HERD HEALTH - Group Calf Health

Question 1

What are the key assessment periods when investigating group calf health?

Answer 1

Pre-calving
Calving
Golden hours.
Pre-weaning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqQn91HmUaU&t=1293s (video on dairy cow production systems)

Question 2

Which history questions should you ask when assessing the pre-calving period when investigating group calf health?

Answer 2

Nutrition of the dam?
Vaccination status of the dam?

Question 3

What should you observe when assessing the pre-calving period when investigating group calf health?

Answer 3

Environment
Stocking density
Feed face space
Nutrition

Question 4

What is the minimum space requirement for a cow that is in the pre-calving period?

Answer 4

7.5m^2 per cow

Question 5

What is the minimum feed face space for a cow in the pre-calving period being fed simultaneously with all of the other cows?

Answer 5

0.7m per cow

Question 6

What is the minimum feed face space for a cow in the pre-calving period being fed ad lib with all of the other cows?

Answer 6

0.3m per cow

Question 7

What are the effects of inadequate nutrition during bovine gestation?

Answer 7

Decreased milk and colostrum yield and quality and decreased calf vitality. Furthermore, inadequate nutrition results in all of the energy resources being directed to the placenta which can predispose to foetal oversize

Question 8

What are the effects of over nutrition during bovine gestation?

Answer 8

Dystocia
Metabolic disease

Question 9

How should you determine the feeding regime for a cow in the pre-calving period?

Answer 9

You should body condition score (BCS) the cow 6 to 8 weeks before calving and feed her based on her BCS, making sure to keep feeding consistent, especially in the three weeks prior to calving

Question 10

Which pre-calving records should you analyse when investigating group calf health?

Answer 10

Ultrasound scanning and pregnancy diagnosis results
Dry period length

Question 11

What is the dry period?

Answer 11

The dry period is the time between halting milking and subsequent calving. The mammary glands of dairy cows require a non-lactating period prior to impending parturition to optimise milk production in the subsequent lactation

Question 12

What is the minimum dry period required to optimise milk and colostrum production?

Answer 12

Minimum dry period of 60 days

Question 13

What pre-calving sampling should you do when investigating group calf health?

Answer 13

Body condition scoring (BCS)
Blood sampling for metabolic profiling
Abortion investigation

Question 14

Which blood parameters should you assess in cows in the pre-calving period for metabolic profiling?

Answer 14

Non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA)
Urea
Albumin
Globulin
Selenium
Iodine
Copper

Question 15

Why is it important to measure serum non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) in cows in the pre-calving period?

Answer 15

Non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) are released into the bloodstream when the cow metabolises fat stores to meet their energy demands, which occurs in periods of a negative energy balance which can occur when energy intake is insufficient to meet requirements for maintenance, pregnancy and lactation. Elevated NEFA levels suggest the cow is mobilising significant fat stores which can indicate a poor energy balance or inadequate nutrition

Question 16

Why is it important to measure serum urea levels in cows in the pre-calving period?

Answer 16

Urea is a byproduct of protein metabolsim, and measuring serum urea levels allows for the assessment of protein intake and utilisation in the rumen. Decreased serum urea levels can indicate inadequate supply of rumen degradable protein, which is important for maintenance, growth, pregnancy, calf growth, milk production and fertility

Be aware low serum urea levels can also indicative hepatic disease

Question 17

Why is it important to measure serum iodine levels in cows in the pre-calving period?

Answer 17

Sufficient iodine is required for the synthesis of thyroid hormones. If a cow has inadequate serum iodine levels, this can result in decreased thyroid hormone production and an overall decreased metabolic rate

Question 18

Why is it important to measure serum selenium levels in cows in the pre-calving period?

Answer 18

A selenium deficiency can predispose cows to retained foetal membranes

Question 19

Why is it important to measure serum copper levels in cows in the pre-calving period?

Answer 19

Cooper is has an important role in cow health, fertility and immunity. Serum copper levels should remain relatively constant unless there has been excessive under- or overfeeding

Question 20

What body condition score (BCS) should a cow be at calving?

