4 Keys To Getting Newborn Calves Off To Healthy Start – AG Matters

Getting new born calves off to a healthy start is key to growing your herd, improving it's genetics and in general good for your bottom line. Cornell Cooperative Extension hosted  a workshop with Dr. Rachel Fraser of Leatherstocking Veterinary Services offering 4 tips to provide the healthiest start possible.

A clean and dry birth environment
Do your best to provide that ideal calving environment; out of the elements, easy to clean and bed (if it’s a hassle to clean- it won’t get done), room enough for mom to get comfortable.

Dip calf's navel in iodine
Completely saturate the navel with a 7% tincture of iodine product. Iodine products used for dipping teats during or after milking is not the proper strength needed for drying a wet navel.

The importance of colostrum
2 quarts of clean, high quality colostrum immediately after birth, then another 2 quarts 12 hours later.  After 12 hours the ability of the receptors in the calf to
absorb the immune building blocks is reduced by half.

Warming a new born
Use a warming hut or heat lamp. If using a warming hut, be sure to ventilate it so the calf can still get fresh air. Using bath towels to dry the calf off will speed the warming process as well as stimulate the calf.

Get more details from the workshop in the February issue of Farm Flash, page 11.

SOURCE: Cornell Cooperative Extension