Page 37 - MWC 3-10-2022s
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The Midwest Cattleman · March 10, 2022 · P37
Three Tips to Get Ready for Calving Season
By Tony Hawkins DVM, Valley Vet Supply Technical Service Veterinarian
Calving season is an excit- cumstances where a calf might doors to a calving
ing time for us all as we gear not have nursed enough, for shed or barn to calve
up to welcome our newest calves born from heifers, or if in a heavily bed-
calf crop into the world. Help you fear the cow’s colostrum ded, clean pen for
make it the most successful quality could be lacking. Co- added warmth and
season possible by ensuring lostrum supplements can also reduced moisture. If
adequate colostrum, prevent- offer a very good source of en- calving outdoors, an
ing cold stress, and having a ergy, fat, and protein to help area mostly free of
calving kit at the ready. jumpstart sick calves. mud and manure –
1: Ensure Adequate 2: Keep Chilled Calves with a wind break –
Colostrum Warm is ideal. Cold stress
hypothermia
and
Calves are born agamma- The most severe result
globulinemic, meaning they from cold stress on calves is can pose great risk
to calves, especially
have almost no antibodies to death from hypothermia. If
protect them against disease. at all possible, bring cows in- continued on page 39
Simply, they're not born with
any immune memory that we
develop over our lifetime – WHY ARE WE STILL HERE AFTER MORE THAN 25 YEARS?
they receive those antibodies,
an immediate source of immu-
nity, and a very concentrated
source of energy from their
cow’s colostrum (the first milk
produced following birth).
Colostrum delivers some
95% of the antibodies a calf
obtains, plus a rich source of
minerals, vitamins, and ener-
gy. It provides protection for
newborn calves against infec-
tious agents during the first
few months of life.
Colostrum absorbance has
a 24-hour window. That short
time influences a calf’s life-
time of health and produc-
tivity. Because antibodies are
very large molecules, the calf’s
intestine is only capable of ab-
sorbing this protection imme-
diately following birth, with
essentially no absorption pos-
sible after the first 24 hours.
Within the first 12 hours of a MAKE SURE YOU ARE
calf’s life, ideally within the
first four to six hours of life, IN OUR SPECIAL
these calves should receive
three to four quarts of colos-
trum. BRAHMAN INFLUENCE
Depending on if the calf
nurses or not, we might have FEATURE
to tube them and get some
colostrum replacers or colos- MARCH 31ST
trum supplements into them. 6TH
Keep in mind, there are colos-
trum supplements and colos-
trum replacers, and there is a
difference.
Colostrum replacers have
roughly double the level of
antibodies in them, compared
with colostrum supplements.
If your calf doesn't receive
any colostrum, then we would
recommend giving them a co- PHONE: 417-644-2993 - EMAIL: CATTLEMAN@CUTTINGEDGEUS.COM
lostrum replacer. Colostrum
supplements work well in cir-