Dairy Herd Management's Calf and Heifer Adviser

MOS benefits IgG levels
An Australian study shows a positive effect of feeding mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) on calf immunity. Researchers fed calves milk replacer supplemented with 4 grams of MOS per day from about two days of age until 21 days of age. Serum immunoglobulin G levels decreased in both groups during that time. However, the decline was “significantly less” in the MOS-supplemented calves versus the non-supplemented calves. MOS supplementation also improved other components of the calves’ defense system, including T cell numbers.

Vaccination age matters
Calves vaccinated at six weeks of age had a stronger response to the vaccine than calves vaccinated at two weeks of age, according to University of Vermont research. The research reinforces the recommendation that vaccinations must be timed to match when calves are most likely to respond. Follow this link for more details.

Plastic vs. glass
A Penn State study shows that plastic hydrometers are just as accurate as glass hydrometers at estimating the immunoglobulin content of colostrum. Hydrometers are typically made of glass. A plastic version that is calibrated for use with colostrum will be available soon from the Nasco farm-supply catalog, says Jud Heinrichs, professor of dairy science at Penn State University. The plastic version’s improved durability could increase colostrometer use on farm.

Keys to success
Rancho Las Nieves raises heifer calves for 130 different producers. On any given day, the facility has up to 6,000 animals that range in age from 11 days to 21 months. Despite the large number of farms it serves, the facility is able to achieve a death loss of less than 1 percent and a culling loss of less than 2 percent. According to Alex Bach, director of ruminant production at IRTA in Barcelona, Spain, keys to Rancho Las Nieves’ success include:

Cleanliness is a priority for everyone.
Methodical — every calf is checked every day.
Uses records to react rapidly.
Measures to see if any implemented change was effective.

Profit seminars on-tap
The Dairy Calf & Heifer Profit Seminars are just around the corner. Make plans now to attend one of the following sessions: Oct. 15, Bowling Green, Ky.; Oct. 17, Green Bay, Wis.; and Oct. 19, in St. Cloud, Minn. For more information, call the Dairy Calf & Heifer Association at (636) 449-5077.

Easy pen access
When this new heifer facility was constructed on a southeastern Minnesota dairy, the design included easy access to each pen via small, self-locking gates like the one shown below. Each pen has its own gate, which is located on the outside of the facility. That way, employees don’t need to walk through several pens to get to another pen.

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