Development of a calf health decision tool to support the implementation of management practices to prevent calf morbidity and mortality in western Canadian cow-calf herds

Calves sold at weaning are the primary source of revenue for cow-calf producers. Therefore, implementing preventative health management practices to prevent infectious disease and mortality in calves is essential. However, which practices are most appropriate to recommend is unknown and depends on the particular herd and its constraints. The objectives of this study were to: 1. develop a calf health decision tool that consolidated evidence and guided discussion about recommended practices to prevent morbidity and mortality in preweaned beef calves, and 2. evaluate if the tool was useful in facilitating discussions between producers and veterinarians. The tool was developed based on the findings of: 2 systematic reviews, an expert consensus study, and several regional and national benchmarking studies. It was structured to identify areas of risk within an operation then to offer related evidence-informed control measures (e.g., recommended or beneficial practices). To evaluate its usefulness, two veterinarians piloted the tool with nine producers representing herds with different statuses of disease outbreaks. Most the producers and veterinarians stated that the tool helped support discussions and that its layout was easy to follow. The findings of this study narrowed a critical knowledge gap concerning recommended practices by compiling available evidence into a tool that was useful for facilitating discussions about herd risk and potential practices to implement on a given operation. Overall, its use may help prevent morbidity and mortality in calves and enhance the veterinarian's collaborative role in preventative medicine on cow-calf operations.