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Using long-acting antibiotics to protect weaned calves from respiratory disease
New research from the University of Guelph looked at respiratory disease and two preventative treatment methods in calves after weaning. The study used 1,392 calves at a commercial heifer raising facility and compared treating calves with either 2 mL of a long-acting antibiotic (tulathromycin, marketed as Draxxin) or 5 mL of a short-acting antibiotic (oxytetracycline, marketed as Biomycin 200) at the time they were moved into group housing. Calves were weaned at six weeks of age and remained in individual pens for two weeks after weaning before being placed into groups.

This trial did not evaluate the impact of antibiotic treatment near weaning compared to no treatment. It was designed to compare two different treatment methods. In the six weeks following the move to group housing, 22 percent of calves treated with oxytetracycline and 13 percent of calves treated with tulathromycin developed respiratory disease. Among calves that had no respiratory disease before moving to group housing, calves treated with tulathromycin weighed more and were taller after six weeks in group housing than calves treated with oxytetracycline. Calves that were treated for respiratory disease before eight weeks of age did not respond differently to tulathromycin or oxytetracycline, perhaps because of damage due to respiratory illnesses earlier in life. Calves that experienced respiratory illness before eight weeks of age weighed 6.4 pounds less and were 0.24 inch shorter than healthy calves at 14 weeks of age. Respiratory illness during the first 6 weeks of group housing reduced 14-week body weight by 17.4 pounds and withers height by 0.5 inch.

Results of this study demonstrated the significant impact that respiratory disease can have on calves in the first three to four months of life and showed that tulathromycin may be used as an effective preventative treatment for calves during the high risk period after weaning. Long-acting antibiotic treatment at the time of group housing was more effective in calves that did not have a history of respiratory disease.

Source: Dairy Calf and Heifer Association

Upcoming DCHA Conference provides opportunities
Looking for the latest information on raising calves and heifers? Interested in the newest products and services to manage replacement animals? You will find this and much more at the 2010 Dairy Calf and Heifer Association (DCHA) conference, March 23-25 in Lexington, Ky.

The DCHA conference is your one-stop source for information and resources related to calves and heifers.

Keynote speakers at the conference include Tom Shay of Profits+Plus, who will discuss employee management; Charlie Arnot of CMA, who will talk about consumer expectations and building public trust in our industry; and Roger Cady of Elanco Animal Health, who will analyze current trends in the U.S. dairy industry. In addition, the conference will include breakout sessions on accelerated feeding, colostrum management, protocols and labor management, writing strong contracts, feed efficiency, managed grazing, lender relationships, automatic feeding systems and more. New for this year, topics have been organized so that Wednesday, March 24 is Calf Day and Thursday, March 25 is Heifer Day.

You don’t want to miss this opportunity for “Racing with the Best” producers, industry representatives and university researchers and expanding your knowledge and your network. For more information, call (877) 434-3377 or visit www.calfandheifer.org.

New dairy animal care and quality assurance program
The National Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Program and the National Dairy Herd Improvement Association (DHIA) have adopted a streamlined national program for dairy animal care and quality assurance. Dairy producers are encouraged to participate in the voluntary Dairy Animal Care and Quality Assurance (DACQA) Certification program. The purpose of this program is to enhance and demonstrate quality animal care practices, which assure food safety, quality and value as well as enhance consumer confidence in the milk and beef products that are harvested from cattle on America’s dairy farms.

Through training, certification, self-evaluation and verification, this program not only demonstrates the producer’s commitment to quality animal care and marketing decisions, it also provides tools that help dairy producers manage their herds in a way that contributes to the farm’s bottom line. The DACQA program replaces the Dairy Beef Quality Assurance (DBQA) program and incorporates DBQA guidelines with principles and guidelines set forth by the National Dairy Animal Well-Being Initiative (NDAWI).

DACQA objectives

1. Be proactive to ensure food safety and integrity, and demonstrate to consumers our commitment to animal well-being through established guidelines and best management practices based on science and practical experience.
2. Recognize and optimize cattle value by meeting and exceeding industry production standards.
3. Monitor dairy cattle health and condition by scoring body condition and locomotion, keeping good records on the dairy operation and self assessments of management activities to fulfill program goals.
4. Market dairy cattle in a timely and appropriate manner. Technical assistance is provided through a variety of supporting dairy and beef organizations and initiatives as well as certified veterinarians and university extension staff. These individuals will be available for on-site assistance if desired.
5. Prevent quality defects by providing hands-on training and education for participants to meet or exceed the DACQA guidelines and to realize the benefits of such programs.

Quality Assurance programs were developed over the past 25 years to ensure both dairy and beef cattle are produced and managed in a manner that will result in safe, wholesome food for consumers. The DACQA program is a natural extension of BQA because it takes food safety and quality one step further by systematically addressing consumer concerns about dairy animal care and well-being. When producers implement DACQA on their dairy farms—following simple guidelines learned through classroom and cow-side training—they are promoting the well-being of their animals, maximizing the quality and value of their dairy animals, and at the same time, strengthening consumer confidence in milk and beef products.

For more information or a copy of the DACQA manual, call (888) 423-3372.

For more information about BQA programs and guidelines, visit www.bqa.org.