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SSBSS Analysis - calf mortality and seasonality of calving.pdf (2.99 MB)
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Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme holdings – calf mortality and seasonality of 410-day calving interval condition

report
posted on 2024-10-22, 15:24 authored by Steven ThomsonSteven Thomson, Mike Coffey, Ian Archibald

This report and presentation of the findings to the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme Reform Stakeholders Group were published in 2024 as outputs from the Scottish Government's Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture 2022-2027 Strategic Research Programme.

  • The Scottish Government have committed to introducing a 410-day calving interval eligibility criteria for the targeted £40 million per annum Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme (SSBSS). Within the current SSBSS there is also a 30-day retention period on the holding for claimed calves to ensure payments are targeted to calves that have not succumbed to neonatal mortality in the first month of life.
  • On-farm mortality of calves represents a lost income stream to the producer, potentially indicating animal health and welfare issues and leading to wasted greenhouse gas emissions. Calf mortality can also lead to the expenditure of Scottish Government resources through the SSBSS, which has no policy output.
  • Whilst there are limited investigations on calf mortality in the suckler beef herd, some recent analysis suggested calf loss from conception to weaning of 10%, with stillbirths and abortions the most common causes of loss followed by neonatal mortality.
  • Analysis of agricultural holdings associated with businesses claiming SSBSS support found 5.6% registered calf mortality on the holding of birth (under 1 year of age) for the mainland and 5.3% for the islands for calves born between 2015 and 2021. Daily frequency charts of calf mortality do not appear to follow a natural pattern with a noticeable dip in calf mortality between 24-30 days and a spike from 31-40 days.
  • Scrutiny of Beef Efficiency Scheme (BES) data (2016 to 2020) reveals that the number of calves recorded in the BES fell from c.174k in 2016 to c.137k in 2020. Unregistered births (born dead or dead before tagging and registering) accounted for 1.9% of BES calves born in 2016 dropping to 0.9% of those born in 2020. The proportion of registered calves that died on the holding of birth within the first year of life peaked at 3.9% of calves born in 2017.
  • BES calf deaths were unevenly distributed across the year with monthly shares ranging from 5% to 15% of calves dead under 1 year of age on the holding of birth. The peak in April to June reflects the period where most young calves are out on grass after a spring calving. The uplifts in winter months reflect deaths from pneumonia in housed calves. Pneumonia was the largest recorded cause of calf deaths in BES, accounting for 25% of deaths. 16% of dams calving had a dead calf or the calf died before being tagged and registered.
  • Using BES metrics in the context of the new SSBSS calving interval condition, the data suggests that the calving interval for 1% to 2% of dams will be negatively impacted by unregistered calves that are born dead or die shortly after birth.
  • Of c.335k dams associated with 2023 calf registrations on SSBSS-associated holdings, two-thirds of calves were registered in March, April or May, re-emphasising the dominance of spring calving in the beef herd. There were marginally higher proportions of heifers with calf registrations in winter months (January and February – November and December), albeit often low absolute numbers of calved heifers in each of these months. Annual calving patterns have changed over the last decade with fewer autumn calvings.
  • The month of calf registration appears to impact the calving interval, likely due to bull management, bull fertility, cow fertility and herd management decisions. In 2023 93% to 94% of dams that calved in March and April achieved a 410-day calving interval criteria. In contrast, only 75-77% of dams calving on the mainland in January and December 2023 met a 410-day calving interval condition whilst only 58-60% of dams that calved in July and August met the 410 threshold. The variance in seasonal calving interval performance followed a similar pattern over the last decade.
  • In response to industry stakeholder requests, the calving interval based on the second last calving date was analysed. Cows that had their second last calf registered in March to May 2021 had the highest probability of meeting a 410-day calving interval for their subsequent calf (87-90% on islands and 85%-88% on mainland). In contrast, those cows that previously calved in January or December 2021 had the lowest probability of their subsequent calf meeting a 410-day calving interval (63-65% on the islands and 64-69% on the mainland).
  • The bulk of SSBSS calves are spring born and dams calving in March to May have the highest probability of meeting the 410 calving interval criteria. Prolonged bulling periods likely lead to poor calving interval performance in certain months. Important messaging on herd fertility and bull management can support the industry to make improvements where necessary.


Funding

Scottish Government Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture 2022-2027 Strategic Research Programme

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