Calves Flashcards
CA08
name 6 ways to achieve profitable targets with calves
- give calves best start possible
- reduce calf disease incidence
- reduce calf mortality
- maximise heifer growth potential
- optimise timing of first calving
- optimise lifetime yield
name 3 important aspects of dry cow management
- vaccines (for colostral Abs)
- clean & adequate accommodation
- specially formulated rations
name the 3 Qs of colostrum management
- quality
- quantitiy
- quickly
what is the primary colostral antibody?
IgG
at least how much IgG does good quality colostrum contain?
50 g/L
name 2 cheap and easy ways to assess colostrum quality on farm
- colostrometer
- brix refractometer
what temperature must colostrum be to be tested with a colostrometer
room temperature
above what percent Brix refractometry is considered acceptable colostrum quality (=50g/L of Abs)
22%
how long can colostrum be stored at 4 degrees celsius (refrigerated)
24-48 hours
how long can colostrum be stored at -20 degrees celsius (frozen)
1 year
how long can colostrum be stored with Potassim sorbate
2-5 days
how many grams of IgG to calves require?
300g
how many liters of good quality colostrum to calves require
6 liters
what is the “4th Q” of colostrum
quietly
(stress incr. amount of Abs needed)
name 3 ways that bacterial contamination of colostrum can reduce IgG absorption in calves
- damaging intestinal cells (reduces permeability & accelerates gut closure)
- binding to IgG blocking their uptake
- physically blocking absorption channels
how much colostrum should a calf be given by 6 hours?
10% bodyweight
(4-5L)
how much colostrum should a calf be given by 12 hours?
5% bodyweight
(2-2.5L)
name the 3 options to give a calf colostrum
- allow calf to suckle mother
- oesophageal feeder
- bottle and teat
what is the gold standard method for measuring colostrum success
radial immunodiffusion
(direct method - IgG)
what is the legal requirement for number of feeds per day for calves <28 days
2 milk feeds per day
ideally how much whole milk or milk replacer should be fed to a calf
15-20% of calf bodyweight
at what age must fibrous food be available to the calf?
2 weeks
how much crude protein should a milk replacer contain to achieve optimal growth in a calf
20-26% crude protein
how much fat should a milk replacer contain to achieve optimal growth in a calf
18-20% fat
how much extra milk replacer or whole milk should be fed per day to a calf for each 5 degree drop under the LCT (lower critical temp)
50g milk replacer
0.33L whole milk
what is the LCT (lower critical temp) for calves less than 3 weeks of age
10-15 degrees C
what is the LCT (lower critical temp) for calves over 3 weeks of age
5-10 degrees celsius
what 3 things should be available to a calf from birth to aid in rumen development
- water
- forage
- concentrate
what should the timing of weaning be based on in a calf
concentrate consumption
(NOT age of calf)
what are the 2 key syndromes in calves pre-weaning?
- diarrhoea
- respiratory disease
this is the term given to calves who have insufficient closure of the reticular groove
rumen drinkers
what is the rule of thumb for calf weight by 8 weeks
calves should double their birth weight by 8 weeks
