Occurrence of anemia in Holstein calves in the first month after birth

The high mortality rates of calves has encouraged research of the physiological mechanisms that control birth and adaptation of newborns to extrauterine life, to allow early identification of the presence of disease characteristics during the neonatal period. This study aimed to determine the occurrence of anemia in Holstein calves in the first month after birth and address the lack of information on the subject in neonates raised under national conditions. In total, 385 animals, 199 from refrigerated type A raw milk producing and 186 from refrigerated raw milk producing dairy farms, were surveyed. Anemia was observed in 14.3 % of the heifers (55/385), with a higher frequency in the farms producing type A milk (18.6 %, 37/199). It was concluded that the frequency of anemia is significant in neonates of the studied breed, particularly in those with more technified properties (type A milk), with this condition being, in most cases, a possible etiology of iron-deficiency.

[1]  S. Asri-Rezaei,et al.  Evaluation of Anemia in Calves up to 4 Months of Age in Holstein Dairy Herds , 2014 .

[2]  R. Botteon,et al.  Hemograma e bioquímica sérica auxiliar em bezerros mestiços neonatos e ocorrência de enfermidades , 2010 .

[3]  J. Lisbôa,et al.  Efeito da idade sobre o equilíbrio ácido-básico de bezerras sadias no primeiro mês de vida , 2002 .

[4]  E. H. B. Júnior,et al.  Relato de um caso de transmissão transplacentária de anaplasmose bovina. Observações clínico-laboratoriais , 1999 .

[5]  Ce. Larsson,et al.  Cat flea infestation in a newborn Jersey calf in Brazil , 1998 .

[6]  K. Baxter.  Haemolytic anaemia in an embryo transfer calf. , 1996, The Veterinary record.

[7]  M. Dryden,et al.  Severe flea infestation in dairy calves. , 1993, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

[8]  N. Jain.  Essentials of Veterinary Hematology , 1993 .

[9]  Schalm Ow,et al.  Schalm's Veterinary Hematology , 1986 .

[10]  D. G. Luther,et al.  Screening for neonatal isohemolytic anemia in calves. , 1985, American journal of veterinary research.

[11]  W. Reece.  Acid-base balance and selected hematologic, electrolyte, and blood chemical variables in calves: milk-fed vs conventionally fed. , 1980, American journal of veterinary research.

[12]  D. Harrold,et al.  Hematology of the neonatal calf. III. Frequency of congenital iron deficiency anemia. , 1975, The Cornell veterinarian.

[13]  J. Kaneko,et al.  Hematological and blood chemical observations in neonatal normal and porphyric calves in early life. , 1970, The Cornell veterinarian.