Calves
Identifying pneumonia in a calf is only the beginning. Combining respiratory samples, laboratory findings and herd records can lend understanding of which pathogens are involved and what is driving disease on the farm.
Activity monitors, new sensor applications and artificial intelligence could help veterinarians identify respiratory disease earlier and make better use of herd data. Dr. Curt Vlietstra sees opportunities ahead, while emphasizing that technology must work in the realities of the farm.
As temperatures drop, veterinarians can help producers adjust calf nutrition, housing and herd health protocols to reduce cold stress and protect growth.
Feeding equipment, aspiration and ear, nose and throat problems can contribute to respiratory disease. Learn what to look for when investigating recurring pneumonia in calves.
New resistance-to-diarrhea and resistance-to-respiratory-disease PTAs give producers another tool for long-term calf health selection.
From fetal programming to fitness checks, every step before loading helps determine how calves perform after they leave the dairy.
Learn which products are conditionally approved and why a strong veterinarian-client-patient relationship is the only way to manage this devastating pest.
Ammonia can build in calf hutches and affect growth, but small changes in bedding and daily management can help keep levels in check.
Many calves develop pneumonia days before showing symptoms. Lung ultrasounds are helping veterinarians detect the hidden disease earlier.
For producers striving to deliver consistent, high-quality colostrum to newborn calves, the most important management window may begin much earlier than previously thought.
Better airflow, thoughtful pen design and improved daily routines are helping calves thrive like never before on these two dairies.
The importance of colostrum in raising healthy, productive calves only continues to grow as we learn more about it.
When it comes to colostrum, more isn’t always better.
Dr. Blake Balrog outlines practical exam findings that help determine when oral therapy is sufficient and when it’s time to move to IV fluids.
Early recognition and intervention can determine whether compromised calves recover or fall behind.
Proper care and early colostrum set beef-on-dairy calves up for success during their first journey.
New research shows calves fed waste milk develop different immune cell and cytokine profiles than those fed salable milk, even when clinical health appears similar.
Experts say it’s time to feed colostrum according to quality not habit. When it comes to calf immunity, more volume isn’t always better.
Although warning signs are emerging, economists say record-high beef prices could hold for up to two more years. Tight supplies and strong demand continue to drive the market, but economists and producers are apprehensive with talks of reopening the border.
New data from four calf ranches highlight the dominance of respiratory disease and the year-round consistency of health challenges in beef-dairy cross calves.
A clean start begins at the navel. Good calving hygiene and early care are the simplest ways to prevent costly infections and improve calf health outcomes.
A trusted adjuvant can make all the difference in capturing a strong immune response in young calves.
Native to east Asia, the ALHT was first detected in New Jersey in 2017. Since then, it has spread to more than 20 states with recent confirmations in Illinois, Michigan and Iowa.
More colostrum would be welcome on virtually every dairy farm, especially if it also had higher quality. A team of Cornell University researchers explored whether a dose of oxytocin could help fresh cows deliver either, or both.
Researchers continue to seek methods of monitoring animal health and welfare to anticipate health setbacks and improve the animals’ lives. The latest tool to do so: saliva.
With dairy replacements in tight supply and beef-on-dairy calves worth a small fortune, monitoring the health and management of livestock is just as crucial as keeping a close eye on financials.
Learning why and how some calves navigate life challenges better than others can provide clues into how to support individual animals to achieve better welfare and performance, particularly with the aid of precision livestock technologies.