Answer 20

Body condition score (BCS) between 2.5 and 3

Question 21

What are the common pre-calving problems resulting in poor group calf health?

Answer 21

Cow overfeeding
Cow underfeeding
Heifers too small for the sire
Mineral imbalances
Infectious disease (abortion)

Question 22

Which controls can be implemented into the pre-calving period to optimise calf health?

Answer 22

Nutritional adjustments
Delay breeding heifers until they are grown enough for the chosen sire
Environmental management
Vaccinations

Question 23

Which history questions should you ask when assessing the calving period when investigating group calf health?

Answer 23

Investigate stockmanship and what exactly is done when the cow is calving. Furthermore, investigate as to when the cows are being moved to the calving pen

As moving too early or too late can have consequences

Question 24

What should you observe when assessing the pre-calving period when investigating group calf health?

Answer 24

Environment
Stocking density

Question 25

What is the minimum space requirement for a calving cow within the calving pen?

Answer 25

12-15m^2

Question 26

Which calving records should you analyse when investigating group calf health?

Answer 26

Calving profile (dairy cows) Calving spread (beef cows) Perinatal mortality rates Cow mortality rates Dystocia records (and grades) Estimated breeding values (beef cows) Drug records (indicates morbidity) Disease records

Question 27

What is a calving spread?

Answer 27

A calving spread refers to the distribution of calving dates within a herd over a specific period | A busy calving period puts lots of pressure on staff which can be risky

Question 28

What is the optimal calving spread for a dairy herd?

Answer 28

Ideally, there should be an even spread of cows calving throughout the year

Question 29

What is the optimal calving spread for a beef herd?

Answer 29

Ideally the beef herd should be calving within 9 weeks

Question 30

What is the target value for perinatal mortality?

Answer 30

2% perinatal mortality

Question 31

What is the target value for heifer dystocia?

Answer 31

15% heifer dystocia

Question 32

What is the target value for cow dystocia?

Answer 32

5% cow dystocia

Question 33

What sampling should you do during the calving period when investigating group calf health?

Answer 33

Post mortem dead calves Blood sampling freshy calved cows

Question 34

Which serum parameter is particularly important to assess is freshly calved cows?

Answer 34

Serum calcium levels

Question 35

Why is it particularly important to measure serum calcium levels in freshly calved cows?

Answer 35

Hypocalcaemia (milk fever) impaires muscle contraction and predisposes cows to uterine inertia which results in dystocia. Furthermore, hypocalcaemia will result in 'downer cows' and can impact colostrum management

Question 36

What is uterine inertia?

Answer 36

Uterine inertia is the failure of uterine contraction

Question 37

What are the common calving problems resulting in poor group calf health?

Answer 37

Poor calving facilities Poor stockmanship Mineral imbalance Dystocia

Question 38

Which controls can be implemented into the calving period to optimise calf health?

Answer 38

Sire selection *(make sure sire isn't too big for the cow breed)* Monitor heifer growth Optimise calving pen environment Staff training in obstetrics Optimise the calving to first service interval

Question 39

What is the target calving to first service interval within the dairy industry?

Answer 39

70 days

Question 40

What are the 'golden hours' in calving?

Answer 40

The 'golden hours' refer to the crucial hours following the birth of the calf which are critical for both the cow's recovery and calf health

Question 41

What are the four main physiological challenges the calf faces during the 'golden hours'

Answer 41

Heat loss due to high body surface area but low body mass Direct opening to the vascular system via the umbilicus No humoral immunity Environmental pathogen challenge

Question 42

Which history questions should you ask when assessing the 'golden hours' when investigating group calf health?

Answer 42

Colostrum management? Umbilical management? Stockmanship? Vaccination status of the dam?

Question 43

What are some important components of umbilical management?

Answer 43

Use strong iodine and make sure to dip rather than spray

Question 44

What should you observe when assessing the 'golden hours' when investigating group calf health?

Answer 44

Observe the stockmanship and what actually happens to the calves within the 'golden hours'. Make sure to observe the colostrum management, cleanliness of the equipment *(esp. colostrum buckets)*, umbilical management and the general enviornmental conditions

Question 45

Which 'golden hours' records should you analyse when investigating group calf health?

