Insuring Healthy Spring Calves

Insuring Healthy Spring Calves

Susan Allen
Susan Allen

 

We were talking calving at a roping recently and one fellow mentioned an old timer he knew gave who gave each newborn calf a tablespoon of whiskey. Said it got um up and kicking. Well welcome to Open Range I’m Susan Allen while I don’t advocate a shot of Pendleton for the calf, but maybe for the rancher... after the break what is working for spring-born calves. There are steps ranchers can take to insure the health of Spring born calves according to Glenn Selk a cattle reproduction specialist with OklahomaState’s Cooperative extension. Selk recommends vaccinating calves against IBR and BVDV now and then again at weaning time to help build up the their  immunity against respiratory diseases kuje  infectious bovine rhinotrachetis and the bovine viral diarrhea virus. New research supports vaccinating the calves earlier than the traditional four to five months. The findings from OSU debunk the belief  that the colostrum in the mother’s milk reduces the effectiveness of the vaccine, the  reason most calves aren’t vaccinated until four months or older. OSU-Noble Foundation conducted research that found that the timing of the first vaccine didn’t make any difference in effectiveness and the sooner  the calves received it at 67 days and again at 190 days  they were healthier with lower mortality rates. To ensure a calf is well protected from a host of debilitating diseases the  research suggests to first vaccinate with a modified-live virus and provide a booster at weaning. For more on this study visit the July 2008 American Veterinary Medical Association study title “calf-working vaccination program. 
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