Rearing Dairy Calves

Transcription

1 Name: Rearing Dairy Calves Learner Guide DairyNZ and Beef+Lamb New Zealand have supported the development of these resources through investment of the farmer levy. All materials published in any form by Primary ITO, and all parts thereof, including but not limited to text, graphics, audio or video segments, logos, or registered trademarks, are the property of Primary ITO and/or are used by Primary ITO under licence. These materials may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part, for any purpose, without Primary ITO s prior written permission. Questions regarding content or copyright permission should be directed to Primary ITO. The address for copyright correspondence: The Chief Executive, Primary ITO, PO Box , Wellington, New Zealand. Primary ITO acknowledges the contribution of Agriculture New Zealand, Dairy Training Ltd, RuralTec and FarmSafe to the development of this suite of resources. 15 January 2016 Version 1

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3 Contents Welcome 5 Introduction to rearing calves 7 Principles of calf rearing 8 Differences between rearing beef and dairy calves...9 Requirements for rearing calves...11 Welfare requirements...13 Stages of rearing calves 14 Rearing systems 18 Natural nurse cows or kept on their cow...18 Artificial rearing...20 Feeding method...28 Feeding frequency...30 Calf health 32 Normal behaviour...32 Abnormal behaviour...32 Health practices...34 Common diseases/illnesses...34 Calf identification, recording, handling and treatment 45 Handling calves...45 Identification...46 Tagging requirements...47 Recording...49 Minor procedures...50 Disposal of dead calves...55 Selling and transporting calves 56 Animal Status Declaration (ASD)...56 Transporting feeding calves (pre-weaning)...60 Bobby calves...60 Selling calves for rearing...61 Post weaning transportation of calves Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any 3

4 Rearing weaned calves 65 Target growth rates for dairy calves...65 Keys to achieving growth rate targets...66 Glossary Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any

5 Welcome What you will learn This topic covers the skills and knowledge required to rear and look after calves. Learning outcomes At the end of this topic you will be able to: Dairy: assist with rearing of young dairy stock demonstrate understanding of rearing requirements of young dairy stock assist with feeding of young dairy stock assist with treatment and prevention of health problems in young dairy stock assist with weaning of young dairy stock. Non-dairy: assist with rearing of young stock from birth until first mating, or sale assist with rearing of young stock from birth until weaning assist with rearing of young stock from weaning until first mating, or sale. Assessment Some evidence of competency will be gathered in the classroom and some will take place on-farm. You will need to show in your work with animals that you understand different behaviours, and that you handle stock correctly according to circumstances. You will use your powers of observation and recording. Your notes in the Evidence Portfolio again will be an important contributor to the assessment. We want you to show that you understand how to handle young livestock safely, and you also know how to treat them and look after yourself around them Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any 5

6 Off-job, your tutor can provide you with information that will strengthen your on-job learning. Symbols you ll see Throughout this Learner Guide we ve used a set of symbols to help you know what s going on. The symbols we may use are: Reference: refer to other resources for more information. Search online: refer to online references for information on this topic. Alert: watch out for this/you must be aware of this. Activity: do activity. Top tip: key information and useful tips Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any

7 Introduction to rearing calves Cattle farming starts with calves. This guide looks at the key aspects of rearing and growing calves to meet the targets we need to achieve. Poorly reared calves and young stock will affect both the short and long-term profitability of your farm business. Key things to get right for all cattle farming systems include: selecting the right stock rearing calves well before and after weaning (removing offspring from being milk-fed) making sure the stock are in good health carrying out procedures on calves safely and accurately. Following these guidelines is key to healthy, well-grown calves. Discuss with your manager how they plan to rear calves on your property. what systems will they use? what death rates (number of calves that die as a percentage of the number of calves reared) have they had in the past? have they achieved the targets they had planned? how have all of these affected the farm s profitability? 2016 Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any 7

8 Principles of calf rearing There is one aim in rearing calves regardless of which system you use. This is to: Achieve the growth targets required with minimal stock losses, minimal cost and the most efficient use of labour. To do this you need five things: suitable healthy stock appropriate shelter and plant food (milk, meal, pasture) planned and organised systems and routines water. Did you know the principles for rearing beef or dairy calves are the same? Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any

