Know How / Youngstock management Case studiesSee all WHATS IN YOUR LIVESTOCK SHEDWhat’s in Your Livestock Shed? visits a converted calf shedHistorically, a high incidence of pneumonia had impacted calf health at The Brook, Tybroughton, near Whitchurch, Shropshire, and there were consequences for performance when animals joined the milking herd. In… YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENTBeetle-friendly parasite policy saves £8 a cowAn environmentally conscious dairy farmer has cut youngstock treatments by 70% thanks to a pioneering multi-pronged approach to parasite management including dung beetles. Spring block-calver Bruce Thompson at Camcloon Dairy,… YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENTWhy vaccination is not a silver bullet for calf pneumoniaCalf pneumonia prevention relies on high standards of housing, nutrition and husbandry. Lara Robinson-Fletcher of Daleside Veterinary Group offers her expert advice. See also: How to make routine dairy tasks easier… YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENTFeeding transition milk to calves cuts mortality by 68%Feeding transition milk to newborn calves in their first 10 days and enriching it according to their immunoglobulin G status have helped a Pembrokeshire dairy farm slash pre-weaning mortality rates… YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENTCornish chemist-turned-farmer crowned Calf Rearer of the YearCornish farmer Andrea Semmens has been crowned Calf Rearer of the Year at the inaugural award presentation at this year’s National Youngstock Conference in Devon. The award, sponsored by Wynnstay,… CALVINGWhy portable milkers can ease stress at calvingUsing a portable milking machine in the calving pen is the easiest and fastest way to harvest a cow’s first colostrum and avoid having to move a newly calved cow.… Practical adviceSee all YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENTGrazing kale v fodder beet: Which is best for youngstock?To farmers who are unfamiliar with winter grazing fodder crops, kale and fodder beet can appear to provide very similar feeds. In fact, there are many points of difference, from… YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENTAdvice on minimising disease risks in market-bought calvesCalf rearers buying stock from the mart should accept that the disease risk will be high and plan with their vet to create a farm-specific approach to calf health. There… YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENT7 ways to lower the risk of 'rumen drinking'How quickly calves consume milk and at what height they drink could be contributing to calf mortality on dairy farms and calf-rearing enterprises, according to Scottish data. Rumen drinking is… YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENTHow lung washing slashed antibiotics use in calf shedA Welsh dairy farm has reduced its antibiotics use in calves by 90% and seen a big uplift in calf health since using “lung washing” to identify the pathogen responsible… YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENTTips on teat cleaning – for calf feeding equipmentFeeding milk to calves through a teat meets the calf’s biological need to suckle, but excellent standards of hygiene are needed to avoid digestive upsets and disease spread. Daily cleaning,… HEALTH AND WELFAREAdvice on how to avoid heat stress in calvesAlthough heat stress is more common in adult cows, calves can suffer in a hot summer too. Following a few simple rules will help protect health and performance. Calves have… Insights LIVESTOCKWhy a congenital defect could cause calf lossesAsk a dairy or beef farmer if they have ever had a calf born with atresia, a condition commonly known as “waterbelly”, and the chances are they will say no.… LIVESTOCKBenefits of giving dairy calves toys on farmGiving dairy calves plastic “toys” to play with helps them express their natural behaviour which, in turn, benefits their mental wellbeing. As a result, they are less likely to display… YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENTHow a ‘big squeeze’ could help dummy calves to suckNeonatal maladjustment syndrome in calves – also known as “dummy calf” syndrome – can be a challenge for dairy farmers to manage, often requiring extra labour to tube-feed youngstock. Typically,… YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENTLack of heifer weight data costs US dairiesTiming first service in a maiden heifer to when she has reached a given percentage of mature bodyweight (not just her age) is essential to maximise genetic potential and future… YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENTTrial compares performance of whey protein v whey powderUsing a whey protein-based milk replacer, over a whey powder-based alternative, could increase saleable milk yields by almost £500 a heifer. This is according to research presented by Volac’s global… FEED AND NUTRITIONExcess copper found to impair liver function in heifersFeeding excess copper to dairy heifer calves can compromise liver function, leading to poorer fertility and lower milk yields in first lactation. This is according to AHDB-funded research at Harper… DAIRYHow early life calf nutrition affects long-term metabolismResearchers are discovering more about early life programming and how critical this is for adulthood, according to Trouw Nutrition’s Dr Leonel Leal. This starts with colostrum, but also includes feeding… YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENT4 ways to improve on 60-day calf mortality rateHealthy calves can achieve growth rates of 1,080g/day, but just one day of diarrhoea reduces this by 80g. A calf with respiratory disease will lose 180g/day off its growth rate… LIVESTOCKConsumers' views could influence end of cow-calf separationCow-calf separation is “contentious” and a growing concern for consumers around the world. And while they do not understand what dairy farmers do, they will step in and regulate because… YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENTCalf monitoring and health plans key to future performanceSome 90% of farmers want to make changes to improve the future sustainability of their youngstock management in the next 12 months, according to a Farmers Weekly exclusive survey. Yet… HEALTH AND WELFARECoccidiosis project raises hope for new treatmentCoccidiosis is a perennial parasitic problem in growing lambs. It presents some difficulties in diagnosis, treatment and prevention – but good news could be around the corner. Lambs and calves… LIVESTOCKCalf bottles and tube feeders on testIt is unsurprising many farmers are switching from bottles to buckets with teats for feeding milk to older calves. Our test, carried out over a four-month period at my family…
