calf intro 🐮

calf day 1/0

• dip the navel, usually iodine solution. ideally twice

• colostrum

• tag calf- dairy within 36 hours and beef within 20 days

colostrum- 5qs

• quick (4Lin first 6hrs/8L in 24hrs)

• quality (at least 50g/L of IgG)

• quantitiy

• quietly

• clean

colostrum management

• calves left to suckle their dam are 2.4 times more likely to recieve insufficient antibodies

• takes up to 20min continuous suckling

• bottle or tube

• mobile milker

measuring colostrum quality

• brix

• colostrometer

• if over 22 percent brix- suitable to feed

• if not used pooled or colostrum replacer

how to know if calf has recieved passive transfer

• blood test calves 1-7 days of age

• if serum total protein is 5.5-6.0g/dl it is succesful

• but check calf isnt dehydrated or scouring

feeding of calves

• born pre ruminants

• has an oesophageal groove

• it by passes the reticulum and rumen and goes to abomasum

• this is influenced by routine,head position and feeding method

concentrates- rumen dev

• VFA production- butyrate

• high in energy

• fermentable carbs

• palatable

forages- rumen dev

• low in energy

• structural carb

• ruminal abrasion value

• bulk

• rumination

feeding liquid

• milk or calf milk replacer

• CMR:

• cheaper, more consistent, pathogens, residues

• mix at correct conc and temp

• often made depending on which calves are being fed eg heifer- higher fat and protein

• range: skim vs whey, milk vs plant protein

whole milk

• transition milk

• variable in quality

• do not feed any with antimicrobials in it

• only option for organic calves

liquid feeding- how much and when to wean and methods

• ideally 8-10L per day

• wean at around 10 weeks

• bucket, nipple feeder, automated feeder

solid feeding

• course feed or pellets- provide small amounts of fresh starter daily, avoid dust

• wean based on intake- min 1.5kg conc/day for 3 consecutive days

• weaning- minimise stress, change one thing per week

water

• legal requirement

• accounts for 70-75 bodyweight

• basic metabolic functions, rumen bacteria, dry feed intake, low water means slower rumen dev and reduced FCR

main disease issues in calves

• BRD

• scour

• big risk with bought in calves

monitoring system

• wisconsin system

• treat >4 resp or >3 diarrhoea score

vaccination

• colostrum (maternal antibodies, passive transfer)

• youngstock- naive

• endemic infectious disease to reduce preventable losses (modified live vaccine or killed)

• clostridial disease- to reduce fatalities (toxoid)

• correct age and right time

• store correctly

• usually sc injections

• intranasal day 0

castrations

• rubber ring, burdizzo, surgical

• safety, control breeding

• legislation: must use anaesthetic if more than 2 months

• rubber ring used if less than one week

• rubber ring, ischaemia- necrosis

• Burdizzo, denervation + ischaemia + crushing spermatic cord → necrosis

• Surgical, excision

disbudding

• cautery, scoop, chemical

• safety, control horn and raking injuries

• must use anaesthetic exceptfor chemical which can only be used if under a weekold

• cautery- hot iron burning

• scoop- surgical excision

• chemical- chemical burning

rearing targets

• calve at 2 years

• percent of mature body weight

• puberty 40-5-

• service/ breeding 50-60

• calving 85

bought in calves

• known to have recieved adequate colostrum at brith

• known disease status

• 7 days old or more

• well grown for age

• healthy with a dry navel

• alert

• acceptable conformation

transportation regulations

• do not transport

• unhealed navel

• less than 10 days unless less than 100km

• to market more than once within 28 days

• journeys over 8 hours if less than 14 days

• Unweaned calves must be fed after 9 hours travel and given a 1 hour break, after which they may be transported for a further 9 hours, before resting for at least 24 hours

housing considerations

group by age and immune status

ventilation

cleanliness

all in/all out