Calf mortality is a key indicator of bovine farm performance and is consistently monitored in European reports. According to assessments by EFSA and DG AGRI, the average mortality rate in the first months of life ranges between 5% and 8% across European farms, with figures varying depending on housing conditions, colostrum quality, and overall management practices. In Romania, INS data (2024) confirm that hygiene and nutrition issues remain the main causes of early losses.

EFSA findings highlight that administering colostrum within the first two hours after birth is the most important factor in reducing mortality, as it ensures the immune transfer needed for protection during the first weeks of life. Proper ventilation and lower stocking density also help limit the risk of respiratory infections—one of the leading causes of mortality at European level.

In Romanian farms, compliance with welfare standards has become mandatory under both national legislation and the 2023–2027 CAP Strategic Plan, which emphasises housing conditions and the monitoring of animal health. According to DG AGRI, farms that invest in monitoring sensors, automated cleaning systems, and controlled nutrition programmes significantly reduce economic losses.

Calf mortality has a direct impact on profitability, and improving management practices in the first days of life remains one of the most effective measures for boosting farm performance in 2025.

(Photo: Freepik)