Risk mitigating strategies and biomarkers in the new health and welfare paradigm of rearing calves

The hypothesis of SAFECALF is that young calves arriving to the rearing facilities from auction markets have dysfunction of the intestinal epithelia and their immune status is compromised due to a deficient postnatal management, malnutrition and stress during transport. Pre-transport nutritional strategies will improve the intestinal epithelia and immune system decreasing disease incidence and mortality.