Data from: Condition of calves on arrival at dairy-beef calf-raising farms in the Midwestern US
Data files
Apr 24, 2026 version files 262.93 KB
Abstract
In the US, non-replacement calves born on dairies are often sold in the first days of life and experience multiple transport events that increase their risk of disease as they enter the dairy-beef sector. The objectives of this cross-sectional cohort study were to evaluate the condition of dairy-beef calves on arrival at calf-raising farms in the Midwestern US and to identify factors associated with poor health outcomes. From February 2024 to January 2025, 1,436 calves (approximately 3-7 d of age) were enrolled 6.4 ± 7.2 h after arrival at 20 dairy-beef calf-raising farms (n = 72 calves/farm) in IN, OH, WI, and IA. Standardized scoring systems were used to perform a clinical health assessment, and a blood sample was collected from each calf to measure serum total protein (STP) as an indicator of failed transfer of passive immunity (FTPI). On a subset of farms (n = 11) where immediate blood sampling was possible after arrival, blood biochemistry was further analyzed for a target of 30 calves/farm (n = 327). Variables were dichotomized using clinically relevant cut-points. Given clustering within farms, 95% CI for prevalence estimates of poor health and blood biochemistry outcomes were calculated, with farm specified as the cluster variable. On arrival, 48.3% (95% CI: 45.7-51.0%) of calves had diarrhea, 35.8% (33.3-38.3%) had dehydration, 22.0% (19.9-24.2%) had navel inflammation, and 18.7% (16.7-20.8%) had depression. Seventy-seven percent (70.6-83.4%) of calves had at least one poor health outcome, and 40.0% (33.9-46.2%) had two or more. Blood biochemical analyses indicated 21.6% (19.4-23.7%; cut-point STP < 5.1 g/dL) of calves had FTPI, 48.3% (29.0-67.6%; glucose < 80 mg/dL) were hypoglycemic, and 27.6% (15.3-39.8%; NEFA > 0.72 mmol/L) had elevated serum NEFA. Calves sourced from calf dealers were more likely to have FTPI than those arriving directly from dairy farms. Calves with successful transfer of passive immunity had lower odds of experiencing diarrhea or hypoglycemia on arrival, and calves with a normal fecal score had lower odds of experiencing concurrent dehydration, depression, or hypoglycemia. These results suggest a high percentage of dairy-beef calves in the Midwestern US arrive at calf-raising farms with FTPI, low energy reserves, and clinical disease that may impact long-term welfare and productivity.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.3ffbg79z9
These materials provide additional information, context, and raw data used in this study, and are referenced in the corresponding paper.
Description of the data and file structure
Data were collected from n = 1,436 calves on 20 dairy-beef calf-raising farms (72 calves/farm). Standardized scoring systems were used to perform a clinical health assessment, and a blood sample was collected from each calf to measure serum total protein as an indicator of failed transfer of passive immunity. On a subset of 11 farms where immediate blood sampling was possible after arrival, blood biochemistry was further analyzed for a target of 30 calves/farm (n = 327).
File: Schafer_Arrival_S1_scoring_definitions.xlsx
Description: Supplemental Table S1. Description of scoring systems for calf clinical health assessments performed on arrival at 20 dairy-beef calf-raising farms in the Midwestern US.
File: Schafer_Arrival_S2_prevalence_by_farm.xlsx
Description: Supplemental Table S2. Cohort-level number and percentage of calves with poor health and blood biochemistry outcomes (95% CI) on arrival at 20 dairy-beef calf-raising farms in the Midwestern US. The EXACT statement was specified for all prevalence estimates < 5%.
List of variables:
- Outcome - name of health outcome of interest
- Farm - anonymized farm ID number connected with this estimate, or "overall" used to designate the total population-level estimates
- n - total number of animals evaluated for this outcome, denominator for prevalence estimate
- no_abnormal - total number of animals considered positive for the outcome, numerator for prevalence estimate
- Prevalence_% - estimated prevalence for outcome of interest
- SE_% - estimated standard error for outcome of interest
- 95%CI_Low - Lower limit for 95% confidence interval for outcome of interest
- 95%CI_High - Upper limit for 95% confidence interval for outcome of interest
File: Schafer_Arrival_raw_health_overall_risk_factor_data.xlsx
Description: Raw health score data and STP concentrations for all calves enrolled in the study. This data was used for the prevalence estimates of poor health and transfer of passive immunity outcomes, and to perform the overall risk factor analysis.
In short, on n = 20 farms, a target of n = 72 calves per farm were evaluated for the following list of measures. Please see the scoring definitions file for an explanation of health assessments, and the associated publication for details of biochemical analyses.
