YOUNGSTOCK ▶▶▶
How to ensure a calf gets the best start
BY AD BAL A
productive herd is the objective of every dairy farming operation. After all, this is the backbone of the business. “That all starts from the very be- ginning of a cow’s life. In other words, with ade-
quate calf management,” says Joep Driessen from CowSignals Training Company in the Netherlands. Here, through tai- lor-made advice, either on the job or in their training centre, dairy farmers and advisors from across the globe learn how to properly raise and keep dairy cattle. Online training modules and instructive books are also available for this purpose. “Paying adequate attention to a calf in its first stage of life will pay off in its productive stage,” Driessen continues. “The re- ward is better longevity of the dairy cow and consequently a lower replacement rate of the herd. In general, over 12% of newborn calves die. They are either born dead, or they die from diarrhoea and/or diseases such as lung infection. This is too much and can be prevented if proper measures are taken. On top of that, the living conditions of the dairy herd are
The two key factors for a great start to a calf’s life are providing stress-free calving conditions for the mother cow and immediately feeding the calf colostrum from its mother to trigger the immune system of the young animal. The cuddle box is an excellent device to support this goal. The reward will be an early mature heifer with much better longevity and with good production figures.
often very poor. Half of the Holstein Frisian herd doesn’t get enough feed and they stand for too long. Often this causes claw disorder, milk fever and ketosis (lack of energy). These poor conditions are not good for a cow that is about to give birth to a calf.”
Two key factors It all begins with a flying start, according to Driessen. “The ob- jective is to achieve growth of 900 grammes per day during
A great way to give a calf a flying start in life is to use a cuddle box.
▶DAIRY GLOBAL | Volume 7, No. 2, 2020 15
PHOTO: AD BAL
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