Youngstock Flashcards
Average culling risk
30-35%
Involuntary- biological failures
Voluntary- herd improvement
No profit made on heifer until…
Early to mid second lactation
Replacement heifer options
Raise own
Contract raised
Sell with option to buy back
Purchase all replacements
Keys to calf care
Cleanliness, colostrum, comfort, calories, consistency of care
Cows are dried off
45-60 days prior to calving
Close up period
3 weeks prior to calving
Dry cow nutrition
Protein 12-15% CP
Vit A, D, E, and selenium
Important for colostrum and overall immunity
Risks of leaving calf with dam
Salmonella, e. coli, Johne’s, cryptosporidium
Most important factor for newborn health
Colostrum
Immature cells lining digestive tract at birth
Can absorb macromolecules and bacteria/viruses
Lose ability with time and contact
Best within 4hrs
Poor absorption by 24hrs
Colostrum needs
4qts within 8-12hrs of birth
Feeding options
Suckle dam- 40% calves will have low IgG
Bottle- best method
Esophageal feeder- if not consuming by 3h
Fresh/frozen- bacterial overgrowth can occur
Colostrometer
Measures specific gravity - related to IgG
Depends in temp
Use only first milk of fresh cows
Pasteurization
Reduce morbidity, infection, mortality
Changes viscosity and IgG levels
How long can colostrum be refrigerated
4-5 days
Colostrum bacteria threshold
No more than 100,000 cfu/ml
How to freeze
2qt in double ziplock bags, flat in non frost freezer (-5F)
Thawed in warm water bath (<120)
Only in fresh colostrum
Active leukocytes
IgG goal
1000mg/dl by 48hr
Failure of passive transfer
Calf didn’t get enough
Calf didn’t absorb
Poor quality
When to test for passive transfer
6hr from feeding
Before 10d
Serum tp of calves less than 10days
At birth 4.5
5.5 is adequate.
>7.5 suspect dehydration
Neonatal feeding options
Whole milk- perfect, costly
Waste milk- good nutrition, bacT issues, consider pasteurization
Milk replacer - cheaper, feed 1lb powder/gallon water (hot)
Protein:fat 20:20
Neonatal calf fed
10% of body weight/day in 2 feedings
Fresh water
Calf starter at 1-2days
1gal 20:20=gain <200g/d - starter ASAP!
To fight infection, calves need
Energy for maintenance, growth, temperature control
Common finding in sick/dying calves
Complete atrophy of fat
Scours associated with
High rates of feeding but more likely sanitary and management practices. Can consume 20% of bw without problems
Target 13-15%
Diarrhea
#1 problem for hutch calves Main cause of death
Pneumonia
Problem for older calves #2 cause of death
Diarrhea outbreak
More common in first 2-3wks
Don’t rely on color/consistency to diagnose
Reasons you g calves get sick
High pathogen exposure
Inadequate caloric intake
Environmental temp stress
Not enough cp diet, low selenium, low trace minerals
Management/prevention calf diarrhea
Improve resistance - colostrum, nutrition Minimize exposure Vaccination 2nd colostrum feeding at 3-5days Standard tx protocols
Calf starter feeds
High in cereal grains, low in fiber
Conducive to forestomach development
High vfa production
May contain coccidiostats
Weaning
When starter grain consumption of 2lb/d for 3+days
Reduce milk feeding to once per day for 1-2wks prior
Wean 6-9wks
Offer high quality hay just prior
Keep calves separated for 7-10days after.
Birth to weaning housing
Hutches
No calf to calf contact
At least 3ft between hutches (dz, ventilation)
Hutches
Avoid wet, drafts
Provide bedding, control humidity, provide shade
Face open to south in winter, north in summer
Critical temp for calves
Cold 55-45F for birth-30d
Heat 80F
Resp dz risk factors
Housing/ventilation/humidity
Ammonia, space per heifer
FPT, nutrition
Specific immunity (IBR, BVD, BRSV)
Post weaning fed
Grower grain, small amount of forage
TMR fed when no pasture available
Ionophores
Enhance growth and feed efficiency
Alter rumen microflora, increase propionate, decrease rumen methane production, inhibit coccidia growth
Usually in TMR or grain mix- rumensin, bovatec
Nutrient requirement changes with age
Proportion from forage increases
Careful not to over feed energy and underfeed protein
Springers housing
Keep heifers separate from cows until dry period after first lactation. CP and energy requirements are higher than cows. Move to close up 30d prior to calving.
Prefresh (close up) heifers
Separate from cows 3-4wks prior to calving
Decrease forage, increase concentrate and protein
Decrease salt and potassium
Pay attention to heat stress, hygiene, udder congestion/edema
Breeding age and wt
13-15m
750-800lbs
48-50”
Calving age and wt
1350lb
54-55”
3-3.5 BCS
Average rearing costs
$1.50 per day
If heifers too small at first calving
Dystocia, calf death, decreased production
Every# of wt <1250 =6# less milk
If heifers older at first lactation
Less milk over lifetime
Fewer replacements available
Additional investment cost
Dystocia
Incidence <8% cows
Risk: sire, BCS, calf position, genetics of female
Causes: stillbirths, neonatal mortality, colostrum malabsorption, neonatal acidosis chances increase, survivability and production
