Calf mortality rates on five Libyan dairy stations 1976–1980

Calf mortality rate (CMR) was studied on five Libyan dairy stations for the period 1976 through 1980 using life table and time series methods. CMR (birth-30 days) ranged from 12.5% to 26% for the various stations; the overall CMR (birth-90 days) for five stations for five years was 18.8%. CMR on the station with the highest CMR was highest May through July, increased greatly from 1977 through 1980, and was correlated with the number of calves born; monthly CMR increased with increased numbers of calves born. The increased CMR on several stations from 1977 through 1980 was associated with the departure of foreign calf care workers in 1977, and their replacement by other foreign workers with little livestock experience. The one station which employed Libyan farmers as calf caretakers had the lowest female CMR and was the only station on which female CMR was significantly different from male CMR.