1. Economic implications of
rearing dairy young stock :
The estimation of total costs with special
attention to Bovine respiratory disease and
Calf scours
Norhariani Mohd Nor
Supervisors:
Henk Hogeveen
Wilma Steeneveld
Monique Mourits

2. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
 Farmers are unaware of the total costs of young stock
rearing
 Rearing period is long, on average 26 months (CRV, 2009)
 Young stock rearing costs
• Involved uncertainties in diseases occurrences, variation in growth
and uncertainty in reproduction
 Calf diseases of interest
• Calf scours
• Bovine respiratory disease (BRD):

3. OBJECTIVE
To estimate the total costs of rearing a young stock at calf
level using a simulation model that accounts for
•uncertainty related to important calf diseases
•variation in growth
•uncertainty in reproduction “This always stops
the scours.
Trouble is I have to
stay here so long”

4. MATERIALS AND METHODS
 Dynamic, stochastic Monte Carlo simulation model of calf
life
 Calculation of the total cost of rearing young stock for
each simulated heifer calf from 2 weeks of age until
• First calving age
• Reproductive failure
• Dead

5. DEFINITION
 Calf scours
• From literature;
• scours, diarrhea, enteritis, navel ill, omphalophlebitis and umbilical
infection
• from 2 weeks until 3 months of age.
 Bovine respiratory disease (BRD)
• From literature
• calf pneumonia from 2 weeks to 3 months of age.
• BRD after 3 months of age where parasitic infections were excluded and
only occur during the winter season.

6. MATERIALS
 Inputs/ Information
• Diseases incidence , probability of cure, % repeated cases and case
fatality risk
• Growth curve , growth loss and net energy
• Estrus detection rate and conception rate
• Prices
 Healthcare, feed, artificial insemination, barn, labour, heifer calf price, heifer
price, carcass removal
 Sources
• Literature [diseases (10), growth (3), reproduction(2)]
• Expertise (3 experts: Veterinary and Nutritionist)

7. YOUNGSTOCK LIFE
Age States Growth
2 weeks Healthy
Healthy

8. YOUNGSTOCK LIFE
Age States Growth
2 weeks Healthy
Healthy Calf BRD Died
3 weeks
scours
Healthy

9. YOUNGSTOCK LIFE
Age States Growth
2 weeks Healthy
Healthy Calf BRD Died
3 weeks
scours
Healthy

10. YOUNGSTOCK LIFE
Age States Growth
2 weeks Healthy
Healthy Calf BRD Died
3 weeks
scours
Healthy

11. YOUNGSTOCK LIFE
Age States Growth
2 weeks Healthy
Healthy Calf BRD Died
3 weeks
scours
4 weeks Healthy
Calf BRD Died
scours
Healthy

12. YOUNGSTOCK LIFE
Age States Growth
2 weeks Healthy
Healthy Calf BRD Died
3 weeks
scours
4 weeks Healthy
Calf BRD Died
scours
Healthy

13. YOUNGSTOCK LIFE
Age States Growth
2 weeks Healthy
Healthy Calf BRD Died
3 weeks
scours
4 weeks Healthy
Calf BRD Died
scours
Healthy

14. YOUNGSTOCK LIFE
Age States Growth
2 weeks Healthy
Healthy Calf BRD Died
3 weeks
scours
4 weeks Healthy
Calf BRD Died
scours
Healthy

15. YOUNGSTOCK LIFE
Age States Growth
2 weeks Healthy
Healthy Calf BRD Died
3 weeks
scours
4 weeks Healthy
Calf BRD Died
scours
Healthy

16. YOUNGSTOCK LIFE
Age States Growth
2 weeks Healthy
Healthy Calf BRD Died
3 weeks
scours
4 weeks Healthy
Calf BRD Died
scours
Calf BRD Died
Healthy Healthy
scours
Calf BRD Died
First calving age Healthy
scours
or culling age

