Calf
As awareness of animal welfare grows, new methods of detecting and evaluating stress and pain in calves are being evaluated. Researchers are exploring heart rate variability as an accurate, non-invasive assessment tool.
The products contain alkalizing agents to help calves manage acidosis during diarrhea, along with water-soluble B-vitamins lost during dehydration.
Calves with a hydration status of less than 8% dehydrated and relatively normal mentation can be treated with oral fluid therapy. With severe dehydration – generally above 8% – you likely need to provide IV therapy.
Even healthy calves can suffer dehydration in extremely hot weather.
If you sell your bull calves shortly after birth, it’s tempting to send them down the road with no colostrum. But those animals will be far better served if you take the time to get them the colostrum they need.
The U.S. calf-raising sector now has a program to help ensure optimal calf health and welfare via the Calf Care & Quality Assurance (CCQA) program.
Cows are beginning to calve and some newborns are certain to be cold stressed. Getting those calves back to normal body temperatures as soon as possible will save some calves and increase the vigor of others.
Bovine veterinarian Andrea Lear says the therapy she chooses is based on the animal’s age, degree of dehydration present as well as her clinical assessment.
An esophageal tube feeder can be a lifeline for young calves, delivering colostrum, milk or electrolytes when they are unable to suckle a bottle. But incorrect use of these feeders can be dangerous or even deadly.
Despite our best efforts at bull selection and heifer development, cows or heifers occasionally need assistance at calving time. Here are recommendations on when to provide calving assistance for cows and heifers.
A high level of crude protein helps support development of the gastrointestinal system, especially important as calves go through the weaning process.
Primary scours disease-causing agents include bacteria such as E. coli and clostridium, and viruses such as rota and corona, and typically more than one pathogen is involved.
Before you cut, evaluate whether the case you face is one you can correct outside the clinic with lasting success.
The most likely candidates for “inadequate” passive immunity are calves born to first calf two-year-old heifers. Calves with inadequate passive immunity remain at higher risk to illness prior to weaning.
The common industry practice of feeding first-day colostrum and then switching calves directly to whole milk or milk replacer may be under review.
Resistance to disease is greatly dependent on antibodies or immunoglobulins. Passive immunity gives temporary protection by transfer of certain immune substances from resistant individuals.
It is important for cattle producers to take the time to observe newly weaned calves for the early stages of illness.
A new vaccine just approved by the USDA in September promises to turn the tide against Epizootic Bovine Abortion.
Early life water consumption in calves both encourages starter grain intake, and enhances the rumen fermentation process to digest and convert it to valuable VFAs.
Successful transition from a milk-based diet to a diet of grain and forages requires proper rumen development.
There are many different causes of abdominal distension as well as many possible predisposing underlying factors for those causes. Four practical steps can help you figure out individual cases you find on the farm.
Abomasal bloat can come on so quickly that calves appearing perfectly healthy at one feeding are found dead at the next.
Crossbreeding has shown increases in growth rate starting in utero, calf survival rate, immune function, average daily gain and longevity in cows.
It not just your diet that stands to benefit from less processing and higher fiber. According to Dr. Michael Ballou, researcher at Texas Tech University, calves also do better on a diet containing whole grains.
Calves need water year-around, including winter. Research evidence suggests 100°F should be the target temperature for calves’ water, matching their body and rumen temperature.