All dairy producers are interested in producing healthy calves that will become productive, long-living cows. Although genetics are important, early life management of calves can have a more significant impact on their future. The first days and weeks establish immunity, growth, rumen development and subsequent milk production.
- Poor colostrum management: It is one of the most frequent causes for calves to fall behind. Calves are born with only a small amount of natural immunity and colostrum is not just the first feeding, it contains antibodies that the calf requires. If a calf does not have adequate colostrum, the colostrum is fed too late or the colostrum is poor quality, the calf is at a higher risk for scours, pneumonia, and other health problems. Additionally, nutrition has a permanent effect.
- Milk Replacer: Calves should be provided with sufficient good quality milk or milk replacer to facilitate good early growth.
- Always have clean water available and fresh calf starter to promote rumen development.
- Proper Nutrition: Calves can live on with the inconstant or inadequate nutrition but end up not achieving the growth objectives required for a successful lactation in the milking herd.
- Comfort and cleanliness are equally important.
- Stress and disease risks can be exacerbated by wet bedding, unclean feeding utensils, inadequate air exchange, overcrowding, and unexpected weather fluctuations. A calf that needs to expend energy to warm up, to recover from sicknesses or to stress has less energy available for healthy growth.
- Daily observation and monitoring makes a huge difference. Earliest signs of trouble may be small changes in appetite, manure consistency, breathing or behavior. Discovering and addressing issues in a timely manner helps to stop a minor issue from becoming a long-term setback.
The fact is that calves don’t grow up on their own. Implementing good colostrum management, proper nutrition, proper housing and proper care in the early days of life can set a young calf on the path to becoming a healthy, efficient cow every dairy requires.
Calves are an investment in the future of the herd!
