Analysis of the reasons for culling of young calves and establishment of a relationship with the age of animals

The purpose of this study was to analyze the causes of animal culling from the herd as a result of diseases and other causes from the perspective of the body systems they affected. The article systematizes and analyzes the reasons of culling young cattle in the amount of 1810 heads, aged up to 6 months from 10 livestock enterprises of the Republic of Tatarstan in the period 2015-2024. The information was obtained from the IAS “SELEKS” Dairy cattle. Culling factors were divided into three groups: veterinary, accounting for 76% of cases, zootechnical – 20%, and other – 4%. Veterinary diseases include diseases of the respiratory system, metabolism, reproductive system, digestive system, surgical and other rare diseases. It was found that the proportion of diseases of the digestive system was 52.55%, respiratory system diseases - 29.55%, surgical diseases - 13.54%, metabolic diseases - 3.28%, reproductive system diseases - 0.29%, cardiovascular diseases - 0.29%, others - 0.5%. The greatest number of culling cases is observed in the first and third months of life of calves (22.6% and 19.3%). The main pathologies are diseases of the digestive system, the peak of which occurs in the first and third months of life of animals, and the respiratory system, most often manifested in the third month. Based on the results of the work, it can be concluded that at different stages of calf development, certain diseases may occur more or less often, and it is necessary to carry out preventive measures, taking into account the relationship between the age of animals and diseases occurring in certain periods.