By now calf sheds all over the district will be filling up, which means that it's important to have a solid system in place to ensure that you give your future herd the best start.
Our top tips for raising a happy and healthy calf are:
1. Colostrum management – arguably the most important point
Colostrum fed to calves must be above 22 Brix as measured on a refractometer.
Calves need to be fed 10% of their body weight of this good quality colostrum in their first 12hrs of life.
Ensure good hygiene when feeding colostrum as newborn calves are at the greatest risk of illness.
2. Stocking rate
1.5-2.5m2 per calf
10 (maximum 20) calves per pen
3. Hygiene
Fresh, clean, dry bedding
Vetsan Super Concentrate for regular disinfection
Zorbifresh to absorb moisture in bedding & remove ammonia/nitrates
4. Sick animal prevention
Multimin - when given at birth it will halve the amount of clinical disease in your calves
Exagen – Milk additive to aid in prevention of Crypto
5. Sick animal treatment
Quarantine sick animals to minimize spread (feed them last)
Treatment of scouring calves is based on rehydration with electrolytes
6. Navels
Spray navels with iodine solution as calves are picked up, & again when moved from trailer into calf shed
Saturate the navel well with the iodine tincture
If you feel that you have an abnormal number of sick calves, or wish to discuss further, please give us a call.
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