Addressing Neonatal Calf Diarrhea

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 18:20:00 +0000

Neonatal calf diarrhea, also referred to as calf scours, is a common disease affecting newborn calves. An interaction of several factors such as lack of colostrum, poor nutrition and environmental distresses can cause diarrhea and other clinical signs of NCD.

Diarrhea or scouring occurs when the capability of the intestine to absorb fluid is impaired. This interference may be due to damage to the cells lining the intestine and other infectious agents that are producing toxins that cause the cell lining of the intestine to produce fluid rather than absorb it.

Signs and effects of neonatal calf diarrhea (NCD):

In the beginning stages the animal is alert; however, as NCD progresses, the animal may begin to refuse feed, become depressed and weak to the point where he or she is unable to stand.Soiling of the hindquarters and tail are common. Dehydration is also a result of severe diarrhea.

Common causes of NCD:

• Bacteria - Escherichia coli, also referred to as E. coli andSalmonella.
• Viruses -Rotavirus, which appears suddenly and spreads rapidly through the calf herd andCoronavirus, which affects calves over one week of age.

Treatments NCD:

• Prompt replacement of water and electrolytes can help reestablish homeostasis and allow the calf the opportunity to recover
• Work closely with the herd veterinarian or other health care professional to develop a treatment plan for the calf or herd

Preventing NCD:

• Regular observation of calves several times a day will permit early detection of the disease
• Reduce exposure to infectious agents -
  • Keep calves in single calf pens for at least the first month
  • Keep pens clean and dry
  • Keep calves isolated from healthy calves and fed last
  • Keep feeding utensils sanitized after each use
  • Provide resistance for the calf
    • Colostrum equaling 10 percent of the calf's body weight should be fed within the first two hours of life
    • Colostrum should be free of blood, debris and disease
    • Develop a vaccination program with your herd veterinarian

Cold Weather Calf Care - Focus of Feeding

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 18:13:02 +0000

Normal milk/milk replacer feeding limit for calves is usually between 1.0 to 1.5 pounds per day. This provides the amount of metabolizable energy needed for the calf to maintain its body weight and grow approximately 0.5 to 1.0 pounds of body weight gain per day.

Metabolizable energy required in normal conditions can be categorized as the amount needed to maintain body weight and the amount required for growth.

Throughout colder weather conditions, the quantity of metabolizable energy needed to maintain body weight increases. As temperatures drop, calves need more energy to generate heat to maintain a constant body temperature to keep warm.

Frigid temperatures combined with insufficient energy, may result in weight loss as a means of saving energy to keep warm. If this persists, the calf may eventually lose excess body weight and will starve to death. This form of stress can affect growth rates and nutrition as well as production.

Before the amount of metabolizable energy needed to maintain body weight is increased, it is important to consider the calf's age. As calves get older, they are more likely to be introduced to calf starter. Older calves eating calf starter will experience rumen development and a functional rumen results in production of its own heat. This will also aid in keeping the calf warm.

Calves should be kept in an environment that is clean, dry and draft free. However, it is equally important to ensure calves are being fed the appropriate portions during colder weather in order to generate heat to maintain their body weight.

Click here to read Added CMR feeding in cold weather, by Dr. Jim Quigley.

Monitor water quality

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 18:00:15 +0000

Producers are often consumed with ensuring their dairy cows are consuming the appropriate rations. However, according to Dr. Jim Quigley, in the bustle focusing on rations, the most important nutrient can be forgotten - water!

Water serves to lubricate, dissipate heat, transport nutrients and dilute toxins. It improves average daily gain and feed conversion, is beneficial in the development of the rumen and helps in digestion and the metabolic function of calves.

Producers should pay attention to the quality of water and its delivery process.

Comfort - Another key to successful calf management

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 18:00:32 +0000

Calf raisers are responsible for raising healthy calves. However, successfully raising a healthy dairy herd has its challenges.

There are both uncontrollable and controllable circumstances growers face on a daily basis including extreme temperatures. However, growers can make these conditions tolerable by providing a comfortable physical environment for calves.

When placed in a comfortable environment, calves utilize the nutrients in their diet for growth. A calf that is placed in an uncomfortable setting has to focus on coping with environmental stressors, such as trying to stay warm or cool.

Providing a comfortable environment includes:

• Having clean food and water easily accessible to calves.
• Providing a dry housing facility. Having proper drainage is important to keeping the calf housing dry. If you are using hutches, it should be placed on top of gravel to enable drainage under the bedding.
• Providing a dry, well bedded area for calves adds to their comfort. Bedding should be changed between calves and adjusted in colder temperatures to provide adequate warmth.
• If housed outdoors, calves should be able to escape the elements. Providing hutches or a central shelter for calves to escape the heat or draft increases the comfort of calves.
• Providing proper ventilation will help eliminate moisture during the winter, heat in the summer, allow old air leave and fresh air enter the calf housing, aides in controlling dust, heat and odors.
  • Humidity makes calves damp and sick.
  • Heat makes calves uncomfortable, causing them to get sick and grow slowly.

DCHA Gold Standards III and the following will provide more information about comfortable housing for your calves:

• Dairy Calf Housing
• Ideal Calf Housing

Cleanliness - Important for successful calf management (Part 3 of 5)

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 18:31:03 +0000

Here are some hygiene and sanitation principles to help keep calves healthy and free of disease:

• House calves in individual hutches with bedding that is deep enough to cover the calf's legs when resting.
• Clean, wash, disinfect and dry hutches between calves.
• Wash equipment after every use including bleach in the wash water. Soak with bleach and hot water occasionally to back up an effective washing program.
• The proper soaking dilution of household bleach is about 2.7 cups in 5 gallons of water.
• If you cannot provide individual pails for each calf, wash and sanitize shared pails for each calf and keep them separate when not in use.
  • Use of pails from one to another increases the chances if transmitting pathogens.
• Discard any refused calf starter, milk replacer and water.
• Prevent manure contamination of feed and feeding area.
• Calves should not be in contact with manure from adult animals.

According to the DCHA Gold Standards III, shelter is a critical welfare component for dairy animals of all ages. You are giving your calf the best start in life by providing a clean calving area.

The following will provide more information on cleanliness.

• Bleach is not enough
• To wash or not to wash?
• The 5 C's