17. YOUNGSTOCK LIFE
Age States Growth
2 weeks Healthy
Healthy Calf BRD Died Growth loss
3 weeks
scours
4 weeks Healthy
Calf BRD Died Growth loss
scours
Calf BRD Died
Healthy Healthy Growth loss
scours
Calf BRD Died
First calving age Healthy Growth loss
scours
or culling age

18. NON ECONOMIC OUTPUT
Output variables Average 5% 95%
Birth weight (kg) 46 44 49
Weaning weight (kg) 82 79 86
Artificial inseminations times 2 1 3
Pregnancy weight (month) 382 361 424
First calving age (month) 25 24 27
First calving weight (kg) 542 521 565
20 18 21
Culling age (month)
Death age (days) 57 28 210

19. NON ECONOMIC OUTPUT
Output variables Average 5% 95%
Birth weight (kg) 46 44 49
Weaning weight (kg) 82 79 86
Artificial inseminations times 2 1 3
Pregnancy weight (month) 382 361 424
First calving age (month) 25 24 27
First calving weight (kg) 542 521 565
Culling age (month) 20 18 21
Death age (days) 57 28 210

20. NON ECONOMIC OUTPUT
Output variables Average 5% 95%
Birth weight (kg) 46 44 49
Weaning weight (kg) 82 79 86
Artificial inseminations times 2 1 3
Pregnancy weight (month) 382 361 424
First calving age (month) 25 24 27
First calving weight (kg) 542 521 565
Culling age (month) 20 18 21
Death age (days) 57 28 210

21. NON ECONOMIC OUTPUT
Output variables Average 5% 95%
Birth weight (kg) 46 44 49
Weaning weight (kg) 82 79 86
Artificial inseminations times 2 1 3
Pregnancy weight (month) 382 361 424
First calving age (month) 25 24 27
First calving weight (kg) 542 521 565
Culling age (month) 20 18 21
Death age (days) 57 28 210

22. AVERAGE TOTAL COSTS OF
REARING A HEIFER
Input variables Average (€) 5% 95%
Heifer calf price 55 - -
Prevention 27 - -
Farmer’s treatment 9 0 36
Veterinary treatment 12 0 186
Feed 698 659 778
Labor 499 475 533
Breeding 40 27 81
Barn 180 176 198
Corrected for death and 47 - -
reproduction failures
Average total rearing costs 1567 1427 1715

23. AVERAGE TOTAL COSTS OF
REARING A HEIFER
Input variables Average (€) 5% 95%
Heifer calf price 55 - -
Prevention 27 - -
Farmer’s treatment 9 0 36
Veterinary treatment 12 0 186
Feed 698 659 778
Labor 499 475 533
Breeding 40 27 81
Barn 180 176 198
Corrected for death and 47 - -
reproduction failures
Average total rearing costs 1567 1427 1715

24. AVERAGE TOTAL COSTS OF
REARING A HEIFER
Input variables Average (€) 5% 95%
Heifer calf price 55 - -
Prevention 27 - -
Farmer’s treatment 9 0 36
Veterinary treatment 12 0 186
Feed 698 659 778
Labor 499 475 533
Breeding 40 27 81
Barn 180 176 198
Corrected for death and 47 - -
reproduction failures
Average total rearing costs 1567 1427 1715

25. AVERAGE TOTAL COSTS OF
REARING A HEIFER
Input variables Average (€) 5% 95%
Heifer calf price 55 - -
Prevention 27 - -
Farmer’s treatment 9 0 36
Veterinary treatment 12 0 186
Feed 698 659 778
Labor 499 475 533
Breeding 40 27 81
Barn 180 176 198
Corrected for death and 47 - -
reproduction failures
Average total rearing costs 1567 1427 1715

