Dr Kat Baxter-Smith, veterinary advisor at MSD Animal Health, said farmers looking to improve calf health should look beyond what happens after calving, with transition cow management playing an important role in producing good-quality colostrum.
“Colostrum management often focuses on what happens once the calf is born and how quickly it is fed, how much it receives and whether its quality is tested,” said Dr Baxter-Smith.
“But the foundations for good-quality colostrum are laid much earlier. How the cow is managed and fed during the transition period can influence the colostrum she produces.”
This will be a key focus of an upcoming webinar on Thursday, November 12, at 7pm, when Dr Baxter-Smith will be joined by nutritionist Dr Rosie Armstrong from Advanced Ruminant Nutrition to explore how farmers can strengthen colostrum management from cow to calf.
Dr Baxter-Smith will share insights from the company’s recent farmer colostrum survey, highlighting what the findings mean for calf management on farm and where there are opportunities to strengthen current protocols.
Dr Armstrong will share her 10 golden rules of transition cow management, looking at the key nutritional and management factors farmers should consider before calving and how these can influence colostrum quality.
As cows approach calving, nutritional requirements increase while dry matter intake can fall, making careful management of energy, protein and minerals particularly important. Cow health, parity, vaccination and overall management can also influence the quality of colostrum produced.
“Transition cow management is often thought of in terms of getting the cow ready for the next lactation, but it is also about preparing her to produce a healthy calf,” said Dr Baxter-Smith. “Colostrum is the calf’s first opportunity to receive maternal antibodies, so anything farmers can do to support the cow before calving is an important part of the calf health strategy.”
Once the calf is born, however, management remains critical.
“Testing colostrum is a really useful way of understanding the quality of the first feed, but farmers need to think about the bigger picture,” said Dr Baxter-Smith.
“The aim is not simply to produce good-quality colostrum, but to make sure the calf receives enough of it, quickly and hygienically, and that it successfully absorbs the antibodies it needs.”
The webinar will bring these elements together, giving farmers practical advice on managing cows through the transition period, producing and handling good-quality colostrum and ensuring calves receive the passive immunity they need.
Sign up to free webinar, by clicking here.
