What is your routine with a new calf

[cjc]

Our first calf was born this season the other day, we breed at the wrong time of year for anyone wondering why I am calving right now haha. But we are a small hobby farm and it's easier for us to calf in the warm weather than calf in the winter like our neighbours do. Costs us more in feed to do it this way but it's easier for us to manage and keep everyone warm and dry.

But it has me curious as to what other peoples calving routines are. A few hours after birth I will clean the navel and hooves with iodine. Day 2 I inject Vitamin A, D, E and selenium. I start my first round of vaccinations at 1 week old.

What is your routine? In the early days we lost a lot of calves due to navel infections and things that could have been totally avoided. I am curious to know what everyone has found works best for them.

 

[Donna R. Raybon]

If calving out of doors and not being barn kept, I make sure calf gets colostrum and ear tagged for ID (I had black angus and about 30 momma cows.) If barn kept, then dipping navel is good. Never bothered about the feet. I always used strong, 7% iodine on navels. Wear nitrile gloves and used a plastic cup so I could really dip entire navel.

In eastern TN we have two main calving seasons. October is the driest month of year and weather is mild, flies are soon to be gone. So we liked to try to get calving started in late September and finish in last November. In spring, we liked to calve in March to early April. I always liked the fall as calves were large enough by spring to really benefit from new grass before we sold in June. But, remember, our winters are very, very mild with rarely more than 24 hours straight that is below freezing.

Our momma cows were on a loose mineral mix that is formulated to their nutritional needs so did not have to give any selenium or vitamins. Our area is severely deficient of selenium, so if the mineral mix was not supplying, we would be forced to give injections.

Vaccinations, according to label directions. Most say don't vaccinate until at least a month old. Even in winter, we have flys on warm days, so I always sprayed newborns with a synergized pyrethrin mineral oil based fly spray the next day after birth.

 

[greybeard]

7 way and pinkeye at birth.
Castrate as soon as possible.
I used to iodine treat navel at birth if I was there when they were born, but have gotten away from it as I've never had a case of navel ill here nor have any of my neighbors. Except for 1st time heifers, all my calves are born in open pasture on grass.

 

[cjc]

If calving out of doors and not being barn kept, I make sure calf gets colostrum and ear tagged for ID (I had black angus and about 30 momma cows.) If barn kept, then dipping navel is good. Never bothered about the feet. I always used strong, 7% iodine on navels. Wear nitrile gloves and used a plastic cup so I could really dip entire navel.

In eastern TN we have two main calving seasons. October is the driest month of year and weather is mild, flies are soon to be gone. So we liked to try to get calving started in late September and finish in last November. In spring, we liked to calve in March to early April. I always liked the fall as calves were large enough by spring to really benefit from new grass before we sold in June. But, remember, our winters are very, very mild with rarely more than 24 hours straight that is below freezing.

Our momma cows were on a loose mineral mix that is formulated to their nutritional needs so did not have to give any selenium or vitamins. Our area is severely deficient of selenium, so if the mineral mix was not supplying, we would be forced to give injections.

Vaccinations, according to label directions. Most say don't vaccinate until at least a month old. Even in winter, we have flys on warm days, so I always sprayed newborns with a synergized pyrethrin mineral oil based fly spray the next day after birth.

I have never thought to spray them for flies but that's a good idea. We get a decent amount of flies.

 

[cjc]

7 way and pinkeye at birth.
Castrate as soon as possible.
I used to iodine treat navel at birth if I was there when they were born, but have gotten away from it as I've never had a case of navel ill here nor have any of my neighbors. Except for 1st time heifers, all my calves are born in open pasture on grass.

How long do you think is too long to clean the navel? I let this calf be alone with the mama cow for a good 6 hours before I cleaned him up. Which is the longest I have let it go.

 

[greybeard]

By 'clean the navel' do you mean dip in iodine?

When I was treating the navel, I would do it within an hour of birth if I was there but if I wasn't there, then I did it as soon as I could catch it, which was usually several hrs up to 24 hrs. I don't think it would do any or much good beyond that time frame. Make sure you use the right kind of iodine (7%) because some iodines keep the navel moist and 7% dries it out, which is what you want to happen.

BTW, I am NOT suggesting or recommending anyone stop treating navels at birth.

 

[cjc]

By 'clean the navel' do you mean dip in iodine?

