The days are getting shorter. Nights are getting cooler. Football schedules are being studied. Kids are going back to school. Calves are almost as tall as their mamas. In other words, it's fall. Which means it's time to get ready for weaning.
As natural as weaning is, it's not an easy adjustment for calves. They're anxious about being separated from their mamas, and their digestive systems have to adapt to a diet without milk. The calves have to get acquainted with new feed, new water, and new surroundings where they may be exposed to viruses and bacteria they may have little or no resistance to. And the nights are getting cold. Those circumstances plus others stress the calves, which can compromise their health.
Whether calves will be kept on pasture, go to a backgrounder, or go directly to the feedyard, some simple steps now can help the entire herd's health status and help calves cope with the stresses of the weaning season.
Many types of dewormers are available for easy application as a pour-on or drench and are well worth the investment.
Some horn fly populations can develop resistance to the low dose of insecticide in ear tags. By removing the tags when they're no longer needed or effective, you prevent unnecessary exposure of flies to those low doses. Then by applying a spray or pour-on a high dose of insecticide you kill the resistant populations, provide protection for the remainder of the season, and help prevent the overwintering of resistant horn flies.
Zeranol implants do not contain sex hormones, so they can be used on both steers and heifers, reducing the number of products you need to purchase. After weaning, replacement heifers should not be implanted.
Fluctuating daytime-nighttime temperatures stress all cattle, but particularly calves. That, combined with the stress of weaning, means some calves even vaccinated ones won't be able to resist a challenge by the major bacteria that cause BRD: Mannheimia (Pasteurella) haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, and Haemophilus somnus.
Because it's much easier to cure BRD if it's caught early, have on hand an antibiotic that's effective against all three bacteria and that provides effective treatment with one dose.
As always, remember that your veterinarian is your best resource when designing a herd health program that is right for your operation.
Copyright 1998 Intervet Inc. Veterinary Corp.