Calf Management

Question 1

Out of the issues listed, which ones are core issues:
Etiologic diagnosis
Hygiene
Sensitivity patterns
Passive transfer
Nutrition
Treatments
Vaccines

Answer 1

Core issues:
Hygiene
Passive Transfer
Nutrition

All the others are minor issues in calf management

Question 2

What is the primary source of calf pathogens?

Answer 2

Older calves

Question 3

T/F: Calves born early in calving period have an increased likelihood of disease.

Answer 3

False - they have a decreased likelihood

Question 4

T/F: Calves isolated from other calves have a decreased likelihood of disease.

Answer 4

True

Question 5

What is the ideal BCS in a cow at calving(beef and diary)?

Answer 5

Beef = 5-6 out of 9
Dairy = 2.5 out of 9

Question 6

Consequences of poor body condition in the dam

Answer 6

Increased incidence of dystocia
Decreased colostrum quality and milk production
Impaired dam reproductive performance

Question 7

T/F: calves that survive dystocia are 2-6x more likely to become sick and are more likely to have failure of passive transfer.

Answer 7

True

Question 8

We want heifers to be about ___% of their mature weight at breeding, so that they are about ___% of their mature weight at calving.

Answer 8

65; 85

Question 9

We aim for yearling pelvic area between ___ and ___ cm squared.

Answer 9

140-170

Question 10

When looking at pelvic diameters to select for breeding, it is ideal to set ____ criteria, rather than selecting for maximum weight or area.

Answer 10

culling

Question 11

We want to select sires with a ___ birth weight.

Answer 11

low

Question 12

What are expected progeny differences (EPDs)?

Answer 12

Prediction of sire effects relative to breed average in a baseline year

Question 13

T/F: You can compare EPDs between different breeds of cattle.

Answer 13

False - only within the same breed

Question 14

Avoid use of ___ breed bulls on ___ breed heifers.

Answer 14

Continental; english

Question 15

If continental breed bulls are used, only use bulls ranked in the lowest ___% for birth weight.

Answer 15

10

Question 16

If you use english breed bulls, use bulls ranked in the lowest __% of their breed for birth weight.

Answer 16

20

Question 17

Cull bottom __% of heifers based on yearling weight.

Answer 17

10

Question 18

Factors affecting passive transfer in beef calves

Answer 18

Dam size, maturity, health and body condition
Dam temperament, maternal bonding
Calf vigor
Dystocia
Inappropriate intervention

Question 19

4 obligatory steps in passive transfer:

Answer 19

IgG production in the dam
Transfer of IgG to the mammary gland
Colostrum ingestion by the calf
Intestinal absorption of IgG

Question 20

Neonatal absorption of maternal antibody will only occur for the first ___ hours of life.

Answer 20

24

Question 21

What the calf eats first after being born will be absorbed the ___.

Answer 21

best

Question 22

What is the typical passive transfer goal?

Answer 22

1000 mg/dL (1350 mg/dL is optimal)

Question 23

What is the best testing method in assessing passive transfer in the neonate? What are the optimal values for adequate passive transfer in sick and healthy calves?

Answer 23

Refractometry
Serum proteins should be > 5.2-5.5 g/dL
>5.2 total protein in healthy calf and over 5.5 total protein in a sick calf

Question 24

What are two other testing methods in assessing passive transfer besides refractometry that can be used?

Answer 24

Lateral flow immunoassay

Sodium sulfite turbidity

Question 25

How do you know if you have good vs bad passive transfer when using sodium sulfite turbidity test?

Answer 25

If you can read through the tube - fail. | If you cannot read through the tube + 18% Na-sulfite solution- pass.

Question 26

What is the most common result in failure of passive transfer in the neonate?

Answer 26

Normal health

Question 27

Can FPT cause issues in cows that have grown into adults?

Answer 27

Yes - decreased first lactation production, decreased survival, decreased average daily gain, decreased weaning weight, etc. But uncommon.

Question 28

Calving site selection - intensive vs. extensive Extensive favors _____. Intensive permits _____.

Answer 28

hygiene; intervention

Question 29

A farmer can do strategic feeding of ____ to reduce shedding of coccidia oocysts.

Answer 29

Ionophores

Question 30

What should you caution the farmer about when supplementing cows with ionophores?

Answer 30

Ionophores are toxic and lethal to all non-ruminant animals, so if the farmer shares his land with other animals, like dogs and horses, it will kill them if they get into it.

Question 31

Pasture rotations can limit spread of infection. | T/F: Gestation pastures can be small, wet and less hygienic than calving pastures.

Answer 31

True

Question 32

Age range of nursery pastures are limited to ___ days and ideally ___ days.

Answer 32

30; 21

Question 33

Prolonging calving season has negative effects on calf _____ and a negative effect on ___.

Answer 33

health; price

Question 34

Septicemia is a disease caused by pathogenic organisms or their toxins in the ____.

Answer 34

Blood

Question 35

C/S of calf septicemia

Answer 35

``` Lethargy Inappetance Depression TPR Ileus Alternate sites of infection ```

Question 36

Dx of calf septicemia

Answer 36

Physical exam Hemogram Blood culture