HERD HEALTH - Group Calf Health Flashcards
What are the key assessment periods when investigating group calf health?
Pre-calving
Calving
Golden hours.
Pre-weaning
Which history questions should you ask when assessing the pre-calving period when investigating group calf health?
Nutrition of the dam?
Vaccination history of the dam?
What should you observe when assessing the pre-calving period when investigating group calf health?
Environment
Stocking density
Feed face space
Nutrition
Body condition scores (BCS)
What is the minimum space requirement for a cow that is in the pre-calving period?
7.5m^2 per cow
What is the minimum feed face space for a cow in the pre-calving period being fed simultaneously with all of the other cows?
0.7m per cow
What is the minimum feed face space for a cow in the pre-calving period being fed ad lib with all of the other cows?
0.3m per cow
What are the effects of inadequate nutrition during bovine gestation?
Decreased milk and colostrum yield and quality and decreased calf vitality
What are the effects of over nutrition during bovine gestation?
Dystocia
Metabolic disease
How should you determine the feeding regime for a cow in the pre-calving period?
You should body condition score (BCS) the cow 6 to 8 weeks before calving and feed her based on her BCS, making sure to keep feeding consistent, especially in the three weeks prior to calving
Which pre-calving records should you analyse when investigating group calf health?
Ultrasound scanning and pregnancy diagnosis results
Dry period length
What is the dry period?
The dry period is the time between halting milking and subsequent calving. The mammary glands of dairy cows require a non-lactating period prior to impeding parturition to optimise milk production in the subsequent lactation
What is the minimum dry period required to optimise milk and colostrum production?
Minimum dry period of 60 days
What pre-calving sampling should you do when investigating group calf health?
Body condition scoring (BCS)
Metabolic profiling
Abortion investigation
Which blood parameters should you assess in cows in the pre-calving period for metabolic profiling?
Non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA)
Urea
Albumin
Globulin
Selenium
Iodine
Copper
Why is it important to measure serum non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) in cows in the pre-calving period?
Non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) are released into the bloodstream when the cow metabolises fat stores to meet their energy demands, which occurs in periods of a negative energy balance which can occur when energy intake is insufficient to meet requirements for maintenance, pregnancy and lactation. Elevated NEFA levels suggest the cow is mobilising significant fat stores which can indicate a poor energy balance or inadequate nutrition
Why is it important to measure serum urea levels in cows in the pre-calving period?
Urea is a byproduct of protein metabolsim, and measuring serum urea levels allows for the assessment of protein intake and utilisation in the rumen. Decreased serum urea levels can indicate inadequate supply of rumen degradable protein, which is important for maintenance, growth, pregnany, calf growth, milk production and fertility
Be aware low serum urea levels can also indicative hepatic disease
Why is it important to measure serum iodine levels in cows in the pre-calving period?
Sufficient iodine is required for the synthesis of thyroid hormones. If a cow has inadequate serum iodine levels, this can result in decreased thyroid hormone production and an overall decreased metabolic rate
Why is it important to measure serum selenium levels in cows in the pre-calving period?
A selenium deficiency can predispose cows to retained foetal membranes
Why is it important to measure serum copper levels in cows in the pre-calving period?
Cooper is has an important role in cow health, fertility and immunity. Serum copper levels should remain relatively constant unless there has been excessive under- or overfeeding
What body condition score (BCS) should a cow be at calving?
Body condition score (BCS) between 2.5 and 3
What are the common pre-calving problems resulting in poor group calf health?
Cow overfeeding
Cow underfeeding
Heifers too small for the sire
Mineral imbalances
Infectious disease
Which controls can be implemented into the pre-calving period to optimise calf health?
Nutritional adjustments
Delay breeding heifers until they are grown enough for the chosen sire
Environmental management
Vaccinations
Which history questions should you ask when assessing the calving period when investigating group calf health?
Investigate stockmanship and what exactly is done when the cow is calving. Furthermore, investigate as to when the cows are being moved to the calving pen
What should you observe when assessing the pre-calving period when investigating group calf health?
Environment
Stocking density
What is the minimum space requirement for a calving cow within the calving pen?
12-15m^2
Which calving records should you analyse when investigating group calf health?
Calving profile (dairy cows)
Calving spread (beef cows)
Perinatal mortality rates
Dystocia records
Estimated breeding values (beef cows)
Drug records
Disease records
What is a calving spread?
A calving spread refers to the distribution of calving dates within a herd over a specific period
What is the optimal calving spread for a dairy herd?
Ideally, there should be an even spread of cows calving throughout the year
What is the optimal calving spread for a beef herd?
Ideally, in a beef herd there should be calving every 9 weeks
What is the target value for perinatal mortality?
2% perinatal mortality
What is the target value for heifer dystocia?
15% heifer dystocia
What is the target value for cow dystocia?
5% cow dystocia
What sampling should you do during the calving period when investigating group calf health?
Post mortem dead calves
Blood sampling freshy calved cows
Which serum parameter is particularly important to assess is freshly calved cows?
Serum calcium levels
Why is it particularly important to measure serum calcium levels in freshly calved cows?
