| The National Dairy Heifer Evaluation Project ( NDHEP ) was conducted by the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS ) from April 1991 through July 1992. A total of 921 producers monitored calves on a daily basis from the first through the eighth week of life; results were extrapolated to the U.S. dairy population. Mortality of heifer calves was examined according to region ( west, midwest, northeast, southeast ). Mortality was highest in the western region ( 9.1 percent ) and lowest in the midwestern region ( 5.6 percent ). Calf deaths were highest in the two quarters October-December and January-March ( 8.4 percent each quarter ) and lowest in the quarter April-June ( 5.2 percent ). The overall average of stillborn calves was 1.6 percent. Calving... |