9 Differences between rearing beef and dairy calves Liveweight targets Cattle breeds have different purposes (ie, production of milk versus meat) and liveweight targets. Weaning liveweight targets for different breeds Breed Average birth weight (kg) Target weaning weight (kg) Weeks to weaning* Jersey 25kg 80kg 8 12 F X J 35kg 90kg 8 12 Friesian 40kg 100kg 8 12 Hereford/Angus (reared on cow) Heifers 200kg Simmental (reared on cow) Heifers 230kg 35kg 24 30kg 40 45kg 24 30kg Bulls/steers 220kg Bulls/steers 275kg * Note that weaning dates may be shorter on concentrated weaning systems. From the table we can see how the type of stock and purpose of that animal will influence the rearing system used. Beef animals reared on cows are weaned much heavier and later than dairy or dairy cross calves. Rearing systems The system you will use will depend on the type of farm you are on. There are two main types: dairy farmers tend to use a calfeteria (feeding station where several calves can suckle milk, colostrum or CMR); calves are taken off their mother within the first 24 hours. The cow is then milked in the farm dairy and the calf is reared separately Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any 9

10 dairy beef farmers buy calves at 4 10 days old. The calves are either Friesian bulls or a beef breed crossed with dairy cows (for example, Hereford X Friesian). Both the heifer and bull calves are then reared on a feeding system similar to dairy farmers, or on nurse cows. Discuss with your manager which rearing system they will use and why they use that system. Set calf rearing targets for this season on your farm Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any

11 Requirements for rearing calves Stock selection If you start with quality animals you make your job of rearing the calves much easier. Select calves that are: fit and strong (walk easily, are robust) will feed easily have had colostrum (the first milk produced by the mother after giving birth) within the first eight hours of birth healthy (alert, moving freely, no abnormal discharges etc) come from a clean environment a good size. Shelter Shelter must be provided to meet welfare requirements and management aims. Where calves are reared on cows, the cow s body will generally provide the shelter required. However, if there is an extreme weather event (storms, gales, snow) where there is a combination of wind and cold rain, extra shelter is needed. Calves that are reared off the cow must have dry, warm shelter. The effect of wind and wet on the temperature at which calves begin to shiver: Friesian calves Jersey calves Dry coat, calm 3 C 9 C Dry coat, wind 8 C 13 C Wet coat, wind 13 C 17 C This table shows that even on a warm spring day calves will still shiver because of the effect of having both a wet coat and being exposed to wind Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any 11

12 Feed The calf needs feed for maintenance and growth. There are many different feeds available to choose from. However the types of feed used in all rearing systems are colostrum, milk and pasture. Calves must have access to some form of roughage to develop their rumen. Optional feeds include types of meal, grain and straw and hay. Roughage like hay or straw helps development of the rumen (the first and largest of the four parts of the digestive tract). Calves do best when feeding is consistent. Feed the same type of food, but if the feed needs to be changed, do it gradually. When increasing or decreasing any type of feed, do it gradually. Gradual changes allow the calves to adjust and stay healthy. It is also essential to have fresh water available ad-lib throughout the entire rearing process. Health Calf health is critical to successful calf rearing. Sick calves will: not achieve the growth rates cost money to treat infect other calves have the potential to increase death rates. Every calf that dies will reduce not only your profit but the time you have invested will be lost. Improving calf health is the factor you have the most influence over Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any

13 Welfare requirements The basic requirements of calf welfare are the same as those in the Animal Welfare Act (1999). All animals should be provided with: freedom from hunger, thirst and malnutrition (not enough energy and/or minerals/vitamins to remain healthy) freedom from distress appropriate comfort and shelter prevention and treatment of injury, disease and infection the ability to show normal behaviour. Meeting these minimum standards as part of rearing and managing calves is good husbandry practice Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any 13

14 Stages of rearing calves There are three phases in rearing calves: 1. Day Day four to weaning 3. Weaning until 15 months. 1. The first four days The first four days after birth are an important time for both cow and calf. Requirements for the calf during this period are: Colostrum This is the first milk a cow produces after giving birth. Facts you need to know about colostrum: it is yellowish and has a peppery or pungent taste. it is rich in nutrients and antibodies (proteins produced in the body that destroy disease organisms). it has higher fat content and 10% more protein. it has Vitamins A and D, which assist with bowel movement. a calf has little immunity (resistance to disease) of its own and colostrum provides these antibodies for protection from many harmful bacteria and viruses. The calf needs about four litres of colostrum, within the first eight hours of birth. After about 6 8 hours after birth the calf s ability to absorb the antibodies reduces. After hours the antibody absorption from colostrum is very low Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any

