Calf rearing - the basics
There are many good publications on the ‘how to' of calf rearing. The fundamentals of good calf rearing come down to high standards of animal husbandry, excellent yet simple systems and facilities, and common sense. Getting all of these fundamentals right is the key, and should be considered in the context of:
Colostrum - calves are born without any immunity and rely on the protective effect of antibodies derived from mum's colostrum to ward off infections in the early weeks of life. As up to 50% of calves fail to get enough passive immunity directly from their mothers, it is recommended that whenever possible, all calves should be fed 1.5-2 litres of fresh, first day colostrum within 12 hours of birth.
Feeding - there is no single failsafe system, but if principles of consistency (liquid feed mixing, storage, volume, feeding temperature, and timing of feeding), cleanliness, and husbandry (to quickly identify slow feeders and sickies) are followed, calves should have the chance to flourish.
Housing/Shelter - from wind and rain so calves remain dry and draught free
- sheds/ pens should preferably be north or north-east facing, and twice as deep as they are wide and high
- provide clean deep bedding to promote excellent drainage
- avoid overcrowding
- all in, all out system
Ventilation - airflow must be above the heads of the calves to remove the ammonia calves produce in their urine.
Calf selection - rear only healthy calves with clean navels, rears and joints.
Hygiene - this is more than just spraying a bit of disinfectant around, and applies to calf trailers, feeding equipment, calf sheds, and hands, clothing and gumboots of calf rearers.
Clean water - fresh clean water must be available at all times from day one.
Preventing disease in newborn calves is all about maximizing immunity - colostrum transfer, certain vaccination strategies, plus sound feeding and housing that together promote good health - while minimizing challenge through appropriate hygiene (disinfection), housing, and initial calf handling and selection practices.
When feeding calves, it is essential to consider all aspects of rumen development. The faster and earlier the rumen develops, the sooner the calf can leave the calf shed and be removed from the major sources of disease challenge. With the price differential generally in favour of cereal-based supplements over whole milk and milk replacers, here is another reason to encourage earlier weaning while not compromising growth. Choose a quality balanced calf meal, always offer long fibre such as clean barley straw and provide clean fresh water at all times. Grain-based meals with increased particle size may be the most desirable feed for overall rumen development.
What can Totally Vets do to assist your calf-rearing endeavours?
- Blood test calves to measure adequacy of colostrum transfer
- Test nutritive value of milk replacers
- Advise on appropriateness of vaccination programmes
- Provide guidelines on collection and storage of colostrum
- Advise on calf building design
- Advise on day-to-day calf shed operations
- Develop disease risk management plans based on hazard identification and critical control points
- Investigate disease outbreaks
- Offer guidelines on the treatment of sick and scouring calves
- Provide a comprehensive range of OTC and prescription medicines, both as treatments and as preventatives
- Provide a limited range of essential calf-rearing equipment
