The dry period is an important time in terms of cow health, but it’s also an important time for maximising calf health. Correct mineral supplementation is important in the final two months of gestation. This will reduce issues with iodine and selenium deficiencies that could seriously impact calf mortality on both dairy and beef farms.

Getting a silage mineral analysis completed means a tailored mineral can be made up for specific silages. If there have been issues with mineral deficiencies on the farm in the past, it’s important to talk to the vet to make sure appropriate action is being taken.

Disease has many causes and one of them is stress. If cows have health issues like fluke, worms or lice, they will not be operating at full capacity coming up to calving.

If cows have health issues like fluke, worms or lice, they will not be operating at full capacity coming up to calving

Make sure all dosing is up to date and watch withdrawal dates. Monitor body condition score, as excess condition can lead to calving issues. Thin cows can also have issues around retained placentas. Feeding soya pre-calving will boost colostrum quantity and quality in sucklers and ensure calves get the best possible start in life.

Scour vaccine is also important where scour has been an issue on the farm in the past. While the vaccines will only cover Rotavirus and Coronavirus, many farmers who vaccinate feel that other scours are easier cured when vaccinating. It is expensive, at around €10/cow, but could be money well spent in the face of a bad scour outbreak.

The calving process

Having good facilities will mean an easier calving season on both operator and animal. With dairy herds expanding, calving facilities have come under more and more pressure in recent years. Having extra calving pens could make a big difference for those problem cases.

With more cows moving through pens, disease pressure will be greater, so hygiene and keeping clean facilities are extremely important. Making time and space to do this between calvings is important in order to avoid disease build up and outbreaks of scour towards the end of the calving season.

Knowing when to pull and when not to pull are very important points to refresh on prior to calving. This is especially important on some of the larger herds where different people are working at different times. Iodine or Chlorohexidine are a must to help dry up navels.

Colostrum

Suckler calves should get a minimum of 3l of colostrum within two hours of birth. Smaller dairy calves could get away with less, closer to 2.5l. Calves will absorb antibodies better via sucking, but stomach tubes are another good way of feeding. A question that often comes up at this time of year is whether or not artificial colostrum is as good as the real thing. It depends on the type of colostrum. In order of preference, you should source colostrum like this:

  • The calf’s mother.
  • Another cow from the farm.
  • Frozen colostrum from a neighbouring farm.
  • Artificial colostrum.

    • Artificial colostrum that contains bovine colostrum will have a level of immunity, but it won’t be the same as real colostrum.Some of these products just act as an energy source for calves.

    Be careful when thawing frozen colostrum and make sure the water isn’t too hot. Don’t use the microwave. Store frozen colostrum in zip lock freezer bags and it will be easier to thaw them out.

    Hydration

    With sick calves, hydration is really important in terms of getting calves back on track during scour outbreaks or other diseases. A scouring calf could lose up to 6l-8l/day of fluid. A minimum of 2l/electrolyte twice daily needs to be given as early as possible. This makes a total of 4l of fluids daily. In the past it was assumed that the best way was to achieve this was to stop milk feeding, however, the advice now is to continue milk feeding as the calf needs an energy source. Having a digital thermometer is an absolute must and a calf’s temperature should be between 37.5-39°C.

    Don’t forget to check navels for any signs of swelling. Calves with low temperatures should be rehydrated and given a heat source. Calf jackets can be a really easy way to provide a heat source for sick calves. Make sure to wash regularly if sick calves are wearing them.

    Debudding tips

  • When calves are over two weeks old, an anaesthetic must be used, in accordance with the law.
  • Anaesthetics are prescription only medicines and must be sourced from your vet.
  • The anaesthetic should be injected into the base of the horn bud and sufficient time should be given to allow it to numb or freeze the area before the procedure is carried out.
  • A dehorning crate should be used to help minimise stress and prevent injury to the calf and operator.
  • Calves should be debudded before they are three to four weeks of age.
  • Try not to debud calves immediately after arrival and let calves settle in to their new surroundings before dehorning takes place.