Post-care of calves
YOU have been eagerly waiting for your pregnant cows to give birth. But are you aware of the calf post-care? If you want to see your calves grow into cows then, you de initely should provide effective calf post-care.
There are a few guidelines to follow if you want to have healthy calves.
It is important that you tie the naval cord with a thread at a distance of around 2 inches from the base and cut the remaining cord with a clean instrument, says a diary farmer. Herein it is recommended that you dip the navel (a simple smearing will not serve the purpose) in 7 per cent or higher tincture of iodine solution and repeat after 12 hours. Try not to use teat dip or weaker iodine solutions, as this may not be ideal.
Keep in mind that a poorly maintained navel is the gateway to serious infections. Farming experts argue that you should allow the cow to clean the nostrils and mouth of the calf.
“This will help the calf to breathe better and help prevent future breathing problems,” explains Dairy Knowledge.
It is also advised that you should allow the mother to lick the calf clean.
This, Diary Knowledge adds, promotes blood circulation within the calf ’s body and prepares the calf to stand up and walk.
COLOSTRUM
A new calf’s passport to life is colostrum.
“Many calves do not get adequate amounts of colostrum from their mothers within the irst few hours of life, and thus they may not receive adequate immunity.
“Hence it is paramount that during the irst 24 hours, you should give the calf colostrum. You should feed the calf 2 litres of milk in the morning and 2 litres in the afternoon,” said Diary farmer.
Feeding colostrum after 24 hours of birth may not help the calf to ward off infections.
Usually, cows with large udder
(imibele lemikhulu) suffer from low colostrum. It is advised that these cows should be milked a little before calving, to encourage the production of colostrum.
And if stripping is carried out intensively, for 3 -9 days before calving, the cows will normally have little or no colostrum at calving. Calves therefore receive fewer or no antibodies.
A calf must receive adequate colostrum to protect it from diseases for the irst three months of its life.
COMPOSITION
Reports say that colostrum is a more concentrated liquid than whole milk, the extra protein in colostrum is gamma globulin which is an antibody.
It also contains nearly double micro and macro minerals contained in whole milk. And a rich source of vitamins such vitamin A and E.
If colostrum is not available, use this mixture as a substitute;
Dairy experts say you should use one beaten egg in 300 ml of water mixed with one teaspoon of castor-oil and 600 ml of whole milk. This should be served at 39 degrees Celsuis.
The calf should get this within the irst six hours and should have gotten enough within 24 hours.
Do try out hand-feeding newborn calves, as this will enable you to be sure about the amount of colostrum an individual calf receives.
Other ways to care for the calves include;
De-worming should be done within 10‐14 days of age subsequently on a monthly basis up to the 6th month.
When the animal is 3 months old, contact the veterinarian for vaccination.
Provide calf starter from 2-8 weeks for better growth and early maturity.