Managing ‘The Future Generation of Dairy Cows’ is often overlooked.

Recent prices for dairy cows and heifers have made it all more attractive to breed and rear replacement heifers from your own cattle. From an infectious disease point of view this is to be preferred as well, because if you do not ‘buy in’ any cattle, then you can not ‘buy in’ any infectious diseases. However, rearing calves well, and keeping them healthy is not easy!

Getting off to a good start in life is essential. On the one hand you should make sure that your calves do not get in contact with nasty pathogens, whilst on the other hand it is probably even more important to provide your calves with the ability to fight off an infection before they go down with diarrhoea or pneumonia. This is achieved by giving each calf at least 6 pints of colostrum within the first 6 hours after birth, and by providing the calf with a clean, and comfy space.

Colostrum is the first milk a cow produces after calving, which contains a good amount of readily available energy for the calf and a good dose of antibodies. A newborn calf will absorb these antibodies, and whenever a disease comes along, these maternally derived antibodies will aid in the fight against that disease. At such an early age the calves own immune system is not fully up and running yet, and the help of the antibodies is vital. Also colostrum has the ability to coat the gut and provide a local immunity to gut infections.

A ‘comfy space’ for a calf has dry bedding, is not draughty and is not steaming with ammonia. When a calf has to deal with a wet belly, combined with a chilling draught, this costs energy, which should be being used for growing, staying strong and healthy. Remember dampness is ideal for multiplying bacteria and other infectious agents.

Despite all your efforts regarding the provision of colostrum, when there are simply too many bugs to deal with and the calf pen is over crowded and unpleasant you will lose more calves than you need to. Plus you will pay for more drugs, and your calves will lose vitality and fail to grow.

Once through the first few months of life, then new hazards and challenges will come along when the calves are weaned and turned out to grass. The importance of good calf and heifer rearing management is all too often over looked, however these youngsters are ‘the future generation of dairy cows’.

Due to some funding having been made available to help with educational events, Penbode Veterinary Group is organising a course in calf management (up to breeding age) in March, and would like to invite anyone to take part. Please see our advert and contact our receptionists on 01409-253418.

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