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Managing Before Preconditioning

Calf vaccinations aren’t the only line of defense for immunity

COOPERSTOWN, N.D. (Oct. 8, 2009) – A healthy calf at weaning begins much earlier than 45 days before weaning and involves more factors than just a well-planned preconditioning program. According to Gerald Stokka, DVM, MS, a Pfizer Animal Health veterinarian based in Cooperstown, N.D., health programs are a broad approach to a healthy cowherd and healthy calves. He notes that vaccines are just one part of that overall health and management program.

“Choosing the right vaccine can be the easiest part of a health program,” says Stokka. “Most vaccines are backed by excellent quality control measures and the science behind them is sound. A vaccine protocol is one part of the equation for raising a healthy calf.”

Stokka says a quality weaned calf begins with the right genetics, adequate nutrition for the cowherd and overall management to reduce stress on the cows and the calves throughout the entire production cycle. All of these factors are combined with a strong health program to produce a quality end product.

Genetics

A healthy calf begins at birth. Stokka says cows that have the genetics to calve easy and produce an adequate amount of colostrum/milk are essential. He also says it is important that the cow has a natural mothering ability. “Some breeds of cattle are just naturally more maternal than others,” says Stokka.

Adequate milk production is important because it impacts the amount of colostrum produced by the cow. “I equate a calf receiving colostrum to oil in a car,” says Stokka. “If it takes four quarts of oil to make your car run most effectively, if you’re a quart low then the car doesn’t run at its most efficient. If a calf doesn’t get enough colostrum, or is a quart low so to speak, he will be at a greater risk of getting sick or not performing.”

A research study looking at the serum immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) concentrations in calves shortly after birth showed a connection between higher IgG1 concentration levels and improved health and growth. Lower IgG1 levels in newborn calves was correlated with higher morbidity rates, higher mortality rates and lower average daily gain in the preweaning period.¹

Nutrition and Health

How and what a cow eats during pregnancy and lactation also impacts the health and performance of a calf. Adequate nutrition during the last trimester of pregnancy impacts a calf’s long-term health and performance.

A University of Nebraska-Lincoln study looked at supplementation of protein to pregnant cows during the last trimester and the impact on the calves after birth. One group of cows was supplemented to meet protein requirements, while the other set received no protein supplement. The researchers then followed the female progeny of the two groups of cows from weaning to production.

Heifers from the protein-supplemented cows were heavier at weaning and the advantage carried into the breeding season. The heifers of the supplemented cows went on to have higher pregnancy rates, more of them calved in the first 21 days and a higher proportion had unassisted births.²

“This research really shows that the nutrition received by the dam truly impacts the growth physiology of those calves in utero and carries forward to weaning and beyond,” says Stokka.

Management Strategies

Managing the cowherd to reduce stress on the cows and calves also impacts the immune response and the animals’ abilities to stay healthy. Stokka says it is important for producers to reduce stress during weather events, as well as reducing stress during handling and transporting of animals.

Stokka also recommends reducing stress on calves by castrating and dehorning early in life (1 to 3 months of age). And that a vaccination for clostridial diseases and possibly a first viral vaccination can create a better immune response in calves.

“We can prime the system by giving vaccinations early in the calf’s life,” says Stokka. “Research has shown that for many of the pathogens we get a response despite the passive immunity provided through colostrum. We can create memory cells that will give us a better immune response when we give those pre-weaning vaccinations as part of a demonstrated, branded preconditioning program.”

A New Mexico study showed that vaccinating calves for respiratory disease at branding primed the immune system to create a memory response that stimulated a greater immune response when calves were vaccinated at the feedlot. As a group, the vaccinated calves reached an optimum level of immunity more than 14 days sooner than nonvaccinated calves.³

Don’t Pinch Pennies

Stokka points out that health costs are 3-1/2 to 5 percent of the cost of keeping a beef cow. He says a strong health program reduces the risk of a catastrophic health event in the herd.

“Trying to pinch pennies by not vaccinating doesn’t help save a whole lot of money,” says Stokka. “You don’t get a good return by skimping on the health program for the cowherd.”

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE), the world’s largest research-based pharmaceutical company, is a world leader in discovering and developing innovative animal vaccines and prescription medicines. Pfizer Animal Health is dedicated to improving the safety, quality and productivity of the world’s food supply by enhancing the health of livestock and poultry and in helping companion animals live longer and healthier lives. For additional information on Pfizer Animal Health’s portfolio of animal products, visit www.PfizerAH.com.

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¹ Dewell RD, Hungerford LL, Keen JE, Laegreid WW, Griffin DD, Rupp GP, Grotelueschen DM. Association of neonatal serum immunoglobulin G1 concentration with health and performance in beef calves. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2006;228:914-921

²Martin JL, Vonnahme KA, Adams DC, Lardy GP, Funston RN. Effects of dam nutrition on growth and reproductive performance of heifer calves. J of Anim Sci 2007;85:841-847.

³ Parker WR, Galyean ML, Winder JA, Cravens RL. Effects of vaccination at branding on serum antibody titers to viral agents of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in newly weaned New Mexico calves. Proceedings. Western Section American Society of Animal Science 1993; Vol. 44.

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