Calves with Sam

Success Feels So Good!

Put yourself in this situation. It is July, 2013. You get the results back from blood testing 9 calves for immunity. The blood serum total protein values are:

4.3

4.8

4.9

5.0

5.2

5.3

5.8

5.9

6.7

As standards for successful colostrum management I recommend 90% at 5.0 or greater and 75% at 5.5 and greater. So, in your case we find that 67% are at 5.0 and greater. And, 33% are at 5.5 and greater.

Not so good. Most of calves are being treated for scours by the time they are 10 days old. 

The dairy already has written protocols for colostrum handling and feeding. So, these were dusted off. Everyone that comes in contact with colostrum in any way was re-trained. We cultured "as-fed"samples of colostrum and bacteria counts were very low.

We did a special re-training on using tube feeders.

Yesterday, March 18th, we drew blood on 6 calves that were less than 7 days old. These are BSTP values:

5.8

6.0

6.2

6.4

6.6

7.0

Success feels so good. It really is possible to do a good job of colostrum management. Pizza for lunch today!