What's up doc? 

by Jackie Davies, Production Animal Veterinarian 

While Autumn calving cows have been navigating mating, spring calving cows have on some farms fired into action while others are about to start.
Grass has been plenty on some farms while others lacked moisture during our still relatively warm autumn days and the grass growth was slow. We have had a number of frosts in the last month, although followed by warm days - so time will tell if pest numbers have been reduced. 

There was a bad case of nitrate poisoning in the district in the last month- likely due to a warm day creating good new grass growth, followed by a frost stressing the plants out. 

Spring calving cows are in very good condition and ketosis will be something to look out for this spring, due to cows being less hungry when calving, leading to a negative energy balance that can be hard to get out of. 

Things to look out for are:
  • Rapid weight loss, 
  • a funny sweet smell on the breath or urine, 
  • reduced appetite, and 
  • reduced milk production 
  • If severe, a cow can go down or go mad and start jumping fences or charging people. 

On the milk docket, a higher fat to protein ratio could suggest subclinical ketosis in the herd, and a slower return to rumination after calving puts cows at risk. A starter drench with propylene glycol and a bypass fat, or dose of keto-aid or similar at calving, plus a vitamin B12 injection to all at risk cows are both aids to keeping their energy up and start eating again, nipping ketosis in the bud. 

A rumen modifier like Ruminox can help improve feed conversion where cows are eating to their maximum capacity of a balanced diet, also helping to improve the cows energy balance, more milk into the vat, and cows quicker to start cycling again.

We have already attended a number of calvings, with problems such as un-dialated cervix, deformed calves, along with the usual head backs and swollen calves. 

Down cows have so far remained low, but there does seem to be more care being taken with feeding pre-calving and reducing pasture intake to improve the DCAD. 

Remember, we can take bloods from the springer mob, just calved cows, and milkers to see what your herd is doing in real time - if you have a down cow problem this spring, throwing more magnesium at them is not always the answer!

For those of you calving, we wish you luck, we are only a phone call away.

Calf Chronicles takeaways

by George Varney  

We were lucky enough to welcome LeAnne Blakelock, experienced calf rearer and founder of Calf Chronicles, to the clinic recently. 

LeAnne spent time with local calf rearers, sharing her expertise and practical tips on calf management and the key ingredients for a successful calving season. 

For those who were unable to make Leanne’s presentation, below are some of our key takeaways 

Colostrum, Colostrum, Colostrum 
  • 2-4L, within the first 12 hours of life of high-quality colostrum are necessary
    to provide the calf with an adequate lifelong immune system. 
  • An estimated 33% of calves experience failure of passive transfer (fpt) due to inadequate colostrum provisions. 
  • We can test colostrum quality as well as transfer of immunoglobulins in calves. 

To-Do in July


Spring Calving Cows: 
  • Rotavec/Scourguard vaccines 2-3 weeks prior to PSC 
  • Multimin 2-4 weeks prior to PSC 
  • Trim tails, teat spray while drafting cows
  • Parasite control 
  • Magnesium supplementation 
  • Draft Springer mobs 

Autumn Calving Cows 
  • Mating- plan for non-cycling cows 
  • Book early scanning 
  • Minerals including oral copper 

Autumn calves 
  • Wean on weight, then regular weighing 
  • Vaccination programs- lepto, 10 in 1,  
  • Parasite drenching- including coccidia eg Turbo Initial 

Spring Calves 
  • Colostrum management 
  • Fresh bedding,spray pens between mobs 
  • Check for drafts at calf height 
  • Blood test 10calves to check colostrum effective 

Bulls 
  • Check BVD status, book any primary IBR/BVD  
  • Check for Lice   

Spring calving herds


July is the month a lot of farms start their transition/springer herd management ready for spring calving

The transition period is generally regarded as the period ranging 

Navel Ill

Every year at disbudding along with checking the teats, we also check navels and find a number of infected navels

Often these are still in the early stages, but some will progress to more severe cases.

Farm Focus: Newborn calves - day 1 

To maximise lifetime production and longevity in the herd, the mindset needs to be that newborn calves are invaluable

Their management, on day 1 particularly, is critical to  
Veterinary Clinic Morrinsville 
62 Moorhouse Street · Morrinsville, Waikato. 3300

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