Calf disbudding and colostrum Flashcards
It is a legal requirment that calves be disbudded before they are ….days old
28
If a calf is older than 2 weeks it needs a …. before disbudding
anaesthetic
What are the recommended way to do disbudding? (2 things)
- use a LA
- give NSAIDs
Why is it advantageous to give NSAIDs at time of disbudding?
They will keep appetite - so growth rate will be kept up
How many mls of LA do you inject for disbudding?
4-5mls
steps involved in disbudding
1- put calf in a crush
2- inject LA (in the divet between the lateral canthus and the horn bud)
3- preheat disbudding iron
4- give NSAIDs behind the elbow
5- test LA has worked by putting needle into the horn and test for sensitivity
6- use aluminium spray to keep flies off
caustic paste can be used for disbudding when calved are less than …week old
less than one week old
what types of disbudding irons do you have?
- gas
- propane
- electric
- cauterising
How long will the local last?
90min
Which nerve are we dissensitising with the LA for disbudding?
The cornual nerve
why do we draw back when we inject LA into the cornual nerve?
vein runs near cornual nerve
Can farmers do disbudding themselves?
Yes
Can farmers do dishorning themselves?
No, that is a vet job
Why do we disbud?
- better to do earlier as cheaper, quicker and easier than dehorning later
- for the safety of other animals and human handlers
- unhorned and horned cattle generally cannot be transported together
What is the industry doing to avoid disbudding?
- breeding for polled animals
can disbudding be done at any time of year?
Yes
Can dehorning be done at any time of year?
No- shouldnt be done at times when there are alot of flies (summer)
What breeds do not have horns naturally?
- Hereford
- aberdeen Angus
- Belted Galloways
Colostrum needs to be given at what times and what quantity after birth?
within 2h- 3L
12h after - 3L
Legal requirement is 3L within 6h
How can you feed colostrum?
- bottle
- tube feeding
What can you test / look for to assess colostrum intake?
- IgG (atleast 10)
- TP (atleast 50)
What is the minimum Brix refractometer reading for colostrum?
22%
What % of body weight should be aim for in terms of colostrum intake?
10% of calfs’ body weight
TP is made of what?
- albumin
- globulin
