Page 13 - MWC 2-24-2022s

The Midwest Cattleman · February 24, 2022 · P13
What to do When Calves Are Born Weak

Dr. Michelle Arnold, UK Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
“Weak Calf Syndrome” is Vitamin and trace mineral where calves are
a term applied to a calf that deficiencies have also been born with weak
is born alive but lacks vigor, associated with weak calves. heart and skeletal
is slow to stand, and may If cows are not supplemented muscles and fre-
not attempt to nurse. Affect- with adequate amounts of se- quently die soon
ed herds may also see an lenium during gestation, the after birth. In ad-
increase in stillborn calves. calf will be born with a severe dition, both vita-
The known factors contrib- selenium deficiency. This de- mins A and E are
uting to the development of ficiency results in “white vital nutrients for
weak calves include inade- muscle disease”, a condition continued on page 28
quate nutrition for the dam
during pregnancy, difficult
calving (known as “dysto-
cia”) and infectious diseases,
especially BVD virus. With
excellent management, some
weak calves will survive but
most will die shortly after
birth. Those that survive are
prone to develop scours or
pneumonia, grow slowly and
have lower weaning weights.
Although this situation is
difficult to correct during
calving season, identification Privat Treat Gelbvie & Balance Sal
and correction of the under-
lying problems will help pre-
vent this syndrome down the Bull
road.

1. Inadequate Pre-Partum
Nutrition
Nutrition for the dam is
key to preparing a calf for
life outside the cow. Not only
does the pregnant cow’s diet
need to meet her own main- Hondo 227H | Reg: AMGV1514169 Smooth Domain 223H | Reg: AMGV1511596
tenance needs but, in the DOB: 9/24/20 | Sire: Brother C Astro 502D | POLLED DOB: 9/6/20 | Sire: 3SCC Domain A163 | POLLED
last 50-60 days of gestation,
approximately 80% of fetal
growth occurs requiring ad-
ditional nutrients to support
this tremendous growth and
to develop the fetal brown fat
needed to supply energy to
the newborn until adequate
colostrum is ingested. The High Octane 230H | Reg: AMGV1514173 Hammer 225H | Reg: AMGV1511595
two most important cow nu- DOB: 10/16/20 | Sire: HPR Chancellor 8038 | POLLED DOB: 9/11/20 | sire: HPR Chancellor 8038 | POLLED
tritional requirements are
protein and energy, the exact
amounts of each depend on
stage of production, environ-
ment, and mature cow size.
Research has shown that
calves born to cows on inad-
equate diets have less vigor,
less brown fat stores, less
h608 | Reg: AMGV1510366
ability to warm themselves, Female Sire: EGL Lifeline B101 | DOB: 6/06/20 MS UNIQUE GEM - hbar 130h | Reg: AMGV1514165
sire: hpr Chancellor 8038 | DOB: 10/09/20
and it takes a much longer
time for them to stand after available now!
birth. Heifers and old or thin
cows are more likely to have
weak calves as they simply
cannot compete for hay and
feed and should be fed sepa-
rately to allow them access to contact: Hyatt Frobose - 419.308.9503 | Brandi Buzzard Frobose - 785.448.0239 | Greeley, KS
HF
the nutrients they need. creative marketing