15 Shelter Newborn calves need shelter from the wind, as when wet the wind chill can be extreme. Dry paddock: Cows should calve in clean dry paddocks. Calving in wet, muddy paddocks increases the risk of infection, leading to mastitis. Newborn calves can also pick up infections through their navels. The ideal situation is calving onto a fresh break each day, in a dry sheltered paddock. There should be no hazards in the paddock (such as drains, rivers, barbed wire) which might cause injury to young calves. Some of these hazards may be unavoidable if you put temporary fences up before grazing you will find many calves will sit in the long pasture for shelter, rather than wander into the drain and drown. Identification Dairy farms remove calves from the cows very soon after birth. Calves must be identified to the cow before they are removed. This is important for breeding and selection records for herd improvement. Removing calves from the cow Calves should not be removed from their cow until they have had enough colostrum. Farmers must take steps to ensure all dairy calves receive enough colostrum, even if it means the colostrum is fed through a tube. As a requirement of the Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for bobby calves: all calves must receive enough colostrum navels of calves must be sprayed with iodine solution to prevent navel-ill transport in a clean trailer with enough room for all calves keep all calves dry and out of the wind calves should be fed twice a day until at least four days-old Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any 15

16 2. Four days to weaning The aim during this period is to achieve: rapid growth rates (lots of energy in the feed going into growth, and a smaller amount into body maintenance) rumen development. At the end of this time the calf will move from feeding mainly on milk to feeding on pasture. Calves having access to straw or late harvest hay, meal and pasture will have faster rumen development. Higher amounts of carbohydrate assist rumen development and the growth of helpful microbes in the rumen. Calf rearers assist this through feeding small amounts of milk and making alternative feeds and meal available for the calves. water must be available to calves as there is not enough water in the feeds, and they don t get enough water from the milk alone. Find pictures on the Internet or through a calf meal supplier of rumen development in calves (key words images, calf rumen development). Can you see the difference between a well developed and underdeveloped rumen? 3. From weaning Calves are usually weaned off milk when they reach their target weights. For dairy stock this is around double the birth weight and when they are eating enough meal and pasture. The Code states that calves must be eating a certain amount of solid food (pasture, meal, hay) before they are weaned. The age at which calves are weaned depends on breed of stock and the rearing method, as well as the general condition and rumen development. Calves need to be fed the best quality pasture you have to offer. The best pasture for this on a dairy farm is mid-point for the herd round (ie, if the cows are on a 21 day round then the calves need to graze the 10 days before the cows) Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any

17 Weaning dairy calves There are six keys to successful weaning. 1. make sure calves have reached their target liveweight. 2. make sure calves are eating enough pasture and meal before removing milk. Calves should be fed meal for a minimum of three weeks before weaning and three weeks after weaning to keep them growing during this time. 3. gradually reduce milk volumes (do not water down milk) and increase volumes of meal. Provide ad-lib meal feeding for a few days from the day you stop feeding milk. Most commercial meals also contain a coccidiostat to protect against the disease coccidiocus (see page 43 for information on this disease). 4. graze calves on high quality pasture shift regularly. 5. monitor calves remove and treat/care for any not performing during this period. 6. drench regularly and monitor health Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any 17

18 Rearing systems There are a few different systems for rearing calves. Some systems will naturally seem more appropriate to different breeds of stock and their environment. Natural nurse cows or kept on their cow Where the calves are reared by cows, either their own cow or an adopted one (nurse cow). Reared by their cow This is the most common system in beef herds. These calves achieve high growth rates as they can feed as often and as much as they like. Little input is needed by people. There are also fewer health problems for the calves. Successful rearing requires you to: check on the herd regularly make sure calves get colostrum and are being cared for by their mother make sure any animal health problems are identified and treated quickly check and supply the cows with enough good quality feed so they can produce enough milk for their calf Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any

19 Nurse cows This is where one cow rears several calves one may be her own. This system of rearing calves may be used in professional calf rearing businesses or lifestyle blocks. It is important to take time to get the cow to accept other calves as her own, carefully monitoring progress throughout the adoption process. separate the cow from the calves (including her own). bring the cow in twice a day to feed the calves in a pen. supervise feeding at first to make sure she will let all calves feed. put the cow and calves into a small paddock once the cow has accepted all the calves. carry out regular checks to make sure all calves are getting fed enough milk. later on the cows can be out in paddocks with other nurse cows. Some cows will accept extra calves more readily than others Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any 19