When I was treating the navel, I would do it within an hour of birth if I was there but if I wasn't there, then I did it as soon as I could catch it, which was usually several hrs up to 24 hrs. I don't think it would do any or much good beyond that time frame. Make sure you use the right kind of iodine (7%) because some iodines keep the navel moist and 7% dries it out, which is what you want to happen.

BTW, I am NOT suggesting or recommending anyone stop treating navels at birth.

Yes sorry we do an iodine dip. Thank you I will double check to see if I am using the right kind. We are very paranoid about the navel because like I said I have had a few die from navel ill and joint ill.

 

[farmerjan]

@cjc ; Liked the picture of the new calf. We calve twice a year. Spring runs from March to late May...90 days more or less. This past year it was awful for the mud with all the rain. We lost several to pnuemonia. Couldn't keep them dry and that cold rain was the absolute worst. Then the fall is usually Sept to late Nov.. We always get a few stragglers in Dec because 2 different places we keep cattle, it is not conducive to getting the bulls out after 60-90 days. No catch pens and they usually have to come across the road, through another field and then into a pen. Neighbors have to put up their horses and/or calves....big hassle. So the bulls come out of those 2 places when we get them in to preg check and sell off the calves. They are usually in the 5-7 month range and weigh 4-600. So occasionally we will get a cow that is much shorter bred than the rest so she will calve later.

That said, we are actually moving up our fall calving a little to start in later August as the calves will have a little more size and will be eating more as the winter gets cold. Usually that is after the first of the year when we start getting colder temps, 20's or less, and snow/sleet/rain or whatever.

99% of our calves are born on pasture/grass. We do not treat with iodine because by the time I find the calf they are up and going a bit and dry. Some of the cows will keep the calf hid for a day or 2 even when I know they have calved. Because of that, the navel is usually dry by the time I see them. I try to ear tag if I can get them.
Have not had navel ill to deal with. Again, thinking that this is due to good clean GRASSY pastures when they calve.

We do not black leg at birth. Several articles I have read, and many discussions with vets say that to start vaccinations too young will interfere with the cows own antibodies that are protecting them. The COWS are getting black leg (clostridium) vaccinations when they are preg checked as heifers and some when they are preg with their 2nd calf. After that the vet says it is a moot point. We will give a one time BL shot to bought cows when they go through the chute for preg check. Every cow through the chute also gets lepto. It is a problem and we have white-tail deer and foxes and coyotes and such that all carry it so lots of exposure. Killed virus, so won't cause abortion. They will have developed their own antibodies, and it gets passed on to the calf. WE DO vaccinate for blackleg anytime after 6-8 weeks when the passive immunity from the cow starts to wear off. One thing to realize, clostridium and coliform bacteria's THRIVE in humid/wet conditions. All it takes is a good rainy couple of days, that are not too cold, and the populations will "explode" and anything is susceptible. Some places also seem to harbor the bacteria. We lost several seemingly VERY HEALTHY calves in the 250-300 weight size at one particular place. Seems it was a "hot spot" for clostridium bacteria and we never put calves there with their mommas, until they were in the 8 week range and had a BL shot.

We also do not vaccinate for pinkeye anymore. We have not found any fewer cases without vaccination, and seemed to have had it worse on years we did vaccinate. We do keep a record of who gets pinkeye, and if the cow has calves with that problem year after year then they are candidates for culling. I am a firm believer that animals will develop a certain resistance to it. But I know many who do use it and like it.

We also do not vaccinate for anything else like IBR-PI3 or anything else like that as babies.

Calves will usually get worked through the chute prior to going to pasture with their mommas. That's when they get castrated, and BL. It gives enough time for any that may have had a testicle that did not descend early, to drop and to not accidentally miss it. There are some we do not band until 4-500 lbs if they are not where we can work them easily. We use the "callicrate" bander, give a tetanus shot, and have KNOCK ON WOOD, not had a problem. Sometimes you just don't want to say that too loud. But we like the "C" bander and the calves get the added bonus of the testosterone to grow. There are many schools of thought and arguments for and against it; for us we think the growth is better. Get them banded before they "start to feel their cheerios" as the saying goes.

We do give E & Selenium (as BoSe) to any that seem to look a little unsteady as we are selenium deficient also. But our mineral seems to take care of that in most cases through the cows.