Calf Health and Management

Calf Health and Management

• Greater than 95% of heifer calves should be alive at weaning age.
• Two types of health problems associated with newborn calves: scours (diarrhea) and pneumonia.

Scours

• Scours can be of mechanical or infectious origin.
• Mechanical scours caused by overfeeding or poor quality milk replacer, leading to rapid passage of digesta contents and undigested milk in the gut.
• Infectious scours caused by bacterial (E. coli, Salmonella) or viral (rotavirus, coronavirus) agents.
• Controlled by good hygiene at feeding, proper housing, and separating calves to reduce transmission of infectious diseases.

Pneumonia

• Second most common health problem in calves.
• Often caused by feeding cull milk containing mastitis pathogens.

Feeding the Calf

• Milk replacer should contain 18-22% crude protein, 10-20% fat, 5% sugar, and <0.5% crude fiber.
• Starter grain should be offered free choice by 8 days of age, with 18% crude protein.
• Excellent quality legume forage (>16% CP) should be offered.
• Importance of calf feeding:
  • 2 feedings of 2-6-8 liters of colostrum.
  • Several small meals preferable due to small stomach volume (about 2 liters).
  • Temperature of milk should be 38°C.
  • Milk must be free of lumps and freshly prepared.
  • Milk ration should be reduced slowly over time.

Calf Management

• Differences in calf losses between poorly and well-run farms due to diseases such as diarrhea and respiratory problems.
• Good calf management starts with the cow, including correct feeding and a clean, comfortable environment at calving.
• Importance of feeding the cow:
  • Proper nutrition during first lactation phase determines the calf's start in life.
  • Inadequate feed can lead to reduced milk yield and detrimental effects on cow's metabolism and subsequent lactation.
  • Avoid overfeeding cows in late lactation to maintain optimal body condition for next lactation.

Calving Environment

• Importance of providing cows with a clean and comfortable environment at calving.
• Separate cows from the rest of the herd 2-4 days before calving and provide a special box/pen with sufficient space and comfort.
• Calving pen size: 8-10m² per cow, with a deep straw mattress for comfortable calving.
• Ensure calves consume sufficient colostrum for immunity and protection.

Test your knowledge on calf health problems, including scours and pneumonia, and learn how good housing management and feeding hygiene can control these issues. Ensure the best possible outcomes for your calves with this quiz.