List of variables:
- Farm_number - anonymized farm ID number
- Scorer - initials of person performing assessment
- Visit_date - date assessment was performed (M/D/Y)
- Source_distance_km - estimated distance traveled from last known location before farm arrival (km)
- Hrs_to_sampling - time elapsed from calf arrival at the farm until assessment was performed (hours)
- Calf_number - Calf ID number
- Breed - breed of calf
- Sex - sex of calf
- Eye_discharge - points added for presence or absence of eye discharge in either or both eyes, where 0 = no discharge present, 2 = discharge present
- Nasal_discharge - points added for presence or absence of nasal discharge, where 0 = no discharge present, 4 = discharge present
- Ear_droop_head_tilt - points added for presence or absence of ear droop or head tilt, where 0 = not present, 5 = present
- Cough - points added for presence or absence of a spontaneous cough, where 0 = no cough observed, 4 = cough observed
- Respiration - points added for presence or absence of labored breathing, where 0 = not observed, 2 = observed
- Temp_F - rectal temperature (F)
- Depression - calf depression score
- Dehydration - calf dehydration score
- Fecal - calf diarrhea score
- Navel - calf navel inflammation score
- Hygiene - calf hygiene score
- BCS - calf body condition score
- Hock_abrasions - calf hock abrasions score
- Knee_abrasions - calf knee abrasions score
- Neck_abrasions - calf neck abrasions score
- STP1_g_dL - calf serum total protein evaluation 1 (g/dL)
- STP2_g_dL - calf serum total protein evaluation 2 (g/dL)
- STPAvg_g_dL - calf serum total protein, average of the duplicate evaluations (g/dL)
All cells containing "." indicate missing data due to not available, except in the case of Temp_F, which was only evaluated if the sum of the points from the Eye_discharge, Nasal_discharge, Ear_droop_head_tilt, Cough, and Respiration columns for that calf was equal to 4.
File: Schafer_Arrival_focal_risk_factor_metabolite_data.xlsx
Description: Raw health score data and STP and blood metabolite concentrations for the focal calves in the study, which were targeted for additional blood biochemistry analysis on farms where immediate blood sampling was possible after arrival. This data was used for the prevalence estimates of poor blood biochemistry outcomes, descriptive summary of blood biochemical indices, and to perform the risk factor analysis for the outcomes that were evaluated in focal calves only.
In short, on n = 11 farms where immediate calf sampling was possible, a target of n = 30 calves per farm were evaluated for the following list of measures. Please see the scoring definitions file for an explanation of health assessments, and the associated publication for details of biochemical analyses.
List of variables:
- Farm_number - anonymized farm ID number
- Scorer - initials of person performing assessment
- Visit_date - date assessment was performed (M/D/Y)
- Source_distance_km - estimated distance traveled from last known location before farm arrival (km)
- Calf_number - Calf ID number
- Breed - breed of calf
- Sex - sex of calf
- Eye_discharge - points added for presence or absence of eye discharge in either or both eyes, where 0 = no discharge present, 2 = discharge present
- Nasal_discharge - points added for presence or absence of nasal discharge, where 0 = no discharge present, 4 = discharge present
- Ear_droop_head_tilt - points added for presence or absence of ear droop or head tilt, where 0 = not present, 5 = present
- Cough - points added for presence or absence of a spontaneous cough, where 0 = no cough observed, 4 = cough observed
- Respiration - points added for presence or absence of labored breathing, where 0 = not observed, 2 = observed
- Temp_F - rectal temperature (F)
- Depression - calf depression score
- Dehydration - calf dehydration score
- Fecal - calf diarrhea score
- Navel - calf navel inflammation score
- Hygiene - calf hygiene score
- BCS - calf body condition score
- Hock_abrasions - calf hock abrasions score
- Knee_abrasions - calf knee abrasions score
- Neck_abrasions - calf neck abrasions score
- STP1_g_dL - calf serum total protein evaluation 1 (g/dL)
- STP2_g_dL - calf serum total protein evaluation 2 (g/dL)
- STPAvg_g_dL - calf serum total protein, average of the duplicate evaluations (g/dL)
- Na_mmol_L - calf whole blood sodium concentration (mmol/L)
- K_mmol_L - calf whole blood potassium concentration (mmol/L)
- Cl_mmol_L - calf whole blood chloride concentration (mmol/L)
- Glu_mg_dL - calf plasma glucose concentration (mg/dL)
- BUN_mg_dL - calf plasma blood urea nitrogen (BUN) concentration (mg/dL)
- Crea_mg_dL - calf plasma creatinine concentration (mg/dL)
- Hct_PCV - calf whole blood hematocrit level (%)
- Hb_g_dL - calf whole blood hemoglobulin concentration (g/dL)
- NEFA_mmol_L - calf serum nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentration (mmol/L)
All cells containing "." indicate missing data due to not available, except in the case of Temp_F, which was only evaluated if the sum of the points from the Eye_discharge, Nasal_discharge, Ear_droop_head_tilt, Cough, and Respiration columns for that calf was equal to 4.