26. NON ECONOMIC OUTPUT
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
Input % % Average first Average first
change Dead Culled calving age calving weight
(mo) (kg)
Default
6.1 3.0 24.7 542
Diseases Incidence
Calf scours
+8% 14.8 2.8 24.7 542
-8% 1.9 3.1 24.7 542
Bovine respiratory disease +0.5% 8.4 2.9 24.7 542
-0.5% 4.9 3.2 24.7 542
Growth
Slow growing -10% 6.1 3.2 26.7 501
Fast growing +10% 5.9 3.0 24.4 595

27. NON ECONOMIC OUTPUT
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
Input % % Average first Average first
change Dead Culled calving age calving weight
(mo) (kg)
Default 6.1 3.0 24.7 542
Diseases Incidence
Calf scours +8% 14.8 2.8 24.7 542
-8% 1.9 3.1 24.7 542
Bovine respiratory disease +0.5% 8.4 2.9 24.7 542
-0.5% 4.9 3.2 24.7 542
Growth
Slow growing -10% 6.1 3.2 26.7 501
Fast growing +10% 5.9 3.0 24.4 595

28. NON ECONOMIC OUTPUT
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
Input % % Average first Average first
change Dead Culled calving age calving weight
(mo) (kg)
Default 6.1 3.0 24.7 542
Diseases Incidence
Calf scours
+8% 14.8 2.8 24.7 542
Bovine respiratory disease +0.5% 8.4 2.9 24.7 542
-0.5% 4.9 3.2 24.7 542
Growth
Slow growing -10% 6.1 3.2 26.7 501
Fast growing +10% 5.9 3.0 24.4 595

29. NON ECONOMIC OUTPUT
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
Input % % Average first Average first
change Dead Culled calving age calving weight
(mo) (kg)
Default 6.1 3.0 24.7 542
Diseases Incidence
Calf scours
+8% 14.8 2.8 24.7 542
-8% 1.9 3.1 24.7 542
Bovine respiratory disease +0.5% 8.4 2.9 24.7 542
-0.5% 4.9 3.2 24.7 542
Growth
Slow growing -10% 6.1 3.2 26.7 501
Fast growing +10% 5.9 3.0 24.4 595

30. NON ECONOMIC OUTPUT
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
Input % % Average first Average first
change Dead Culled calving age calving weight
(mo) (kg)
Default 6.1 3.0 24.7 542
Diseases Incidence
Calf scours
+8% 14.8 2.8 24.7 542
-8% 1.9 3.1 24.7 542
Bovine respiratory disease +0.5% 8.4 2.9 24.7 542
-0.5% 4.9 3.2 24.7 542
Growth
Slow growing -10% 6.1 3.2 26.7 501
Fast growing
+10% 5.9 3.0 24.4 595

31. ECONOMIC OUTPUT
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
Calf scours incidence +8%
Calf scours incidence -8%

32. ECONOMIC OUTPUT
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
BRD incidence +0.5%
BRD incidence -0.5%
Calf scours incidence +8%

33. ECONOMIC OUTPUT
SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
Fast growing
BRD incidence +0.5%
Calf scours incidence +8%

34. DISCUSSION
 Total costs at standardized dairy farms (€1567 per
successfully reared heifer)
 Disease and growth was included in detailed manner
• However some inputs are difficult to find
 Impact of our assumptions
• Mortality risk 6.1% (2 weeks to first calving age)
• Average first calving age and weight not affected by disease
• Average healthcare costs is minor (3% of total costs)
• Total costs when diseased at least once (20% of simulated
heifers) is higher by €95 per successfully reared heifer

35. CONCLUSIONS
 Successfully estimated total costs of rearing a young
stock as €1567 (€ 1427 - € 1715).
 Model developed is a tool that is now available to
provide insights for dairy farmers with respect to
cost-efficiency of their own rearing management.

36. MORE INFORMATION
Mohd Nor, N., W. Steeneveld, M. C. M. Mourits, and H.
Hogeveen. 2012.
Estimating the costs of rearing young dairy cattle in the
Netherlands using a simulation model that accounts for
uncertainty related to diseases.
Prev. Vet. Med.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2012.03.004

37. Thank you for your attention!