Characterising and describing the literature that explores the impact of umbilical care on performance and health outcomes and risk factors examined for umbilical health in intensively raised bovines: A protocol for scoping review

Background: Proper calf care is essential to reduce morbidity and mortality rates. Identification of potential risk factors associated with the development of disease is the first step towards improving calf management. Umbilical infections are common in calves and requires further research to produce more conclusive recommendations to improve animal welfare and productivity. Objective: The objective of this scoping review is to describe and characterize the existing literature regarding umbilical health and highlight current gaps in knowledge. This will include descriptive studies, studies examining risk factors associated with umbilical health, and studies examining the consequences of poor umbilical health. Design: Evidence will be drawn from primary research studies including descriptive and analytical studies. The population will be exclusively bovines on dairy, veal, feedlot, cow-calf or dairy beef operations. Five databases will be searched for relevant primary research. Literature that fits within the search terms will be uploaded onto Endnote where title and abstract screening will be conducted by two independent reviewers. Evidence that meets the title/abstract inclusion criteria will be screened again using the full text. Following full text screening the reviewers will resolve all conflicts and start data extraction from the approved texts. Relevant records will then be described and characterized using tables and figures.