Pneumonia - Why?

The URL below is to an article about pneumonia - the title explains the content. It contain several really good graphics and a picture that are well work viewing.

https://www.progressivedairy.com/topics/calves-heifers/calfhood-pneumonia-when-is-it-related-to-ventilation-and-when-is-it-something-different

Enjoy.

How Much Calf Starter is Needed to 

Meet Maintenance Demands?

I just read a recommendation in a popular dairy magazine that recommended weaning calves as soon as they have reached a calf starter intake level of 2-3 pounds a day.

The name for this recommendation is STARVATION! 

Let's take a second to look at the facts.

Assume you have done a good job preweaning and the heifer calf has doubled her birth weight by 56 days - 90lbs to 180lbs. At this age she has been gaining about 2 pounds a day.

Feeding a 18%cp calf starter grain how much weight is this weaned heifer calf going to gain per day at these concentrate consumption levels? ("as-fed" starter grain weights)

Summer (60F or greater)           Cold Weather (around freezing)

Pounds per day                           Pounds per day

Eaten     Estimated Gain             Eaten          Estimated Gain

2#          Weight Loss                  2#               Weight Loss

3#           1/2 pound gain             3#               Weight Loss

4#           1 pound                        4#                0.3 pound gain

5#           1.5 pounds                   5#                 0.9 pounds

Want to set up just-weaned heifers for pneumonia? Follow this recommendation to fully wean when eating 2-3 pounds starter per day.

Hey! Sam's Back!

Cancer surgery went well! I'm back on my feet (well, chair in front of computer) and my fingers seem to be connected to my brain so keyboarding is going well. Don't try to keyboard too soon after anesthesia and on pain meds - bad, bad, bad!

Thanks for hanging in there with me - I hope to have lots more fun in the coming weeks.

"Feed for More Than Maintenance"

January 2020 calf mgt newsletter

The primary points in this newsletter:

• ·         Maintenance = keep core body temperature at 101°F, replace cells, eat and breathe.
• ·         Growth = make new cells to support immunity and get bigger.
• ·        For our youngest calves, as environmental temperatures fall below 60°F they burn energy to maintain core body temperature – see bar chart on page one.
• ·          In order to improve immunity to replace protection from colostrum, our youngest calves need lots of energy beyond maintenance.

The URL is http://atticacows.com/library/newsletters/CEJanuary2020.pdf

     Or, click HERE.

Sam's Away, Again!

I was off between December 23 and January 6 due to surgery to remove a cancerous lesion on my tongue. Surgery was successful - 100% gone - Doctor-speak = clean margins. I am so thankful to be healed enough to eat soft solid foods rather than clear fluids. Yeah!

Thank you so much for all the folks that logged in on Jan 6-7 to check on me.

I am going to be off again between January 14 and Jan 23-24 for follow-up surgery to remove some lymph nodes in my neck - this will confirm that the cancer did not spread from my tongue.

Again, please do your homework and send an e-mail to smleadley@yahoo.com with ideas for future blogs. 

Another Checklist

"Herd Health Plan Checklist"

This checklist is from calfcare.ca, a veal-oriented site but nevertheless a site with good advice. 

It has 11 items including protocols, staff training and record keeping. It may not apply 100% to your operation but it might just remind you of an overlooked item.

Enjoy. 

Getting New Employees Off to a Good Start

Nearly all of us have been at some time our life a "new" employee. So much to take in those first few days!

During an interview with Brian Gerrits, CEO of Breeze Dairy Group [quoted in November 29 issue of Progressive Dairy, p 33] he was commenting on a major improvement in their dairy's human resource management program made by his daughter-in-law, Katie. He observed,

"Onboarding - A new employee's first day at work should not include any actual work. Instead, we (Breeze Dairy) dedicate that time to educate them about who we are and what's important to us. We show them around the farm and introduce them to the rest of the team. Our people are truly our most important asset . A good onboarding process results in enhanced job statisfaction and retention, improved performance and increased productivity."

So, time spent at the beginning of employment to "on-board" new workers can have significant value.

DeHorning Guidelines from AABP

The new (2020) guidelines for dehorning from American Association of Bovine Practictitioners (AABP) are at this URL

https://aabp.org/Resources/AABP_Guidelines/Dehorning-2019.pdf

They deal with

1. Restraint

2. Method

3. Pain Management

    *Local anesthesia

    *Systemic pain relief

Start the new year by reviewing these new guidelines with your herd veterinarian. 

Sam's Back

At least for this week!

After unscheduled cancer surgery on December 23 I am back at my desk. Lots of high fives at January 6 post-op visit in "Cancer Ward Language" - "clean margins" on the tongue surgery. I am due for follow-up lymph node surgery on Jan 14 so I will be off-line for a week or do after that.