Answer 45

Colostrum records Treatment/drug records (indicates morbidity) Neonatal death records

Question 46

What is the target value for drug treatment in calves within the 'golden period'?

Answer 46

Preferably less than 5% of calves should be treated with drugs (indicates low morbidity)

Question 47

What sampling should you do during the 'golden hours' period when investigating group calf health?

Answer 47

Colostrum quality Serum calf IgG levels Post mortem (PM) dead calves

Question 48

What are the common 'golden hour' problems resulting in poor group calf health?

Answer 48

Poor colostrum management Poor umbilical managment Poor subsequent milk feeding

Question 49

How should subsequent milk feeding be carried out to optimise calf health?

Answer 49

Calves require at least one feed of first milking colostrum and then transition milk or milk replacer supplemented with first milking colostrum for the next five days to increase their growth rates. Following this, they can be fed milk or milk replacer as normal

Question 50

What is 'dump milk'?

Answer 50

'Dump milk' is milk that is discarded as it is not fit for human consumption

Question 51

Why should 'dump milk' not be fed to calves?

Answer 51

'Dump milk' should not be fed to calved as if the milk comes from cows that are receiving antibiotics or other medications, these substances can be present in the milk. Antibiotic residues can harm calves by disrupting their gut microbiota and potentially contributing to the development of antibiotic resistance.

Question 52

Which controls can be implemented into the 'golden hours' to optimise calf health?

Answer 52

Colostrum management Umbilicus management Optimise subsequent milk feeding Environmental management (reduce contamination)

Question 53

(T/F) Calves should be weaned based on their age

Answer 53

FALSE. Calves should be weaned based on weight, not age. They should be weaned when they are at 20% of their mature live weight, eating 2kg of quality concentrates per day, and weaning should be done gradually with a gradual reduction in milk provisions (around half a litre per week) | Remember you are trying to convert a monogastric animal to a ruminant

Question 54

Which history questions should you ask when assessing the pre-weaning period when investigating group calf health?

Answer 54

Calf nutrition? How much is being fed? Is the milk being fed at the same time and temperature each day? Weaning process? How are sick calves managed? Calf vaccination protocol? Dehorning protocol? Castration protocol? Stockmanship?

Question 55

What is the optimal calf nutrition to prepare them for weaning?

Answer 55

Milk-based protein source 25 - 27% crude protein Access to fresh, clean water Access to fresh roughage Access to concentrates

Question 56

When should calves be given access to concentratrates?

Answer 56

Calves should be given access to concentrates from 7 days old, but preferably from 1 to 2 days old

Question 57

How much milk should calves be fed a day?

Answer 57

Calves should be fed 8 litres of milk or milk replacer either split into two feeds or ad lib

Question 58

How can you assess the quality of milk replacer?

Answer 58

Whole milk is about 30 to 35% fat, to assess quality of the milk replacer, look at the fat and protein percentage which should be at least 20% fat and at least 20% protein

Question 59

What should you observe when assessing the pre-weaning period when investigating group calf health?

Answer 59

Environment Stocking density Feed face space Nutrition

Question 60

What is the minimum feed face space requirement for calves?

Answer 60

0.3m per calf

Question 61

Which pre-weaning records should you analyse when investigating group calf health?

Answer 61

Calf daily live weight gains Treatment/drug records (indicates morbidity) Calf mortality rates

Question 62

How much live weight should dairy calves be gaining per day?

Answer 62

800 - 900g per day

Question 63

How much live weight should beef calves be gaining per day?

Answer 63

1kg per day

Question 64

What sampling should you do during the pre-weaning period when investigating group calf health?

Answer 64

Post mortem (PM) dead calves Scour sampling if indicated Pneumonia pathogen testing if indicated

Question 65

What are the common pre-weaning problems resulting in poor group calf health?

Answer 65

Poor calf nutrition Poor environmental management Infectious disease

Question 66

Which controls can be implemented into the pre-weaning period to optimise calf health?

Answer 66

Increase volume of milk fed Wean based on weight and nutrition rather than age Environmental management