20 Good nurse cows provide the calves with good growth rates and good health, provided: they are checked regularly to make sure they are getting enough milk and to identify any health problems the nurse cows are getting well fed as they need to produce a lot of milk to feed all the calves. Cows may rear batches of calves. As one set is weaned, more can be put on by going through the adoption process again. Artificial rearing This is where calves are not reared on a cow. Farmers need to supply all the needs their mother would have given them. Mob size will depend on the method of feeding and the type and size of equipment you have. There are four key areas that need to be addressed when deciding to rear calves. They are: shelter food milk or CMR (calf milk replacer), meal, hay etc type of feeding system how often they will feed. Shelter Shelter is critical to rearing calves, especially in the first few days after birth. Rearing facilities need to be: clean, warm, dry and draught free aim to have the shed twice as deep as wide, and preferably north facing well ventilated to avoid ammonia build-up, with good bedding that is 150mm or deeper (for example, bark, shavings, sawdust but not tanalised (treated) sawdust) large enough for the calves to move around, allowing an area of 1.5m2 per calf for new calves, and 4m2 per calf if they are going to be kept indoors until weaning Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any

21 free draining so the facility and surrounds do not allow the pooling of water or mud (as this encourages disease) supplied with clean water at all times supplied with hay or straw in racks cleaned out after each batch of calves has been reared, and bedding replaced divided into pens so calves can be reared in small groups, with calves maximum per pen regularly sprayed with disinfectant and viricide (disinfectant that kills viruses) to prevent build up and spread of disease. Once calves have been taught to feed, and after a couple of weeks, the calves may go to outside paddocks. Shelter may include: mobile calf huts, hedges, trees or bales of straw in low rainfall areas. Avoid using facilities such as: old milking sheds these are often very draughty and not ideal for calf rearing old shearing sheds as slatted floors are draughty and do not provide enough shelter shelters with lead painted timber or iron calves will lick these and can get lead poisoning areas that are or have been storing toxic materials dirty cow yards this increases the chance of infection. Don t mix older and younger calves in the same mob as this will disadvantage the younger calves Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any 21

22 Purpose built clean and dry calf rearing facility Have a look at the calf rearing area on your farm. Does it meet the calf s needs for space and water? Does it have good air flow? Will it function well (can I work in it easily)? What could be done to improve this facility? Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any

23 Milk Calves need milk of good quality and quantity. There are three main types of milk you can feed to calves: colostrum whole-milk milk replacer. Some farmers feed a mixture of these. Each type of milk has different storage and mixing requirements. Colostrum Colostrum can be stored at air temperature. Natural bacteria ferment the lactose (milk sugars) into lactic acid which acts as a natural preservative. Fermented milk does not give the calf immunity. It has similar nutritional value to whole milk, and should be fed at similar rates to achieve target growth rates. Stored colostrum is normally a mix of good first colostrum and more diluted colostrum produced as cows come into milk. Don t feed stored colostrum to newborn calves because it will not provide the disease protection needed. To maintain the quality of stored colostrum: stir two times a day to prevent a build up of crust on the surface store the colostrum in a stainless steel vat or plastic container away from sunlight (below 20 C) colostrum may spoil if it is stored in a warm place do not add milk containing antibiotics (drugs used to kill disease organisms in the body) to colostrum the antibiotics will kill the helpful bacteria and get into the calves bodies fresh colostrum may be added daily and should be mixed thoroughly commercial colostrum keeper products added to the bulk tank will help preserve the quality of colostrum. Do not change calves abruptly from one colostrum vat to another. The change may cause the calves to get scours as they adjust to the different milk Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any 23

24 Colostrum can be stored for 6 8 weeks any longer and there will be a reduction in protein content. Whole milk Whole milk is a good quality calf feed that requires no mixing or storage if accessed daily from the farm dairy. It is sometimes the cheapest form of milk on a dairy farm. Whole milk contains 3MJME/kg and six litres of whole milk provides a 40kg calf with all its energy and protein requirements (18MJME). It is best to feed warm milk. The natural temperature of milk is and this is the best temperature to avoid digestive upsets. The temperature must not be over 39 C. The disadvantage of feeding at this temperature is the cost of heating milk if it cannot be fed straight away; there are also the practical limitations of using heaters or turning milk coolers off. Calf Milk Replacer (CMR) There are a large variety of CMR s available. These include: whole milk powder buttermilk powder fortified powders based on skim or buttermilk powder to which fat has been added. there are also whey based CMR s that have added vegetable oil/ proteins. These CMR s do not curdle in the abomasum (true stomach). Most CMR s mix best in warm water. Take care if you use cold water to mix the powder to avoid lumps which can block feeding equipment. You must have a clean environment to mix the CMR Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any

