Health issues during calving season are high on the list of nightmares for ranchers. Veterinarians Troy Dutton and Joe Hochhalter from the Steele Vet Clinic in Steele, N.D., share several of their tips and strategies to help ranchers stay ahead of illness and health challenges this calving season.
Prevention is Key
Calves might get an official ID in the spring, but other factors throughout gestation impact the health of that calf before they hit the ground. This starts by focusing on challenges or risks your unique operation may experience throughout the year.
Dutton says: “It’s a lot easier and more rewarding to help people prevent problems than help them work through problems like scours and pneumonia in baby calves.”
Be honest with your veterinarian so you get the most accurate and timely advice.
“If you’re dealing with a specific problem, discussing that issue with your veterinarian before we get to calving season gives us a chance to intervene early,” Hochhalter says.
Year-round nutrition also plays a role in keeping calves healthy.
“We start all the way back prebreeding to make sure nutrition-wise they’re set up properly,” Dutton explains. “Work with a nutritionist to make sure your herd’s energy and protein needs are being met as well as provide mineral year-round.”
Additionally, monitor body condition scores throughout the year.
Hochhalter adds: “Those cows that are in good body condition at the time of calving are more likely to birth a healthier calf, have better quality colostrum for that calf and be in a better condition to breed back.”
Keep in mind the unique needs of your operation.
“Every rancher is different. You really have to work with your local veterinarian to help address those issues that the ranch is having,” Hochhalter says.
Get Them Off to a Good Start
Once calves hit the ground, a good start sets them up for the rest of their lives.
Hochhalter explains: “Calves that have some kind of calfhood disease never do catch up to their herd mates that have been healthy their whole life.”
Colostrum is a key component to this good start.
“Growing up, I was always told that calf needs colostrum within 24 hours. However, recent research shows us calves need colostrum sooner than that,” Dutton says. “Calves need colostrum within 6 to 12 hours of birth to get the most out of the antibodies it provides.”
Adequate colostrum impacts more than just health, too.
“Calves with adequate colostrum have better rate of gain and feed efficiency all the way through to the end,” Dutton says.
Dutton and Hochhalter encourage producers to know the difference between colostrum replacement and colostrum supplement in situations where the dam cannot provide colostrum.
Dutton says: “There are colostrum supplement products and colostrum replacement products. Colostrum replacement products have greater than 150 immunoglobulins.”
Sanitation and Calving Barns
Sanitation and calving areas look different depending on the time of year, herd size and geographical area of the ranch.
Regardless, keeping cattle clean and dry is non-negotiable.
For those using calving barns, know when to change out the bedding.
“In a perfect world, we’d like to see each new pair get fresh bedding, but that’s not realistic,” Hochhalter says. “The next best option is to change that bedding once it becomes damp and spoiled to reduce the exposure of pathogens to calves with naïve immune systems.”
Clean pens between pairs reduces the risk of disease spread along with proper ventilation.
“One overlooked factor that plays a role in the spread of disease is ventilation in calving barns,” Dutton says. “Ventilation issues present a real challenge even in the beef industry — especially for those early calvers.”
Sanitary equipment also can’t be forgotten in the calving frenzy.
Dutton says: “Equipment sanitation is also important — especially if you’re running around giving a bolus to a calf or using needles and syringes.”
For producers not using a barn, be aware of how mud impacts calf health.
“Weather plays a huge role. If those calves are really muddy, it increases the risk for navel infection or scours,” Hochhalter says.
Try to change bedding around shelters and find dry areas for cattle. Spreading cattle out also helps reduce disease transmission.
“We have some clients who sort pairs by age or keep pairs separate from cows left to calve, and we know reducing that calving density reduces the spread of illness,” Dutton explains. “However, this can be challenging depending on labor and resource availability.”
Remember the basics this calving season and don’t forget to ask your veterinarian for help when you need it. You can listen to the full conversation on the Casual Cattle Conversations podcast.
For more tips, check out Drover’s Calving Preparation articles.
