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ORIGINAL PAPER
Differences in growth performance and disease incidence between bull and heifer calves and between calves born to primiparous and multiparous cows during the pre-weaning period
1
National Research Institute of Animal Production, Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, ul. Jurajska 44, Aleksandrowice, 32-084 Morawica, Poland
2
University of Agriculture in Krakow, Department of Animal Nutrition and Fisheries, al. Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059 Kraków, Poland
3
Polmass S.A., ul. Fordońska 40, 85-719 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Publication date: 2026-09-02
Corresponding author
P. Górka
National Research Institute of Animal Production, Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, ul. Jurajska 44, Aleksandrowice, 32-084 Morawica, Poland
National Research Institute of Animal Production, Department of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, ul. Jurajska 44, Aleksandrowice, 32-084 Morawica, Poland
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
A dataset was constructed from seven studies on Holstein calves and used to characterise differences between male and female calves, and between calves born to primiparous and multiparous cows in terms of transfer of passive immunity, feed intake, growth performance and disease incidence during the first 60 days of life. Birth body weight (BW), BW at 60 days of age, and average daily gain (ADG) were higher in bull calves compared to heifer calves. Starter intake and feed efficiency were also greater in bull calves, whereas the duration of diarrhoea was shorter. Calves born to multiparous cows had a higher birth BW than those born to primiparous cows. The difference of BW was maintained until 60 days of age, however, ADG, feed intake and feed efficiency did not differ between calves born to primiparous and multiparous cows. Neither calf sex nor dam parity affected the incidence of diarrhoea, the frequency of health treatments, or the odds of developing diarrhoea and requiring health treatment.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The data used for this work originated from studies that were partially funded by the Smart Growth Operational Programme 2014-2020 (Sub-measure 2.3.2, Innovation Vouchers for SMEs), and partially or fully supported by Polmass S.A. (Bydgoszcz, Poland).
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The Authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.
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