize beef cattle mortality at a late state of the finishing to limit economic losses for the farmers and environmental impact.

Italy is the third cattle producer in the 28-EU (10.6%) after France (24.6%) and Germany (12.3%), with more than 2.7 million of cattle slaughtered in 2013 (European Statistics of DG Agriculture). Veneto is the first beef producing region at national level, with 950 farms and 420,000 heads reared in 2014. Beef cattle production is largely based on the finishing of imported young bulls and heifers (mainly from France, Ireland and eastern European countries). The Italian Official National Cattle Movement database gathers information about cattle herds (identification number, location) and animal movements (gender, breed, date of birth, date and reason of the movement). By processing this database it is possible to assess, besides mortality rate, the effects of year, season, age, farm size, and breed on cattle mortality but these information are not made useful for the farmers in order to reduce the mortality rate of their herds. Rationale behind the current study was that crossing information from the national database with data regarding barn features and farm management would allow to identify factors influencing mortality at farm level. Aim of the current study was to estimate mortality rates and to investigate risk factors in 45 intensive beef cattle farms in the Veneto region in North-Eastern Italy.

Section snippets

Material and methods

The study involved 45 intensive beef cattle farms in the lowland of Veneto region part of the same Breeders’ Association UNICARVE (Padova, Italy) that were visited once during 2013. A questionnaire was submitted to each farmer to gather data regarding farm size, management and facilities. Having a single farm more barns with different characteristics (type of barn, floor, ventilation, roof insulation) a specific housing condition was ascribed to the farm if prevalent involving the majority of

Results and discussion

Results of the study showed that the majority of the animals completed the fattening cycle being regularly slaughtered on average after 8.2 (SD±1.5) months. Mortality rates for years 2010–2013 were similar (Table 2) and they were significantly correlated (r_s>0.41; P≤0.012). Animal death occurred after on average 3.4 (SD±3.3) months from arrival at the farm (median value of 2.5 months) at an average age of 13.2 (SD±5.5) months. Animals arrived at the farms at an average age of 10.4 (SD±1.6)

Conclusions

The association of information regarding features and management of beef cattle farms with mortality rate data to assess risk factors associated with mortality has shown to be a way to help farmers to reduce cattle losses improving farm profitability and environmental sustainability. Findings from this study suggest that, under the intensive rearing conditions of the Italian beef farms, the risk of cattle mortality could be lowered by finishing bulls of French beef crosses and more rustic

Conflict of interest

None.

Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the Veneto Region within the “GHGE project” of the Rural Development Program 2007–2013 and by a grant of the University of Padova within the EX 60% research funds. Authors acknowledge Unicarve Association for technical support in data collection.

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Short communicationAssessment of finishing beef cattle mortality in a sustainable farming perspective

Highlights

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Material and methods

Results and discussion

Conclusions

Conflict of interest

Acknowledgments

Vet. Clin. Food Anim.

Prev. Vet. Med.

J. Dairy Sci.

Vet. J.

J Dairy Sci.

J. Dairy Sci.

Farm characteristics related to on-farm cow mortality in dairy herds: a questionnaire study

Animal

Main critical factors affecting the welfare of beef cattle and veal calves raised under intensive rearing systems in Italy: a review

Ital. J. Anim. Sci.

Short communication
Assessment of finishing beef cattle mortality in a sustainable farming perspective