Maternity/Newborn Calf Management
Written protocols should be in place and reviewed annually with your veterinarian and employees to ensure that certain procedures are carried out appropriately.
Goals:
FARM - To support the birth of live, healthy calves and to transition cows into lactation
Dairy Well - To ensure calf survival and cow health by aiding in calving, and to promote calf welfare by feeding colostrum in a timely manner.
Dairy Well - To ensure calf survival and cow health by aiding in calving, and to promote calf welfare by feeding colostrum in a timely manner.
How to assess:
Review the maternity management protocol to confirm that the following information is included and that appropriate criteria are being met:
Dairy Well
- Emergency contacts should be noted
- Close-up and maternity pens are maintained to be clean, dry, and well-bedded (can refer to another SOP)
- Close-up pen is monitored throughout the day
- Feed quality colostrum: when, how much
- Signed by VOR
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A template is provided as a guideline; farms may write their own as long as minimum content is met.
National Dairy FARM Program
- The calving area is soft, cushioned, dry, well-lit, and well-ventilated
- Follow calf delivery procedures provided by the herd veterinarian
- Thoroughly clean calving pen and re-bed
- Provide 4-5 quarts of high quality colostrum to calf within first 8 hours of life
- Administer any health products as designated in the Herd Health Plan by manager or veterinarian
Validus
- Facility has a dry, clean calving area
- Colostrum protocol includes testing for antibody amount, monitoring for successful passive transfer, and monthly review program/passive transfer monitoring by herd veterinarian or manager
- Provide 4 quarts of colostrum or replacer to calves within 12 hours of birth
- Calves have access to feed (solid at day 3) and water
- Calves are observed daily for health issues
- Calves are vaccinated according to veterinarian or industry recommendations