25 In general calves need 0.75kg CMR powder per day, although this depends on the brand. Follow the mixing instructions on the back of the bag to make sure correct amounts are used. CMR s can be fed in a more concentrated rate. In this system it is essential that water is also available for the calves. Milk powders can also be added to milk to make fortified milk. This is often referred to as an early rumen development system. CMR s provide consistent quality of milk. The amount of milk fed can easily be changed. The cost of milk replacers may be higher than that of whole milk. Make sure it is mixed and used with as little wastage as possible. The labour requirement for this system is higher, although automated feeding systems which mix and feed calves on an individual basis have reduced this problem. Meal Meals are dry feeds high in energy, made by grinding up and mixing various high value feeds. Meal is not essential for rearing calves but is often used because it: aids in rumen development and growth rates, allowing earlier weaning can help with transition from milk to grass at weaning time is often cheaper than milk for the energy it contains. Meal can be substituted for milk in the rearing process, but some milk should be available until the rumen is fully developed. If feeding meal, reduce milk volumes to push the calves into eating meal (only after four weeks of age) Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any 25

26 Make sure the calves receive fresh meal. Feed it daily as it can go stale and become less palatable. Keep meal high enough off the ground so calves aren t able to stand, urinate or defecate in the trough. Store the meal bags in a cool dry place protected from mice, rats or birds. The coccidiostat in most meals can be harmful to other animals. Hay or straw Calves should have access to high quality hay, straw or pasture to aid rumen development. Stalky hay or straw are best for expanding the rumen and should be used for early rearing systems. Hay and straw are not high quality feed (for example, 6 9 MJME/kgDM compared to meal MJME/kgDM) and they are not used to replace milk or meal Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any

27 You are using a milk replacer to rear your calves. Calculate how much you will need to order if you rear one mob of 30 calves and you plan to feed them 0.75kg replacer/calf/day for the first four weeks, dropping to 0.5kg/calf/day for the following four weeks? You feed the calves twice a day for the first 4 weeks. Calculate how much replacer would you need for the mob for one feed Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any 27

28 Feeding method Bucket feeding This system is often used on small blocks where only a few calves are reared. The calves are taught to drink milk from a bucket. Advantages no expensive equipment needed calves drink a known amount of milk calves drink quickly so feeding does not take long. Disadvantages calves will not suckle, which is important to much sure rumen bypass happens so the milk goes to the abomasum it takes longer to teach calves to drink this way calves tend to gulp their milk which can lead to digestive upsets washing up is more tedious as buckets need to be washed. Calfeteria Calfeterias are feeding systems for calves that allow several calves to suckle milk from teats at the same time. This speeds up feeding time for the farmer. Calves suck milk through rubber teats. There are different calfeteria systems: some use tubes for the calf to suck milk up to the teat some use gravity to supply milk to the teats calfeterias range from single or five teat feeders to large 60 teat towable mobile feeders. Advantages calves are easily taught to feed on a calfeteria they also feed more slowly than if bucket-fed and produce more saliva which aids digestion it is an easy way to feed large numbers of calves at one time Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any

29 Disadvantages as there can be many calves feeding at once it can be difficult for all calves to get enough milk. some calves may get bullied off a teat by more aggressive ones. Calfeterias which have individual partitions help with this problem. it can also be difficult to maintain hygiene in these systems. Keep monitoring calf health and growth so poorly performing calves can be removed from the mob and reared elsewhere. Automated feeding systems These are a form of calfeteria and are more common in large calf rearing businesses. calves are fed one at a time a scanner reads the calf s tag and allows it to feed depending on its last recorded feed time they will mix and supply the CMR to the calf calves are trained to enter the feeding station. Although the system reduces the labour needed to feed stock, it is not foolproof. You still need to check the calves to make sure each calf is getting fed and is healthy Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any 29

