Calf Mortality in Cow Herds

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Calf Mortality in Cow Herds

• Floron C. Faries, Jr., DVM, MS
• Professor and Extension Program Leader
• Texas AgriLife Extension Service
• Texas AM System
• College Station, TX 77843
• http//extensionvetmed.tamu.edu

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Calf Scours
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• Causative Disease Agents Calf Ages
• Bacteria
• E. coli lt5 da
• C. perfringens B, C 5-30 da
• C. perfringens D gt30 da
• Salmonella gt15 da
• Viruses
• Rotavirus 5-15 da
• Coronavirus 5-15 da
• BVD gt30 da

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• Protozoa
• Cryptosporidia 5-30 da
• Coccidia gt15 da

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• Calf Ages Disease Agents
• lt5 da E. coli
• 5-15 da Rotavirus
• Coronavirus
• C. perfringens B, C
• Cryptosporidia

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• 15-30 da C. perfringens B, C
• Cryptosporidia
• Coccidia
• Salmonella
• gt30 da Coccidia
• Salmonella
• C. perfringens D
• BVD

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Disease Agent Sources

• Carrier Cows, Heifers
• Manure Vulva, ground (teats, haircoat, grass,
  hay)
• Diseased Calves
• Scours Ground (haircoat, grass, hay)

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Calf Pathology/Signs

• Intestinal Mucosa Damage
• Irritation, necrosis, toxins
• Diarrhea, Dehydration
• Malabsorption
• Hypersecretion
• Colon fermentation, fluid retention

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• Electrolyte Imbalance
• Acidosis bicarbonate loss
• Body Weakness
• Reduced Nursing
• Possible Septicemia

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Calf Septicemia
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Causative Disease Agents

• E. coli
• Lepto

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Calf Pneumonia
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Causative Disease Agents

• Bacteria
• Pasteurella
• H. somnus
• Viruses
• IBR
• PI3
• BRSV
• BVD

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Stress

• Weather
• Weaning

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Disease Incidence Factors

• Carrier Cows, Heifers, Calves - Disease agents
• Contaminated Environment - Disease agents
• Stressed Cows, Heifers - Suppressed immunity
• Disease agent shedding
• Reduced colostrum quantity
• Reduced colostrum globulins (quality)

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• Thin Cows, Heifers Low Energy Diet
• Reduced colostrum quantity
• Reduced colostrum globulins (quality)
• Heifers Colostrum Lower quantity, quality
• Calves Late Colostrum Intake
• No local, systemic immunity
• gt6 hrs, gt24 hrs after birth

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• Calves, Low Colostrum Intake
• Weak local, systemic immunity
• lt 10 body weight First 24 hrs
• Weak local immunity
• lt10 body weight Second day
• lt10 body weight Third day
• Stressed Calves
• Dystocia, cold stress
• Colostrum intake Low, late
• Heat stress
• Globulin absorption - Reduced

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Disease Management Practices

• Sanitary Measures
• Maternity pasture
• 7 da pre-calving to 1 da post-calving
• 15 acres per 75 females
• Rotate pastures anually

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• Nursery pasture
• 3 wks
• 20 acres per 75 pairs
• Rotate pastures annually
• Nursing pasture
• 3 wks post-calving to weaning
• Prevent overcrowdedness

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• Treatment pasture/pen
• Isolate diseased calves
• 1 wk minimum
• Haying, Supplement Feeding Facilities
• Rotate locations
• Manure removal

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• Shelter Facilities
• Manure removal
• Prevent Stress in Pregnant Cows, Heifers
• Provide shelter, wind breaks
• Energy diet (grain) last trimester
• Assure calf nursing
• Within 6 hours of birth

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• Identify Reasons for Late/Low Colostrum
  Intake/Absorption
• Abandoned calf
• Calf cant find teat
• Big teats
• Weak calf
• Calf kicked off
• Calf not mothered
• Udder not distended
• Caesarean cow/heifer

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• Bottle Feed Non-nursing Calf
• Within 6 hrs of Birth
• Colostrum quantity 5 body weight
• Next 18 24 hrs
• Colostrum quantity 5 body weight
• Days 2 and 3
• Colostrum quantity 10 body weight

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Disease Diagnostic Procedures

• Laboratory Tests of Fresh Scour Specimen
• Bacteria culture/antibiotic sensitivity
• Virus isolation
• Protozoa demonstration

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Disease Vaccination Practices

• Pre-calving Vaccination of Pregnant Cows, Heifers
  
• Procedures
• Intramuscularly, subcutaneously
• 2 doses, 2-3 and 6-8 wks before calving
• 1 dose annually

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• Products
• E. coli K-99 Bacterin
• Rotavirus/Coronavirus Vaccine (Killed, Modified
  live)
• C. perfringens C,D (B) Bacterin (7-way Blackleg)
• Lepto (5way)
• IBR/PI3/BRSV/BVD
• Pasteurella
• H. somnus

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• Vaccination of Calves at Calving
• Procedures
• Orally
• 1 dose at birth
• Products
• E. coli K-99 Monoclonal Antibody
• Rotavirus/Coronavirus Vaccine (Modified live)

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Disease Treatment Practices

• Dehydrated Calves
• Procedures
• Orally, intravenously, intramuscularly
• Products
• Oral electrolytes 1 to 2 qts. Every 6 to 8 hrs.
• Intravenous electrolytes
• Antibiotics E. coli septicemia

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Genetic Defects

• Homozygous Recessive Genes
• Double Recessive Genes
• Passed by both Parents

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• Anal Atresia
• Scrotal Hernia
• Cryptorchidism
• Cleft Palate
• Over-shot Jaw
• Mulefoot
• Dwarfism
• Five-legged
• Supernumerary Teats
• No Teats
• No Tail

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Twinning

• Genetic Inheritable (1 Rate)
• Free Martins
• Lighter Birth Weights
• Heavier Dual Weaning Weights
• Retained Placentas
• Dystocias
• Perinatal Calf Mortality
• Reduced Fertility
• Increased Nutritional Requirements