To maximise life time production and longevity in the herd, the mindset needs to be that newborn calves are invaluable
Their management, on day 1 particularly, is critical to how they perform for the rest of their lives.
Picking up calves from the paddock:
Remove calves from mum ASAP after birth. This minimises stress. Pick up at least twice per day and more often during bad weather.
Allow at least 1 m² per calf on the trailer/transport tray
Avoid damaging the navel/umbilical cord when picking up the calf
Spray the calf's navel cord with Iodine Spray 10% alcohol-based iodine as the calf is placed on the trailer (NOT teat spray or 2.5% stock iodine)
Transport in a clean, dry, draft-proof trailer, not over-crowded, protected from wind and rain, with a slip-proof floor
Drive slowly
Hose, clean and disinfect the collection trailer daily (or at LEAST twice weekly).
At the calf shed:
Assess each calf as it comes into the shed – any calf that looks dull, cold, unhealthy or any assisted calving calf, treat as a problem calf (see following).
Don’t ignore the pain from inflammation or tissue damage & bruising caused from birthing (especially assisted calvings), transport or rough handling – they won’t drink properly – if in doubt treat with an anti-inflammatory like Metacam 20 as a minimum.
Repeat the Iodine Spray 10% naval spray.
Only put into a pen that has had the water and feed troughs cleaned and disinfected, the walls and gates disinfected, and the bedding topped up with clean, dry, fresh bedding and disinfected and only put into a pen with calves of a similar age.
Use a disinfectant like Sterigene or VetSan (if there is a history of cryptosporidium).
Feed the calf with warm good quality first milked ‘gold’ colostrum (≥ 22 on Brix refractometer) at a rate of 15% of its birth weight in litres over 2 – 4 feeds within 24 hours and inject with Multimin Evolution or Multimin (copper, selenium, zinc, manganese trace elements) under the skin at a dose rate of 1ml/50kg.
Offer clean palatable water and Optiguard from day 1.
These actions are aimed to minimise inflammation and disease exposure and to maximise immune function and energy intake ensuring a good robust start to life.
Something to think about:
A calf with no immunity can get sick with just 500 Salmonella bacteria (worse if the calf is stressed – think of those that buy your calves or contract rear your calves) and a calf that has been managed well (with respect to colostrum quality and intake) can withstand 10 billion Salmonella bacteria.
Problem calf management:
Unhealthy, dull, slow, wet, cold, hypothermic calves;
Calves pulled from a cow;
Calves born to milk fever or low body condition score cows or poorly grown heifers;
Roughly handled calves; and
Slow birth calves
Are all problem calves and need managing as such.
Move the calf to a sheltered area away from wind and rain and off cold surfaces.
Dry off any wet calf with a towel, avoiding damage to the navel cord. Treat with an anti-inflammatory like Metacam 20 and with vitamin B12 like Prolaject 2000.
Feed warm ‘gold’ colostrum (37 – 39 degrees C). Give smaller feeds and feed often (3 – 4 times) throughout the day until drinking properly. Tube feed if the calf can’t suckle. Monitor rectal temperature (it should be tracking to > 38 degrees C).
Probiotics, like OptiGuard® BioBoost paste, are also recommended for any sick or stressed calf or any calf treated with antibiotics to assist with the re-establishment of gut microflora (OptiGuard® BioBoost can be used in any calf at birth).
We can help with calves not progressively improving.
