What does this research mean for the field?

Low birth weight and being born to primiparous dams independently double the risk of early-life mortality in yak calves, whereas calf sex and birth season have no significant effect. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To evaluate survival patterns and identify independent risk factors associated with yak calf mortality during the first 90 days of life.

August 22, 2026AnimalsOpen Access

Unravelling the Drivers of Early-Life Mortality in Yak Calves: A Retrospective Cohort Study Using Survival Analysis

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Authors

ADAsish DebbarmaIndian Veterinary Research Institute MHMokhtar HussainNational Research Centre on Yak MPMartina PukhrambamNational Research Centre on Yak

Discussion

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Implication

Retrospective cohort study reveals low birth weight and first-time mothers drive early mortality in yak calves, indicating a need for targeted neonatal and maternal interventions.

Key Points

To evaluate survival patterns and identify independent risk factors associated with yak calf mortality during the first 90 days of life.
Analyzed records from a retrospective cohort of 428 yak calves born between 2013 and 2025 at a semi-intensive yak farm.
Used the Kaplan–Meier method and log-rank tests to evaluate survival distributions, alongside a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model to identify independent risk factors.
Overall, 70 of 428 calves (16.4%) died within the first 90 days, with diarrhea and respiratory disease acting as the primary causes of death.
Low birth weight (≤ 12 kg) significantly increased mortality risk (HR = 2.27, 95% CI: 1.24–4.16; p = 0.008), as did being born to a primiparous dam (HR = 2.08, 95% CI: 1.28–3.38; p = 0.003).
Calf sex (p = 0.620) and birth season (p = 0.658) showed no statistically significant association with survival rates.

Cite This Study

Debbarma et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a895facca7ade938187e7d3 https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16162614

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August 22, 2026AnimalsOpen Access

Unravelling the Drivers of Early-Life Mortality in Yak Calves: A Retrospective Cohort Study Using Survival Analysis

View Full Paper

Ask AI

Bookmark

Authors

ADAsish DebbarmaIndian Veterinary Research Institute MHMokhtar HussainNational Research Centre on Yak MPMartina PukhrambamNational Research Centre on Yak

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Retrospective cohort study reveals low birth weight and first-time mothers drive early mortality in yak calves, indicating a need for targeted neonatal and maternal interventions.

Key Points

To evaluate survival patterns and identify independent risk factors associated with yak calf mortality during the first 90 days of life.
Analyzed records from a retrospective cohort of 428 yak calves born between 2013 and 2025 at a semi-intensive yak farm.
Used the Kaplan–Meier method and log-rank tests to evaluate survival distributions, alongside a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model to identify independent risk factors.
Overall, 70 of 428 calves (16.4%) died within the first 90 days, with diarrhea and respiratory disease acting as the primary causes of death.
Low birth weight (≤ 12 kg) significantly increased mortality risk (HR = 2.27, 95% CI: 1.24–4.16; p = 0.008), as did being born to a primiparous dam (HR = 2.08, 95% CI: 1.28–3.38; p = 0.003).
Calf sex (p = 0.620) and birth season (p = 0.658) showed no statistically significant association with survival rates.

Cite This Study

Debbarma et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a895facca7ade938187e7d3 https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16162614

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