Section 1 | Selecting the Right Calf

Ontario Veal Industry
Page 07 /

Other Abnormalities

 

There are several other health abnormalities that we now know contribute to disease and antimicrobial use at veal facilities. They are:

Diarrhea

Sunken flank

  • A sunken flank is present when a calf has a hollow abdomen like the calf in the image below
  • If a calf arrives with a sunken flank, they are more likely to die during the growing period
    • This is likely due to a calf not consuming milk during long transit, leading to a depletion of energy reserves and poor immune function

Source: ACER Consulting Ltd.