Hypocalcaemia (milk fever) impaires muscle contraction and predisposes cows to uterine inertia which results in dystocia. Furthermore, hypocalcaemia will result in ‘downer cows’ and can impact colostrum management
What is uterine inertia?
Uterine inertia is the failure of uterine contraction
What are the common calving problems resulting in poor group calf health?
Poor calving facilities
Poor stockmanship
Mineral imbalance
Dystocia
Which controls can be implemented into the calving period to optimise calf health?
Sire selection (make sure sire isn’t too big for the cow breed)
Monitor heifer growth
Pre-partum management
Optimise calving pen environment
Staff training in obstetrics
Optimise the calving to first service interval
What is the target calving to service interval within the dairy industry?
70 days
What are the ‘golden hours’ in calving?
The ‘golden hours’ refer to the crucial hours following the birth of the calf which are critical for both the cow’s recovery and calf health
What are the four main physiological challenges the calf faces during the ‘golden hours’
Heat loss due to high body surface area but low body mass and energy stores
Direct opening to the vascular system via the umbilicus
No humoral immunity
Environmental pathogens
Which history questions should you ask when assessing the ‘golden hours’ when investigating group calf health?
Colostrum management?
Umbilical management?
Stockmanship?
Vaccination status of the dam?
What should you observe when assessing the ‘golden hours’ when investigating group calf health?
Observe the stockmanship and what actually happens to the calves within the ‘golden hours’. Make sure to observe the colostrum management, umbilical management and the general enviornmental conditions
Which ‘golden hours’ records should you analyse when investigating group calf health?
Colostrum records
Treatment/drug records (indicates morbidity)
Neonatal death records
What is the target value for drug treatment in calves within the ‘golden period’?
Preferably less than 5% of calves should be treated with drugs (indicates low morbidity)
What sampling should you do during the ‘golden hours’ period when investigating group calf health?
Colostrum quality
Serum calf IgG levels
Post mortem (PM) dead calves
What are the common ‘golden hour’ problems resulting in poor group calf health?
Poor colostrum management
Poor umbilical managment
Poor subsequent milk feeding
How should subsequent milk feeding be carried out to optimise calf health?
Calves require at least one feed of first milking colostrum and then transition milk or milk replacer supplemented with first milking colostrum for the next five days to increase their growth rates. Following this, they can be fed milk or milk replacer as normal
What is ‘dump milk’?
‘Dump milk’ is milk that is discarded as it is not fit for human consumption
Why should ‘dump milk’ not be fed to calves?
‘Dump milk’ should not be fed to calved as if the milk comes from cows that are receiving antibiotics or other medications, these substances can be present in the milk. Antibiotic residues can harm calves by disrupting their gut microbiota and potentially contributing to the development of antibiotic resistance.
Which controls can be implemented into the ‘golden hours’ to optimise calf health?
Colostrum management
Umbilicus management
Optimise subsequent milk feeding
Environmental management (reduce contamination)
(T/F) Calves should be weaned based on their age
FALSE. Calves should be weaned based on weight, not age. They should be weaned when they are at 20% of their mature live weight, eating 2kg of quality concentrates per day, and weaning should be done gradually with a gradual reduction in milk provisions
Remember you are trying to convert a monogastric animal to a ruminant
Which history questions should you ask when assessing the pre-weaning period when investigating group calf health?
Calf nutrition?
How much is being fed?
Is the milk being fed at the same time and temperature each day?
Weaning process?
How are sick calves managed?
Calf vaccination protocol?
Dehorning protocol?
Castration protocol?
Stockmanship?
What is the optimal calf nutrition to prepare them for weaning?
Milk-based protin source
25 - 27% crude protein
Access to fresh, clean water
Access to fresh roughage
Access to concentrates
When should calves be given access to concentratrates?
Calves should be given access to concentrates from 7 days old, but preferably from 1 to 2 days old
How much milk should calves be fed a day?
Calves should be fed 8 litres of milk or milk replacer either split into two feeds or ad lib
How can you assess the quality of milk replacer?
Whole milk is about 30 to 35% fat, to assess quality of the milk replacer, look at the fat and protein percentage which should be at least 20% fat and at least 20% protein
What should you observe when assessing the pre-weaning period when investigating group calf health?
Environment
Stocking density
Feed face space
Nutrition
What is the minimum feed face space requirement for calves?
30cm per calf
Which pre-weaning records should you analyse when investigating group calf health?
Calf daily live weight gains
Treatment/drug records (indicates morbidity)
Calf mortality rates
How much live weight should dairy calves be gaining per day?
800 - 900g per day
How much live weight should beef calves be gaining per day?
1kg per day
What sampling should you do during the pre-weaning period when investigating group calf health?
Post mortem (PM) dead calves
Scour sampling if indicated
Pneumonia pathogen testing if indicated
What are the common pre-weaning problems resulting in poor group calf health?
Poor calf nutrition
Poor environmental management
Infectious disease
Which controls can be implemented into the pre-weaning period to optimise calf health?
Increase volume of milk fed
Wean based on weight and nutrition rather than age
Environmental management
