The first few weeks of a calf\u2019s life are the most important for developing a healthy animal. \u201cEverything we do for calves in the first 6 weeks will dictate how they perform for the rest of their life,\u201d stated Taylor Engle, DVM, with Four Star Veterinary Service in Chickasaw, Ohio.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd in the first 10 to 14 days, if a calf has a really bad experience and can\u2019t get through it, it will struggle for the rest of its life,\u201d he added. \u201cThe chance of that calf hitting its true potential is limited whether as a beef animal or as a heifer replacement.\u201d<\/p>\n
Engle suggests several steps to take for providing the best care possible to help young calves grow into healthy, productive animals.<\/p>\n
The first step in a calf\u2019s life is making sure it starts off with adequate colostrum from a cow that has been vaccinated.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot all colostrum is created equal,\u201d Engle said. \u201cIt\u2019s what we put into the cow before she creates her colostrum that is important. Vaccinating a cow before she calves will allow her to increase the amount of antibodies she puts into her colostrum and dramatically benefit the calf.\u201d<\/p>\n
He also wants colostrum intake measured and the colostrum quality determined with a refractometer. \u201cSo really focus on good colostrum management, and make sure those calves have good colostrum intake,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
After colostrum, follow up with a good milk replacer that mixes well and is easily absorbed by the calf. As the calf grows, it also develops an active immune system, which takes a lot of energy. And if the calf is stressed, it will need more energy. \u201cIf we stress a calf, it\u2019s going to need a good plane of nutrition,\u201d Engle said.<\/p>\n
In addition, provide only good, clean, fresh water for calves so they will drink plenty of it. \u201cIf a farmer won\u2019t drink out of the bucket, we shouldn\u2019t ask the calf to drink out of it either,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The next step is to ensure calves have a \u201csuper-clean environment,\u201d Engle said. \u201cBut a lot of dairy beef producers struggle with disinfection. If we put a calf in a hutch or pen that hasn\u2019t been disinfected, that calf will have a problem if there was a calf before it that had scours. The animal will get the disease and continue to pass it along to the barn. Make sure to disinfect the entire calf area.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition, bottles used for feeding should be completely disinfected between calves to reduce disease pressure.<\/p>\n
Quality bedding is important for good calf health. Engle prefers straw bedding over other types including sawdust, which can lead to respiratory problems. Straw bedding allows the calves to nest and keep warm in cold weather.<\/p>\n
Good bedding, and not just straw bedding, will help decrease naval infections. \u201cIf a calf\u2019s naval gets infected, it will translocate to the liver, and the animal will be systemically ill which causes lots of challenges,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Calf bedding must be kept clean and changed on a regular basis to help reduce stress, which increases a calf\u2019s need for more feed.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlways keep good clean bedding because in the winter it\u2019s a warmth provider,\u201d he continued. \u201cIn summer if the bedding is not changed, it will get moist and will have flies and bacteria growing on it, which are detrimental to calf health.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt takes time to do a good job with bedding,\u201d he added. \u201cSome things we have to do with these calves are not convenient.\u201d<\/p>\n
Baby calves are at risk of developing scours or respiratory disease, which threatens to upend their health for a lifetime. In the first few weeks, Engle focuses on enteric pathogens including the parasite cryptosporidium, bovine coronavirus and rotavirus, and bacteria including E. coli, clostridium and Salmonella.<\/p>\n
\u201cDefinitely disinfection will help reduce the environmental disease pressure,\u201d he said. \u201cWater is important too, because as these calves have an enteric challenge, they will scour and become dehydrated. We have to have calves hydrated to prevent certain diseases and stay healthy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Taking steps to ensure newborn calves stay clean, warm, hydrated and fed will go a long way to producing healthy animals for future markets, according to Engle.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cEverything we do for calves in the first 6 weeks will dictate how they perform for the rest of their life,\u201d stated Taylor Engle, DVM, with Four Star Veterinary Service in Chickasaw, Ohio.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":557,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[65,66,67],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n