Weaning Dairy (Aldridge) Flashcards
Most health risky phase of a young animal’s life?
the first 3 days
Seven “C”s of Calf Care
- Calories
- Confidence
- Consistency
- Cleanliness
- Comfort
- Cost
- Colostrum
4 Goals of Raising Dairy Calves
- Manage change
- Maintain mucosal health
- Maximize health defense
- Mature the rumen
5 M’s of Stress
- Metabolic
- Mucosal
- Mechanical
- Mental
- Microbial
Mucosal stressors?
temperature, diet
2 Types of Mental Stress
- HPA Axis/cortisol (Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal)
- Fear
What type of mental stress stimulates the immune system?
fear
milk production in calves that grow to quickly
decreased milk production
milk production in calves tat grow too slowly
decreased milk production
Ad Lib Calves drink what % of body weight?
20% of BW (ad lib meaning kept with their mommas)
Dairy calves are typically bottle fed what percent of their body weight?
10%
Cold weather increases nutrient needs in calves by what percent?
50%
4 Ways of Increasing Nutrients in Feed/Milk
- Increase volume
- Increase frequency
- Increase concentration
- Increase energy content
Colostrum contents
immunoglobulins, cells, growth factors
(things that are important for immunity, nutrition, and microbes)
4 Q’s of Colostrum
- Quality
- Quantity
- Quickly
- “Queanly” (clean)
Relationship between colostrum coliforms and disease
increased # of coliforms increases disease severity
4 Components of Rumen Development
- Size and Motility
- Chemistry (Digestion)
- Papillae (Absorption)
- Microbes (Digestion)
What dietary component contributes to size and motility of the rumen?
roughage
What dietary component contributes to chmesitry and digestion in the rumen?
grain
What dietary component contributes to the papillae/absorption?
milk (and also grain with age)
What dietary component contributes to microbes in the rumen?
water! (and also grain with age)
How soon should calves be eating forage?
within one week of weaning
When should water first be offered to calves?
as early as possible after calf has finished colostrum
