Calf Survival Rates Can be Increased

REGINA - Feb 23/04 - SNS -- Strong management practices during the first two weeks of a calf's life will greatly improve its chances of survival, reminds Naomi Paley, livestock agrologist with Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization in Yorkton.

"With this year's calving season starting to heat up, therefore, it's a good time to review the common sense tips that ensure a successful and healthy calf crop," says Paley. "Every good cow-calf producer knows that the goal is to produce and maintain a healthy calf, and the way to do that is to have an organized management plan for the cow.

"Some of the things that this plan should include are reasonable body condition at calving, freedom from internal and external parasites, and a feeding program that meets the cow's nutritional requirements. Cows in good body condition will likely have fewer problems during calving than unfit cows. Thin and overweight cows sometimes tend to have a slower calving process, which increases stress on both the cow and calf, and leaves the calf slow to get up and suck."

Paley says a calf should be up and sucking within two hours of birth. It needs at least two liters of colostrum within the first four hours of life, and another three liters within the next two hours. Antibodies in the colostrum give the calf immunity against disease, and these antibodies can only be absorbed from the calf's gut in the first 24 hours of its life.

"Most of this absorption takes place in the first six hours of life, however, so it is very important to get the colostrum into the calf very early on."

If the cow is not able to provide her calf with enough colostrum, a substitute must be administered to the calf. Because the first six hours are crucial to optimum absorption, planning ahead is critical. Paley says the first choice is fresh colostrum but, since access isn't always possible, frozen colostrum is just as effective. She says it is reassuring to know that colostrum can be frozen for years and still be effective.

"Frozen colostrum should be thawed carefully - do not use a microwave oven - to avoid damaging the immunity proteins. This can be quicker and easier if it is frozen in small freezer bags or in ice-cube trays. There are also a variety of commercial powdered colostrum products and, in the last few years, they have come a long way in terms of the level of immunity they provide."

Paley says the biggest increase in calf survival rates results from increased management and observation with first-calf heifers and cows. Intense management and close observation of these animals allows help to be given as soon as it is necessary.

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