Calf Management

Posted in: Calf Management
Take the Time to Invest in Your Future
Feb 8, 2011 - 2:11:12 PM

      Every dairy producer knows that time is a very valuable asset.  Dairy farming is a very time sensitive profession and it may seem as if there is never enough time during the day to get everything finished before nightfall.  However, it is very important that producers remember to invest a few minutes out of every day to the future of their farm—the calves and heifers.

    Having a daily routine that includes detailed attention and care for heifers is a practice that is essential to the future success of any operation.  Attention to detail is crucial when dairy cattle are under one year of age because they are very vulnerable to diseases that can inhibit their growth.  On average, smaller, weaker animals have reduced fertility, have more calving difficulties and produce less milk than cows that were raised strong and healthy.  In the long run, time spent observing and caring for calves and heifers will not only increase profits, but will ensure a healthier future for the herd. 

Important Guidelines to Remember When Caring for Young Calves and Heifers:      

During the first few hours of life: As soon as the calf is born, make sure it is kept in a dry, well ventilated, clean area that is protected from weather. In the winter, provide a heavy supply of straw bedding so the calf can “nest” in it to keep itself warm.  Using calf jackets will also provide extra warmth. Conversely, in the hot summer months, make sure that barns or hutches are well ventilated and that pens are kept clean to better control the fly population.

    Next, drench the calf’s naval in a 5-7% iodine solution followed by any recommendations in the farm’s vaccination protocol. Bottle feed the calf two quarts of high quality colostrum within 30 minutes of birth and then again 12 hours later.  Continue feeding colostrum or whole milk until the calf is three days old. 

   To ensure the calf will obtain a sufficient amount of antibodies in the first few hours of life, be sure to use good quality colostrum.  Good quality colostrum contains the highest amounts of immunoglobulins, which transfers passive immunity to the calf and enables it to fight off infections. (Kung, Limin Jr. Ph.D., The Importance of Colostrum for Calves). Even the most experienced dairy producer won’t be able to tell whether a sample of colostrum is of good quality or not without the help of a colostrometer—a tool that measures immunoglobulin concentration in a sample of colostrum. When using a colostrometer, make sure to leave it in the colostrum for exactly ten minutes.  (Dairy Calf and Heifer Association).  The indicator on the colostrometer will either read green, yellow, or red. Green is of good quality, yellow is of borderline good quality and red is of poor quality. Feed only “green” quality colostrum to calves.  After every feeding, be sure to thoroughly sanitize all equipment used.

First Month of Life: Proper nutrition and caloric intake are essential at this vital stage in the life of the calf.  In working with an ANC Consultant, the best type of calf program can be determined for calves over four days old. ANC 26-15 Milk Replacer provides a 26% protein and 15% fat content diet shown to provide the energy and protein levels needed to increase performance and growth rates. “We’ve never had heifers like this before,” said Ethan Kunkel of Sunnyside Dairy in Kempton, Pennsylvania. After using ANC 26-15 milk replacer, he started seeing calves that were more consistent in size, heifers that could be bred earlier, and first calf heifers that milked stronger than ever before.

    If the producer is looking for a traditional, easily digestible milk replacer, they can feed ANC All-Milk 20-20 Milk Replacer.

   Along with quality milk replacer, calves should have access to clean water and a 20-22% crude protein calf starter. After each feeding, all equipment and buckets used should be washed thoroughly and calf pens should be kept clean and dry. 

   Take time each day to carefully observe your calves for any signs of pneumonia, scours, or any other illness and keep a record of those calves that exhibit signs of an illness.  Record keeping is extremely important in successful calf management.  Keeping accurate daily records of the calf, its symptoms, and the treatment it receives will aid you in making future management decisions. If you see signs such as coughing, diarrhea, or failure to drink milk replacer, record the calf’s condition and treat the calf accordingly.

Weaning: Calves should be weaned when they are consuming two to three pounds of calf starter.  Typical age of weaning is six to eight weeks but adjustments can be made for larger or smaller calves.  Before weaning a calf, make sure it is completely healthy.  Offer the calves plenty of water and calf starter at all times, even during the winter months.  After the calf is weaned and has adjusted well to the change, it is ready for a diet containing hay and other forages. Make sure to thoroughly clean and sanitize all pens after moving a calf so that the area is ready for a new calf to move in. 

After Weaning to Six Months of Age: Heifer nutrition is too often neglected between weaning and six months of age. During this time, calves are in transition between the high quality milk replacer and calf starter to forages.  High quality forages such as alfalfa hay and a grain mixture need to be offered to young calves, along with a constant supply of water. At this age, the calf commonly receives its vaccination for brucellosis and other diseases.  Vaccinations vary upon herd needs and veterinarian recommendations.  Facilities should always be kept free of manure build-up to prevent internal and external parasites which can be a serious problem that affects the growth and development of a heifer. 

Six Months of Age to Breeding: Dairy heifers can now have a constant supply of most forages.  To incorporate needed trace minerals and vitamins into the diet, feed both open and bred heifers mineral supplements.  The number one priority for feeding heifers at this age is to ensure that they are consuming a healthy, balanced diet to prepare them to be bred at 13 to 15 months of age and promote a healthy pregnancy.

Remembering to take the time to implement these simple, yet crucial guidelines is an important routine to establish on dairy farms to improve calf and heifer health, which in turn contributes toward the future success of your overall herd.