Important elements for establishing healthy calves
CALGARY, AB. — Calving season looks different on every ranch and Western Canada producers are using either late winter or early spring for calving.
However, the Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC) is one major key for healthy calves that shouldn`t be ignored. In calf management practices the key Colostrum and providing intervention if a newborn calf isn`t getting what they need as soon after birth as possible.
As the CRBC notes, newborn calves are born with virtually no immunity of their own. Unlike other mammals, a cow’s placenta does not allow antibodies to pass from the mother to the calf during pregnancy, which means the calf must receive its initial immunity from the antibody-rich colostrum, or first milk, of the cow.
If the calf is at risk of not having adequate colostrum, such as if it had a difficult birth, is a twin, is delivered via c-section, has a weak suckle reflex, or hasn’t sucked in the first few hours of life, supplementation is recommended.