We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.
What do heat stress, low-quality colostrum and lower-than-average daily gains during the pre-weaning period all have in common? Each of these can impact the expression of a dairy heifer’s genetic potential, translating into lifetime effects such as lower milk production, lower reproductive efficiency and decreased longevity.
There are several causes of calf scours, but fluid replacement via electrolytes is a requirement for all scours treatments. By simply reversing the dehydration, the calf can be saved without antibiotics.
When calves become ill, more often than not, they are also dehydrated. Hydration is an important process to help cure the calf and get the animal back on track.
Veterinarian Matt Boyle, Zoetis Dairy Technical Services, provided some tips on how to hydrate calves at the Vita Plus Chick Day in August 2012. At the time, Boyle was a veterinarian at Freeport Veterinary Service in Freeport, Minnesota.
First of all, treatment should depend on the condition of the calf. Click here to download a table to aid in assessment.
Often overlooked, water is the most important nutrient for dairy calves. It is required for all of life’s processes including the transport, digestion and metabolism of nutrients, the elimination of waste materials and excess heat from the body, and the maintenance of a proper fluid-ion balance in the body.
If you haven’t already planned for managing heat stress in calves this summer, there’s no time to waste. Just like cows, calves are susceptible to heat stress at higher temperatures, which can affect both health and performance.
On average, dairies lose 5 to 15 percent of their calves in the first three weeks of life due to scours, making it the number one killer of calves. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. With the right tools and protocols, it is possible to maintain less than a 1.5 percent death loss in these young calves.
Are your calves healthy? How do you know? You probably have a general picture of calf health on your farm, but putting pen to paper and tracking the numbers can give you accurate data to watch trends and make changes quickly.
Understanding the basic principles of calf barn ventilation is essential in evaluating the many different ventilation options available today. There is no single ventilation system that will work for every situation because each calf barn is unique in its structure and layout.
Calves are future producers in a dairy farm, and many studies demonstrate the animal’s health and growth in early life influence its future productivity. The impacts of both pre- and post-natal heat stress on pre-weaning calves need to be recognized because they significantly influence calves’ growth, health and future performance.
In the current economic climate, dairy farmers are looking to increase efficiency across their business and reduce costs. Although it is viewed as a small portion of the dairy enterprise, nearly 20 percent of the production costs incurred on a dairy are attributed to raising replacement heifers.
RSS
