Page 14 - MWC 3-31-2022s

The Midwest Cattleman · March 31, 2022 · P14
PROSPEROUS START FOR NEWBORN CALVES

By Connor Biehler and Hannah Greenwell, Nebraska Extension Educators
A main economic driv- Three ways to help pre-
er of a cow-calf operation is vent a scours outbreak in
the number of calves weaned your herd include:
per cow exposed. Two subse- -Providing a clean envi-
quent drivers are weight and ronment for baby calves.
phenotype. For these rea- Some practices that can help
sons, outstanding calf health provide a clean environment
is a directly correlated vari- include using the sandhills
able to calf growth and per- calving method (cows that
formance. This article will re- have not yet calved are rotat-
view management strategies ed on pastures so newborn
that have been shown to be after calving. After this ini- thal ailment in the first 30 calves enter a clean environ-
helpful for improving new- tial milking, the cow begins days of a calf’s life. While cur- ment), maintaining a clean
born calf health. to transition to lower quality rent practices have improved calving environment, and
Sound calf health man- and quantity of colostrum for survival rate of calves, there sanitizing treatment equip-
agement begins with the the next 48-60 hours. Like- is still an economic and time ment between calf uses.
dam, prior to calving. A ges- wise, after the first hour, the saving benefit to taking pre- -Ensuring the calf receives
tating cow should be fed to calf’s ability to absorb im- ventative measures rather colostrum in a timely man-
meet her requirements for munoglobins across the gut than treating once the calf ner. Failure to do so increases
her own maintenance plus wall begins to decrease. True is sick. Scours are usual- risk of calf health problems.
the additional nutrients for colostrum contains two times ly caused by two or more -Vaccinating cows in the
fetal growth. If these re- as much dry matter and min- pathogens working together, last trimester. Vaccinating
quirements are not met, the erals, and five times more or increased pathogen load for E. coli and rotavirus can
fetus will still properly grow; protein than whole milk, in confined settings. Severi- potentially increase antibod-
however, the cow sacrifices while also containing various ty and duration of scours is ies that the dam will pass on
her own reserves, lowering hormones and growth factors dependent on the extent of to her calf through colostrum.
condition prior to lactation required for growth and de- intestinal destruction, stress
and re-breed. Cows in a body velopment. level in the environment, and
condition score of 5.5 – 6.0 Detecting abnormal signs amount and quality of colos-
(1-9 scale) have been shown and behaviors that indi- trum from the dam.
to deliver calves with higher cate a calf is sick is critical,
vigor, lowered incidences of especially in the first two
dystocia, and have a quick- months of a calf’s life. The
er return to estrus. Research main goal concerning calf
suggest underfeeding cows/ health should be to detect
heifers does not result in a abnormal signs and behavior
smaller calf, but consequent- between a healthy and sick
ly reduces cow performance calf. The quicker behavior
post-calving. signaling illness is detected,
A key component to getting and treatment administered,
a calf off to the right start is the greater the chances of re-
to ensure they receive colos- covery are for the calf. In ad-
trum within the first four dition, this information can WE ARE ON
hours post-calving. Colos- be used to develop calf man-
trum is the primary source of agement protocols and treat-
nutrients and immunity for a ment strategies for current
newborn calf and is only ob- and future calf crops.
tained from the first milking Calf scours is the most le- THE WEB!

midwestcattleman.com

Calf scours is the most lethal ailment in the first 30 days of a calf’s life.
Photo credit Troy Walz