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Tag Archives colostrum

Post-calving nutrition: Keep your foot on the gas
Calving, Nutrition

Post-calving nutrition: Keep your foot on the gas

Meeting the nutritional needs of cows that have recently calved

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As we move into spring, calving season is starting for some while for others it is well underway or nearing completion. To this point, your feeding program was likely directed at achieving optimal body condition at calving and ensuring that the nutritional needs of pregnancy were met. The next hurdle is ensuring that your post-calving […] Read more
A still from a Beef Cattle Research Council video on managing colostrum.
Beef Cattle, Calving, Cow-Calf, News Roundup, Scours

Calf 911: Managing colostrum so newborn calves thrive

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 Ensuring newborn calves consume colostrum is one of the most important management strategies cow-calf operations can implement to promote healthy calves. Colostrum provides essential antibodies (such as immunoglobulin G or IgG) to a calf with virtually no immune system. Colostrum also contains fats, vitamins, proteins and other immune cells essential to provide the calf energy, […] Read more
The ins and outs of stomach tubing calves
Calving, Features, Livestock

The ins and outs of stomach tubing calves

New calves in distress or having trouble nursing can still get their first colostrum by tubing, giving them a better shot at good health

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Finding a newborn calf too weak to stand or in distress is all too common. Without intervention, calves in this condition will likely die. It doesn’t have to end that way according to Dr. Melissa Wallace of Livestock Veterinary Services, Picture Butte, Alta. Vulnerable calves can receive their first colostrum by tubing, essentially jump-starting health […] Read more
Once a calf is lying flat and has a very weak or absent suckle reflex, it needs IV fluid.
Cow-Calf, Livestock, Scours

Scours in calves

Scours is a common illness in young calves. Understand the causes and effects of this disease to treat and prevent it

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Scours can be caused by certain kinds of bacteria, viruses or protozoa, but other factors come into play as well. “It’s often the interaction between the immune system, the environment and the pathogen load. The old saying is that the solution to pollution is dilution (or) minimizing the pathogen load,” says Dr. Paul Hardes, a […] Read more
Most cases of scours in calves occur at three days or older, meaning they are most likely viral in origin so electrolytes will do more good than antibiotics.
Cow-Calf, Features

Lessons from a neonatal disease survey

Calving: Measuring the incidence of early calfhood diseases across Western Canada

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A very comprehensive survey was completed a few years ago by Dr. Cheryl Waldner at the Western Veterinary College in Saskatoon looking at the incidence of early calfhood diseases across Western Canada. Surveys were distributed to veterinary clinics across this region and randomly distributed to their clients. Thanks should go to the participating veterinarians and […] Read more
First EPDs for udder and teat conformation in the works
Cow-Calf, Features

First EPDs for udder and teat conformation in the works

Angus herds studied for desirable traits to improve genetic selection

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That first feeding of colostrum invariably charts the course for a calf’s future success and profitability. Knowing that the dam’s udder and teat structure is important to a successful first feeding Kajal Devani, is aiming to improve the genetic selection for improved mammary conformation in Canadian Angus cattle. Devani, who is the Canadian Angus Association’s […] Read more
Factors that hinder calf immunity
Cow-Calf, Features

Factors that hinder calf immunity

Calving Health with Heather Smith Thomas

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Illness occurs when an animal’s body is overwhelmed by infection. A healthy animal with strong immunity is less likely to become sick than an animal with poor immunity. Immunity refers to the body’s ability to fight off pathogens, and this ability is developed in a complex process in which the body creates specific weapons for […] Read more
A simple vigour test for newborns
Cow-Calf, Features, Livestock

A simple vigour test for newborns

Give it two fingers to suck… that’s step one

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Two simple observations at birth can tell you whether a newborn calf has the vigour to quickly suckle enough colostrum to achieve the protection of passive immunity. “Measuring calving ease and suckle reflex is a quick and easy method to identify beef calves that are unlikely to consume colostrum by four hours after birth,” says […] Read more
Intranasal vaccines get around maternal antibodies
Cow-Calf, Features, Livestock

Intranasal vaccines get around maternal antibodies

Animal Health: Maternal antibodies unpredictable


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Calves are born without fully functioning immune systems, making them reliant on passive immunity from maternal antibodies for disease protection. As a result, we assumed for a long time that vaccinating calves at an early age was a complete waste of time and money as the maternal antibodies would attack any pathogens introduced in the […] Read more

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