Calf & Youngstock Rearing

Question 1

what % of cows and heifers should require calving assistance

Answer 1

<2% cows

<5% heifers

Question 2

how much space should a cow have for calving

Answer 2

10-12m^2

Question 3

how much g of colostrum is needed

Answer 3

50g of Ig/litre of colostrum

Question 4

what are factors that affect quality of colostrum

Answer 4

Nutrition

Heifer

Vaccination status of dam

Question 5

how do you measure the quality of colostrum

Answer 5

1. colostrometer
2. brix

Question 6

what is the % indicates good quality colostrum in brix

Answer 6

22% good

<20% bad

Question 7

why does colostrum need to be given quickly

Answer 7

Calf gut ‘closes’ within a few hours of birth

Closure accelerates after first feed — not volume dependent

Mucosal protection though persists

Question 8

how much colostrum should be given calf

Answer 8

10-15% body weight in first 4-6 hours

3-4 litres is a good target within a reasonable time period

Question 9

how should colostrum be given quitely

Answer 9

Low stress

Make the job easy

Method:

• Cow
• Bottle
• Tube

Question 10

why does colostrum need to be given cleanly

Answer 10

bacteria can lead to

reduced Ig

reduced absorption

increased levels of disease

Question 11

what TBC and TCC should be in colostrum

Answer 11

TBC <100,000 cfu/ml

TCC <10,000 cfu/ml

Question 12

what % of calves should have total protein levels >54g/L

Answer 12

85% calves should have total protein levels of >54g/L

Question 13

how much energy does milk replacer and whole milk provide approx

Answer 13

1L of calf milk replacer at a concentration of 125g/L –> provides 2.5MJ

1L of whole milk is closer to ~2.8MJ

Question 14

what is the lower CT of calves

Answer 14

<21d 15C

>21d 5C

Question 15

what is the upper CT of calves

Answer 15

25C

Question 16

what does high level milk feeding cause

Answer 16

May cause loose feces NOT scouring and no requirement for treatment

Improves growth rate

Improves innate immune function

Double birth weight at point of weaning

Question 17

what should the weight be by the point of weaning

Answer 17

should be doubled

Question 18

what helps rumen development

Answer 18

1. concentrates (VFAs)
2. water
3. forage

Question 19

what needs to occur for rumen deveopment to occur

Answer 19

Muscle development

Blood vessel supply increases

Papillary development

Bacterial ecosystem

Question 20

what is weaning based on

Answer 20

Weight

Age

Concentrate intake

Monitor success of weaning

BHBs?

• Indicator of rumen epithelium maturation and its ability to use VFA production by fermentation of solid feeds by the rumen microflora

Reduce stress

Question 21

what is quality of stockmanship

Answer 21

Communication

Number of stock persons

Technical knowledge

Empathy

Motivation

Time

Question 22

what are considerations for good calf housing

Answer 22

Moisture

Air

Cleanliness

Temperature

Question 23

what are the factors that influence the stack effect

Answer 23

1. # and size of animals
2. surface area of building
3. gradient of roof

Question 24

what is the target for age at first calving

Answer 24

22-24 months

Question 25

what % of adult BW should heifers be at breeding

Answer 25

65% of adult BW

Question 26

what % of adult BW should heifers be at post-calving

Answer 26

85%

Question 27

how much should an holstein fresian heifer weight at 24 months

Answer 27

average 480kg (1050 pounds)

Question 28

how much should an holstein fresian heifer be at mature weight

Answer 28

550kg average (1200 lb)

Question 29

what should the DLWG be from birth to calving at 24 months for replacement heifers

Answer 29

0.6kg (1.3lb)

Question 30

what should the target mortality be for heifers from 3-24 months

Answer 30

\<1%

Question 31

how do you define the scouring calf problem on a dairy

Answer 31

Age affected Numbers/% affected Severity Duration of problem Patterns (season, groups, signalment, stockperson)

Question 32

what should be the target of calves treated for scours

Answer 32

\<5%

Question 33

what are the calf scour pathogens and their approx age

Answer 33

Question 34

when you arrive to a farm that is having a calf scour problem what should you do for a clinical exam & history

Answer 34

Severity, age, appearance of stool, pyrexia, management history Relevant history of farm: * Previous cases/diagnostics, treatment being used, health and vaccination status of herd Opportunity to examine the farm risk factors

Question 35

how can inadequate milk feed lead to scours

Answer 35

Time of day Method of feeding Volume Temperature Concentration Mixing Cleanliness Poor choice of powder Ruminal drinking

Question 36

what are two key factors in hygiene

Answer 36

1. build up reduce the build up of pathogens that is occuring in environment 2. spread prevent spread from one animal to another

Question 37

how are scours diagnosed

Answer 37

Some patter recognition Calf side kits: * E. Coli, Rotavirus, Coronavirus, Cryptosporidium Microscopy: * Cryptosporidium, Cocci Culture of feces especially Salmonella Blood/tissue for BVD antigen Post-mortem * Concurrent disease, rumenal drinking, culture Remember to monitor for passive transfer No ‘positive results’?

Question 38

what are specific preventative treatments

Answer 38

Vaccinations available for: * Rota, corona, E.coli * Salmonella * BVD Halofuginone: * Prophylactic medication for cryptosporidium Coccidiostats: * Can be given as an individual one-off prophylactic or therapeutic drench (toltrazuril or diclazuril) or given as in-feed medication (deccoquinate) Improve husbandry is an effective preventative for all causes of scours!

Question 39

what is the target % of calves treated for pneumonia

Answer 39

\<5%

Question 40

what is the cost of pneumoina to a dairy farmer

Answer 40

4% reduction in first lactation 8% reduction in 2nd lactation 109 less milking days 2 week delay to first calving \>£1,000

Question 41

how is pneumonia diagnosed

Answer 41

Paired serology Maternal antibodies can interfere with results Long time for results Culture (nasopharyngeal swabs, BLA, trans-tracheal) PCR Post-mortem * Lungs: gross appearance, histology, culture, PCR Best candidate for diagnostics? Are all findings significant?

Question 42

what are pneumonia pathogens

Answer 42

Mycoplasma Mannheimia hemolytica Pasteurella multocida Histophilus somni Parainfluenza virus 3 (PIV3) Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR)

Question 43

what are specific preventative treatments

Answer 43

There are vaccines for almost everything although scientific literature is sometimes lacking So you want to vaccinate for your respiratory problem

Question 44

what are questions to consider when deciding what pneumonia vaccine to admin

Answer 44

Is there a perceived respiratory disease problem? Is there evidence of specific pathogen involved? Is there a vaccine available? Are vaccinated animals going to be able to mount an effective immune response?