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Drying times of umbilical cords of dairy calves
Author(s) -
HIDES SJ,
HANNAH MC
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
australian veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.382
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1751-0813
pISSN - 0005-0423
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2005.tb15637.x
Subject(s) - umbilical cord , zoology , ice calving , umbilicus (mollusc) , biology , dairy cattle , herd , veterinary medicine , medicine , lactation , pregnancy , anatomy , genetics
0: To determine the distribution of drying times of umbilical cords of dairy calves and to determine if cord dryness is a reliable indicator of age. Design: An observational study was undertaken in a spring calving herd in Victoria, of the umbilical cords of 188 calves (82 Friesian bulls, 82 Friesian heifers, 24 crossbreds). Procedure: Umbilical cords were examined daily, visually and by palpation, until the cord to the junction of the skin on the abdomen of the calf was dry, shrivelled and inflexible. Results: Drying times ranged from 1 to 8 days. By the fifth day of life, the umbilical cords of 96.7% of all calves, 97.5% Friesian heifer calves, 87.5% of Friesian bull calves and 100% of crossbred calves were dry. If cord dryness only was used to select calves for sale, 91.3% of all calves, 86.4% of Friesian bull calves and 100% of cross bred calves could have been sold before their fifth day of life. If calves were selected on age only, 3.3% of all calves, 2.5% of Friesian heifer calves and 12.5% of Friesian bull calves would have been sold before their umbilical cord was dry. Conclusion: The dairy industry cannot rely on cord dryness alone as an indicator of age for selection of calves for sale and transportation. Cord dryness is a poor indicator of age.