CA08 - Dairy Calf Health, Management & Welfare

What is the average age that a dairy cow will produce its first calf?

2 years old

What is the goal number of calves per year for a dairy cow?

1 calf per year

The targets for heifers is ___% of adult weight at service and ____% adult weight at calving

60%, 85%

How many liters of colostrum should calves get in the first 6 hours of birth?

4 L (10% of body weight)

How many liters of colostrum should calves get in the first 12 hours of birth?

6 L total (15% of body weight)

What are two tools you can use to measure colostrum quality?

1. Brix refractometer

2. Clostrometer

What are four tests that can be used to measure level of passive transfer of colostrum in calves?

1. Serum total protein

2. GGT

3. Zinc turbidity

4. Gamma globulin levels

page 30