YOUNGSTOCK ▶▶▶
says. “From here, the cow that is about to deliver can easily be separated through a swing gate to this pamper pen. There, the cow is in the social neighbourhood of its fellow dry cows. A nice straw bed in the pen supports stress-free calving, re- sulting in 90% of calves being born without help. The pamper pen provides an efficient and safe working place to check, handle and treat any cow, including a ‘shy’ heifer that is to give birth for the first time. Ideally, there is a ‘cuddle box’ as part of this pamper pen. This device, which we have developed, provides excellent condi- tions for both mother cow and the newborn calf. Once the calf is born, it should be taken away from the straw yard as quickly as possible and put in the cuddle box. Here, the odour of the calf will attract the mother cow, who will start licking the newborn animal. It is recommended to throw feed over the calf so that the cow also starts eating immedi- ately. This is of great importance for her recovery from preg- nancy and giving birth and for her to start producing milk without getting milk fever or ketosis. For this reason, it is also important to give about 20 litres of lukewarm water to the mother cow to stimulate feed intake.”
Half an hour together At the same time, while the mother cow is licking and eating, the caretaker will be able to collect colostrum under stress- free conditions. Such a cuddle box with a fetch gate is not available every- where yet. A very simple alternative is a wheelbarrow that can serve as a “cradle” or mobile cuddle box. Of course, any other kind of ‘box’ for this purpose is possible, as long as mother cow and calf can be together for a short while. After about half an hour of licking and when both mother and calf have had their first meal, they can be separated and the calf taken to a rearing pen or calf hut, preferably with a fellow calf of the same age in a double pen. It is clear that here, the
conditions must be ideal so the calf develops to be a mature heifer. The place must be clean and dry, without draught and with protection from heat during warm weather. Eventually this will lead to a productive heifer. Three months prior to its first delivery, the heifer must be placed on the farm where it will start its first lactation. That will enable the young animal to get used to new circumstanc- es and will trigger its immune system to build up immunity against disease in that particular herd. “Everything starts, however, with a solid start from the very first moment of its life. That will be the basis for success,” Joep concludes.
A wheelbarrow can serve as a ‘cradle’ or mo- bile cuddle box. If feed is thrown over the calf, when the moth- er cow licks the calf she also starts eating im- mediately.
The pamper pen was designed by CowSignals. It includes a cuddle box and provides optimal conditions for both mother cow and the newborn calf.
Joep Driessen of CowSignals: “A dairy cow will only be pro- ductive if it has been well managed from the very start of its life.”
▶DAIRY GLOBAL | Volume 7, No. 2, 2020 17
PHOTO: AD BAL
PHOTO: AD BAL
PHOTO: AD BAL
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