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<blockquote data-quote="Dead Rabbits" data-source="post: 8002797" data-attributes="member: 70596"><p>I think you are on the right track with what you are doing. It’s been my experience that testing can be less straightforward than you might think. It’s definitely a good start.</p><p></p><p>Our “protocol”. Heifers vaccinated with scourguard 4kc 8 weeks prior to calving then again with the cows two-three weeks prior to calving. Give 5ml of multi min each time.</p><p></p><p>Springer herd gets .6lb per head per day of a mineral mix in their ration. When she calves we brix test the colostrum and keep anything over 24. Below grade colostrum is also kept to be fed for the first two feedings or more depending on supply. Colostrum is a superfood even if they can’t absorb anything from it later on a little goes a long way.Calf is tubed with 2-3 liters as soon as we can do it, spray the navel with iodine. I’d prefer to not tube them but that’s just not realistic. These are not Holsteins. Some could take 4 liters no problem, others would drown at 3. </p><p></p><p>At first feeding after tubing we go straight to 10 teat feeders with cows milk and group pens of 18. Calves eat as much as they can each feeding, no volume limits once they are a couple days old. No straw, just wood chip is used in initial pens which are in a too small barn not designed for calves. Calves will be vaccinated with inforce 3 within a week of birth and 1ml multi min. As soon as they are drinking strong and the weather agrees they go to groups of 40 in a different barn that has straw and an outside run. They will be fed on a 50 teat trailed feeder. If weather is good they skip this and go straight to the paddock which may or may not have a small run in shed to be used in bad weather. Barns are a necessary evil in bad weather, to be avoided where possible. </p><p></p><p>We clean feeders twice per day but they are all moved between groups. Don’t really sanitize between groups. We feed cows milk cold or at variable temperatures. We pool colostrum. It can get down to -20 then be +18 within 3 days. Cows calve outside in less than ideal conditions etc. We do a lot of stuff wrong but it works as long as the protocol is followed. Have just under 300 heifers retained so far this season and had 1 dead. She bloated at about 3 weeks old. Several ear infections, I think 3. Don’t know what causes that. </p><p></p><p>I really think allowing a calf to drink as much as it can solves a hell of a lot of problems. Around the 4-6 week mark we dial it back so they will eat a bit more grain and move to OAD. Wean at 100 kg no exceptions unless it’s to allow them to grow bigger. Age is irrelevant. </p><p></p><p></p><p>Many things can cause a calf to die but I’d bet a lot of money that most younguns die of dehydration. If they arent drinking or are badly scouring we give electrolytes and raw eggs plus as much lactated ringers as you think the calf needs injected under the skin. That was a game changer when I figured that out. I don’t really know what the hell halocur is but we can’t get it here when I looked years ago. </p><p></p><p>Every farm will be different but if you can figure out a few things that work for you then progress can be made. Then one day everything may just go to sh!t just when you think you have it figured. The best laid plans are of mice and men.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Dead Rabbits, post: 8002797, member: 70596"] I think you are on the right track with what you are doing. It’s been my experience that testing can be less straightforward than you might think. It’s definitely a good start. Our “protocol”. Heifers vaccinated with scourguard 4kc 8 weeks prior to calving then again with the cows two-three weeks prior to calving. Give 5ml of multi min each time. Springer herd gets .6lb per head per day of a mineral mix in their ration. When she calves we brix test the colostrum and keep anything over 24. Below grade colostrum is also kept to be fed for the first two feedings or more depending on supply. Colostrum is a superfood even if they can’t absorb anything from it later on a little goes a long way.Calf is tubed with 2-3 liters as soon as we can do it, spray the navel with iodine. I’d prefer to not tube them but that’s just not realistic. These are not Holsteins. Some could take 4 liters no problem, others would drown at 3. At first feeding after tubing we go straight to 10 teat feeders with cows milk and group pens of 18. Calves eat as much as they can each feeding, no volume limits once they are a couple days old. No straw, just wood chip is used in initial pens which are in a too small barn not designed for calves. Calves will be vaccinated with inforce 3 within a week of birth and 1ml multi min. As soon as they are drinking strong and the weather agrees they go to groups of 40 in a different barn that has straw and an outside run. They will be fed on a 50 teat trailed feeder. If weather is good they skip this and go straight to the paddock which may or may not have a small run in shed to be used in bad weather. Barns are a necessary evil in bad weather, to be avoided where possible. We clean feeders twice per day but they are all moved between groups. Don’t really sanitize between groups. We feed cows milk cold or at variable temperatures. We pool colostrum. It can get down to -20 then be +18 within 3 days. Cows calve outside in less than ideal conditions etc. We do a lot of stuff wrong but it works as long as the protocol is followed. Have just under 300 heifers retained so far this season and had 1 dead. She bloated at about 3 weeks old. Several ear infections, I think 3. Don’t know what causes that. I really think allowing a calf to drink as much as it can solves a hell of a lot of problems. Around the 4-6 week mark we dial it back so they will eat a bit more grain and move to OAD. Wean at 100 kg no exceptions unless it’s to allow them to grow bigger. Age is irrelevant. Many things can cause a calf to die but I’d bet a lot of money that most younguns die of dehydration. If they arent drinking or are badly scouring we give electrolytes and raw eggs plus as much lactated ringers as you think the calf needs injected under the skin. That was a game changer when I figured that out. I don’t really know what the hell halocur is but we can’t get it here when I looked years ago. Every farm will be different but if you can figure out a few things that work for you then progress can be made. Then one day everything may just go to sh!t just when you think you have it figured. The best laid plans are of mice and men. [/QUOTE]
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