Blogs & News
By: Dr. Joe Roder, Director, Cattle Technical Services at Huvepharma, Inc. (U.S.)
As published in Feedlot Magazine
June 2020
When it comes to sourcing and receiving cattle from the southeast – where one third of calves come from - following management protocols can reduce risk, both for the calves and those managing them. Using proactive management protocols, when receiving freshly weaned calves at stocker or feedlot facilities, can make a positive difference in calves’ future health and performance. Those who take the time to manage high risks calves have figured out that through management it’s possible to bring out each calf’s full potential.
So, what management steps work best when receiving calves?
When possible, evaluate where the calves came from and the source of their stress. Was it a long haul? Is it a mixed group of calves from different farm sources? During transport, did the calves move through wet or cold weather? How were the calves handled before they got on the truck and when were they weaned? If you can build a relationship with order buyers to get this information from suppliers, it will help determine the level of stress calves may be experiencing and how much attention they need at receiving.
Recognize that if calves originated on smaller-sized farms - which is typical in the Southeast – they likely had to be mixed together to fill a potload, and possibly came from an operation that may not have had the facilities or manpower to do pre-weaning management. These calves still have potential but are going to need extra management.
While it’s nice to hope for the best, it’s more practical to expect the worst. If calves have an unknown health history, you should presume that worms and coccidia are robbing nutrients from the calf’s gut and prohibiting its immune system from fully responding. To effectively deworm animals for both internal and external parasites, immediately upon arrival, consider a two-pronged approach using both an ivermectin injectable and a soluble drench. Also consider administering a coccidiostat in the water or feed for the first 30 to 45 days to help control coccidian parasites. Then, transition to a monensin product for continued coccidiosis prevention.
Water, feed and bedding are essential ingredients to help calves stop bawling and start settling in. Many calves will have never seen a bunk or even a water trough before, so anticipate that it may take a couple days for them to learn how to eat and drink.
There is no magic number of hours or days after arrival when vaccines should be administered. It’s going to depend on the group of calves. It could be 12 hours or several days. Calves need to be rested and filled up with feed and water in order to maximize the number of successful responses to the vaccination. Watch for calves to be up eating and drinking and no longer bawling. Then, consider administering a 3-way or 5-way vaccine that protects against the major viral pathogens including Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR), Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) Type 1a and 2, Parainfluenza (PI3), Bovine Respiratory Syncytial Virus (BRSV), Mannehimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida.
Throughout this receiving process, take a team approach to achieve the best outcome. There is no one size fits all strategy. Work with your veterinarian to assess what the calves need. Communicate with others in the industry to learn from each other and better understand the management needs of calves from certain regions of the country. When we build these relationships and trust each other, the sharing and feedback allows the entire cattle industry to survive and thrive for the future.
Those who figure out how to manage high risk calves are the ones who realize the rewards those calves can produce.
Dr. Joe Roder is the Director of Cattle Technical Services at Huvepharma, Inc. Dr. Roder, a veterinarian board certified in veterinary toxicology, supports the direction of the Cattle Business Unit and heads Huvepharma’s team of Technical Service Veterinarians and Nutritionists. This team leads the charge in prioritizing product field trials and introducing new, innovative products to the U.S. cattle market. Some of these products include: Monovet®90 (monensin) Type A Medicated Article, the first FDA-approved generic for monensin; RESPIVax™ 5/PulmoGuard®PH-M and RESPIVax™ 3 + PH-M vaccines, to prevent major viral pathogens; Corid® (amprolium) a cocciodistat; and many more. To learn more about Huvepharma and its products, visit Huvepharma.us.
