Calf Management Flashcards
Out of the issues listed, which ones are core issues: Etiologic diagnosis Hygiene Sensitivity patterns Passive transfer Nutrition Treatments Vaccines
Core issues:
Hygiene
Passive Transfer
Nutrition
All the others are minor issues in calf management
What is the primary source of calf pathogens?
Older calves
T/F: Calves born early in calving period have an increased likelihood of disease.
False - they have a decreased likelihood
T/F: Calves isolated from other calves have a decreased likelihood of disease.
True
What is the ideal BCS in a cow at calving(beef and diary)?
Beef = 5-6 out of 9 Dairy = 2.5 out of 9
Consequences of poor body condition in the dam
Increased incidence of dystocia
Decreased colostrum quality and milk production
Impaired dam reproductive performance
T/F: calves that survive dystocia are 2-6x more likely to become sick and are more likely to have failure of passive transfer.
True
We want heifers to be about ___% of their mature weight at breeding, so that they are about ___% of their mature weight at calving.
65; 85
We aim for yearling pelvic area between ___ and ___ cm squared.
140-170
When looking at pelvic diameters to select for breeding, it is ideal to set ____ criteria, rather than selecting for maximum weight or area.
culling
We want to select sires with a ___ birth weight.
low
What are expected progeny differences (EPDs)?
Prediction of sire effects relative to breed average in a baseline year
T/F: You can compare EPDs between different breeds of cattle.
False - only within the same breed
Avoid use of ___ breed bulls on ___ breed heifers.
Continental; english
If continental breed bulls are used, only use bulls ranked in the lowest ___% for birth weight.
10
If you use english breed bulls, use bulls ranked in the lowest __% of their breed for birth weight.
20
Cull bottom __% of heifers based on yearling weight.
10
Factors affecting passive transfer in beef calves
Dam size, maturity, health and body condition Dam temperament, maternal bonding Calf vigor Dystocia Inappropriate intervention
4 obligatory steps in passive transfer:
IgG production in the dam
Transfer of IgG to the mammary gland
Colostrum ingestion by the calf
Intestinal absorption of IgG
Neonatal absorption of maternal antibody will only occur for the first ___ hours of life.
24
What the calf eats first after being born will be absorbed the ___.
best
What is the typical passive transfer goal?
1000 mg/dL (1350 mg/dL is optimal)
What is the best testing method in assessing passive transfer in the neonate? What are the optimal values for adequate passive transfer in sick and healthy calves?
Refractometry
Serum proteins should be > 5.2-5.5 g/dL
>5.2 total protein in healthy calf and over 5.5 total protein in a sick calf
What are two other testing methods in assessing passive transfer besides refractometry that can be used?
Lateral flow immunoassay
Sodium sulfite turbidity
How do you know if you have good vs bad passive transfer when using sodium sulfite turbidity test?
If you can read through the tube - fail.
If you cannot read through the tube + 18% Na-sulfite solution- pass.
What is the most common result in failure of passive transfer in the neonate?
Normal health
Can FPT cause issues in cows that have grown into adults?
Yes - decreased first lactation production, decreased survival, decreased average daily gain, decreased weaning weight, etc. But uncommon.
Calving site selection - intensive vs. extensive
Extensive favors _____.
Intensive permits _____.
hygiene; intervention
A farmer can do strategic feeding of ____ to reduce shedding of coccidia oocysts.
Ionophores
What should you caution the farmer about when supplementing cows with ionophores?
Ionophores are toxic and lethal to all non-ruminant animals, so if the farmer shares his land with other animals, like dogs and horses, it will kill them if they get into it.
Pasture rotations can limit spread of infection.
T/F: Gestation pastures can be small, wet and less hygienic than calving pastures.
True
Age range of nursery pastures are limited to ___ days and ideally ___ days.
30; 21
Prolonging calving season has negative effects on calf _____ and a negative effect on ___.
health; price
Septicemia is a disease caused by pathogenic organisms or their toxins in the ____.
Blood
C/S of calf septicemia
Lethargy Inappetance Depression TPR Ileus Alternate sites of infection
Dx of calf septicemia
Physical exam
Hemogram
Blood culture
