Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Studies show that 30—37 % of calves are born in a hypoxic state, with the prevalence of antenatal hypoxia in dairy calves reaching 23—25 %. Literature suggests that fetal and neonatal hypoxia is the primary cause of mortality and neonatal diseases. However, data on the incidence of morbidity in calves exposed to antenatal hypoxia are lacking in the available domestic and international literature. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases in calves exposed to antenatal hypoxia and to determine the relationship between these morbidities. The experiment was conducted at a dairy production facility. The subjects of the study were newborn calves (n=44) of the Red-and-White breed, sired by clinically healthy cows and cows at risk for fetal hypoxia. The hemoglobin (Hb) level in maternal cows was used as a differential criterion determining the risk of fetal hypoxia. The paper presents the results of a study of morbidity in calves that suffered antenatal hypoxia. The object of the study were newborn calves (n=44) of the Red-and-White breed, obtained from clinically healthy cows and cows with anemia. It was found that they are 50,6 % more likely to develop gastrointestinal diseases and 68,6 % more likely to develop respiratory diseases. A significant positive correlation was found (r=0,50, P˂0,05) between anemia in cows and the risk of developing gastrointestinal and respiratory pathology in calves, as well as between gastrointestinal and respiratory pathology (r=0,63, p˂0,05). This gives reason to assume that respiratory diseases in animals are a consequence of the cumulative effect of residual pathological phenomena after antenatal hypoxia and gastrointestinal pathology.
Language: English
Topic: Animal health and immunology
Subfield: Animal Science and Zoology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7203785129