L3: Dairy Herd Health Programs (Donovan)

Question 1

overall objective

Answer 1

grow a healthy heifer in a cost effective manner that will calve around 24mo. of age at 85% of her mature body size

Question 2

adv. of calving at 24 mo. of age

Answer 2

inc. lifetime milk production
dec. peripartum health problems (1st parturition)
dec. cost of raising the heifer (usually)

Question 3

The 5 Cs of dairy calf raising***

Answer 3

Colostrum
Cleanliness
Comfort
Calories
CONSISTENCY

Question 4

when do most dairy calves die?

Answer 4

over half before 14d old

-another spike around 61-90d

Question 5

calves born in dystocia more prone to:

Answer 5

stillbirth
neonatal mortality
failure of passive transfer

Question 6

“window of opportunity” for disease occurence occurs when:

Answer 6

challenge > resistance (soon after birth before resistance ramps up)

Question 7

1ary concerns of newborn calves (birth-4hrs)

Answer 7

colostrum (calves born with little to no immunity!)

navel health

Question 8

2 main determinants of success or failure of a colostrum program***

Answer 8

Time (ASAP!)

Mass of Ig (quality x quantity)

Question 9

gut closure

Answer 9

• occurs in linear fashion beginning at birth
• efficiency of absorption is 25-50% at 0hr
• closure complete by 24hr

Question 10

avg. time to suckle for Holstein calf

Answer 10

6-8hrs

Question 11

good quality colostrum contains at least how many g/L Ig?

Answer 11

50 (excellent is >70)

Question 12

how much colostrum does calf need?

Answer 12

5-6L of good quality or 4L of excellent quality

-practically: 2-3L asap after birth, then 2-3L within 4-6hrs of 1st feeding

Question 13

why no suckling of dam

Answer 13

inconsistent volume and quality of colostrum received

Question 14

Serum Ig conc. can be determined by:

Answer 14

RID (single radial immunodiffusion)
ELISA
ZST (zinc sulphate turbidity)
SSP (sodium sulphite precipitation)
GT (glutaraldehyde test)
TP (serum total protein, should be b/w 5.5-7.5)** (prob. DNK others)

Question 15

T/F: relative risk of mortality in calves with low TP is constant through 180d of life

Answer 15

T

Question 16

how long do protective effects of absorbed colostral immunoglobulins last?

Answer 16

6mo

Question 17

see graph slide 35

Answer 17

:)

Question 18

when to disinfect navel

Answer 18

w/n 2hrs of birth then when put in pen and again 12-18hrs later

Question 19

within 12hrs of birth, calves should be:

Answer 19

• given ear tag
• removed from dam
• placed in individual housing

Question 20

chars. of calf hutch

Answer 20

• should be moved q10d in dry weather, q3d in wet weather
• fly strike more easily controlled
• no contact with other calves

Question 21

chars. group housing calves

Answer 21

• ad lib, mechanized milk delivery
• groups get larger as calves get older
• challenges: infectious dz control, ID of sick calves

Question 22

milk feeding period (birth to 4-8wks) guidelines

Answer 22

• feed fresh pasteurized milk or high quality milk substitute
• feed BID to reduce digestive disturbance
• feed out of open-faced bucket
• feed more in extremes of env. temp.
• observe at least BID for evidence of dz (d, septicemia, pneumonia)
• move hutches regularly
• clean and sanitize feeding equipment after every use

Question 23

feeding grain and water

Answer 23

• offer water day 1
• offer high quality grain day 3 (they usually start eating it at day 21-28)
• discard waste grain

Question 24

procedures performed on newborn calves

Answer 24

• Vit. E and Selenium for prevention of white muscle disease
• Vit. A and D to promote better weight gain and calf health
• vaccinate with IBR/PI3/BRSV IN to prevent resp. dz
• bleed at day 2-8 to determine colostral intake (serum total protein should be at least 5.5)

Question 25

goals for 1 month old calves

Answer 25

• grow calf at about 1.8lb/day

- prepare calf for weaning and grouping in small pens

Question 26

procedures for one month old calves

Answer 26

• dehorn
• 7-way Clostridium vaccine for prevent. of overeating disease and bloat
• vax with IBR/PI3/BVD/BRSV
• vaccines: twice, 2-3wks apart

Question 27

weaning

Answer 27

• 4-8wks
• milk removed from diet
• don’t perform any procedures 1 wk before or after –weaning!
• calf goes into neg. energy balance if done suddenly