Intensive course teaches calf-rearing essentials
A new one-day course teaching the basics of calf-rearing, housing and feeding is now being offered by the Royal Agricultural University, Cirencester.
Led by livestock experts, the in- novative calf rearing course at the university’s Rural Innovation Centre in Gloucestershire will earn partici- pants a UK Rural Skills (UKRS) cer- tificate of attendance. It costs £130 and takes place next month. Professionals and students com- pleting the course will be able to care for calves from birth to 12 weeks old, prepare their accommodation and feeding plans, monitor health, un- derstand colostrum management and weaning and learn routine pro- cedures.
Another course on offer is CowSig- nals – a simple approach to reducing disease and prolonging the lifetime of cattle, developed in the Nether- lands. The sessions are aimed at farmers, feed, breeding and barn de- sign consultants, vets, students and anyone with an interest in livestock.
Farmers urged to keep an eye on somatic cell counts
Dairy farmers are being urged to keep an eye on somatic cell counts to maintain herd health and max- imise productivity. Pathogens build up while cows are out at grass – and this can cause a spike in mastitis cases and therefore somatic cell counts (SCC), says Rob Fowkes, nutri- tional advisor at QLF. The mas- titis risk is particularly high this summer. Delayed turnout meant SCC counts were initially low due to low pathogen build up. But the ongoing hot weather has made it important to take action to pro- tect herds against infection as the sun and flies increase pathogen build up at grass.
Mastitis risk is particularly high with cows at grass during the summer
“High SCC can be damaging to a producer’s bottom line as milk contract bonuses are likely to be compromised, and there will also be an increased need to treat with antibiotics. For this reason, it’s important to act preventatively to help maintain herd health and drive profitability.”
Ensuring dairy diets contain adequate levels of highly availa- ble zinc can help to minimise the risk of mastitis, reducing SCC and limiting the use of antibiotics,
explains Mr Fowkes. Zinc plays an important role in the produc- tion of keratin, which makes up the plug at the end of the teat. “This keratin plug traps any bacteria preventing it from mov- ing up into the udder and caus- ing mastitis. As around 40% of keratin is stripped from the teat canal during milking every day, it needs continuous replacement [and] feeding adequate levels of zinc can help.”
The mineral also helps to re-
pair damaged teat cells in the teat – speeding up healing and reduc- ing the time cows will be at risk of mastitis infection. Liquid feeds containing zinc are said to reduce SCC by up to 40%.
Because the mineral is sus- pended in liquid it is easily dis- persed throughout the ration, says Mr Fowkes. Maintaining a good milking routine ensure teats are clean and disinfected before and after the cluster is removed is also important.
AUGUST 2018 • ANGLIA FARMER 71
Other sessions help prepare for Animal Medicines Training Regula- tory Authority (AMTRA) examina- tions, give training on administering medicines and vaccinations, teach techniques for recognizing lameness in livestock and for the artificial in- semination of cattle. Navaratnam Partheeban, a sen- ior lecturer in livestock production, said the courses aimed to improve livestock skills. “The programmes have all been developed and de- signed to allow the participant to get the most up-to date informa- tion and learn modern techniques in livestock.”
All courses are externally accred- ited and many carry awards on com- pletion such as AMTRA SQP qual- ifications, UKRS certification and bovine mobility register inclusion. The university already provides a range of professional rural training courses. For full details and to book a
place, visit
www.bit.ly/calf-rearing- course
Participants will learn modern livestock techniques, says Navaratnam Partheeban.
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