30 Feeding frequency There are three main feeding frequency routines: once-a-day twice-a-day ad-lib. The difference between once-a-day and twice-a-day is the feeding frequency and the amount of milk allowed per calf at each feed. Ad-lib means the calf can drink as much or as little as it wants the milk is always available. This system tends to result in rapid calf growth, however the calf s rumen development and uptake of meal will be slower as the calf is eating less meal. This is a good system if the milk supply is cheap. XXOnce-a-day calves are fed 4 6 litres of milk once-a-day this normally starts when the calves are 4 10 days-old volumes may drop to 4 5 litres/calf when 4 5 weeks-old meal and water are available from start of rearing. XXRestricted twice-a-day calves are fed 2 3 litres of milk/feed twice-a-day for four weeks calves are then fed four litres once-a-day until weaning meal, hay and water are made available from week one. XXAd-lib calves are fed as much as they like 24 hours a day from birth to weaning meal, hay and water are available from week four to aid rumen development Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any

31 Concentrate system A concentrate is a feed that is higher in digestible energy than pasture or similar feeds. Often this is because of the digestible fats or carbohydrates it contains. Concentrates are used to stimulate early rumen development. calves are fed low volumes of concentrated milk (CMR) at 2 3 litres/ calf once-a-day meal, straw and water are available early on calves are often weaned off milk at 4 6 weeks of age calves are normally housed for the duration of the programme. Warning: Rapid changes in type of milk fed, amount of feed, cleanliness of equipment and even time of day the calves are fed can cause scours. Changes to any one of these need to be made slowly, normally over a period of 4 5 days. Putting it together There are a few key rules to rearing great calves: Be consistent! consistency of labour have a person that enjoys rearing calves doing it. consistency of feeding system. consistency of feeding frequency. consistency of feed quality and quantity. keep shelter and equipment clean and maintain hygienic conditions. spend time observing calves to identify and promptly treat any that are sick Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any 31

32 Calf health Good calf health leads to decreased costs, time involved in treating animals and lower death rates. These in turn mean better calf growth rates and higher profit. It is critical to quickly identify a sick animal and treat it before: growth rate targets are at risk disease spreads to other calves. Normal behaviour It is important to be able to identify sick animals. To do this we need to recognise what normal behaviour looks like: eyes clear, wide and alert head and ears head held high, ears pricked up, generally alert look faeces dark, firm and not nasty smelling coat glossy with a silky feel appetite good and active sleep long periods, but alert and active once awake. Abnormal behaviour not feeding sitting down, dopey, doesn t respond to noises/sounds sitting away from the group stilted or awkward movement high temperature, rapid or difficult breathing changes in body for example, lumps, hair loss, distention of rumen reduced growth rates sunken eyes dehydrated (state where the body does not have enough water) the changes in behaviour will depend on the type of health problem Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any

33 Not all of these behaviours need to be present for the calf to be sick. The more often you observe your stock, the better you will become at: recognising each animal s normal behaviour identifying any health problems early. Over the next week spend minutes each day observing a group of calves. Keep records in your notebook or farm diary of your observations, including feeding, movement and health Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any 33

34 Health practices You can save yourself time and trouble if you can keep your calves healthy. The following are things you can do: feed consistently, including volume, the correct frequency of feed, temperature of milk, mixing rate and type of milk keep rearing pens and areas clean and dry by moving calves in paddocks, regularly disinfecting pens and avoiding muddy areas this will greatly reduce the spread of infection observe the calves regularly so health problems can be picked up and treated early. This will minimise any loss in growth rate and stock deaths (the earlier a calf can be diagnosed with a problem the greater the chance of survival) supply good shelter, reducing stress on the calf and chance of sickness vaccinate to prevent disease select strong stock that have been fed enough colostrum within the first six hours of life put sick calves into quarantine or isolation to stop disease spreading. Always feed or treat sick calves last after feeding the other calves. This will stop infection being transferred to healthy animals by you (for example, on your boots, clothing, hands, or the feeding equipment). Common diseases/illnesses There are many diseases or illnesses that are common to calf rearing. The following are some of the more common ones you may see and deal with: navel infection calf scours º º nutritional scours º º infectious scours coccidiosis, rotovirus, salmonella calf pneumonia parasites (organisms that depend entirely on another organism (host), bringing harm to the host) worms, lice mineral deficiency Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any

35 Monitor all unhealthy calves regularly. Other diseases that are not often seen (because of a vaccination programme) include: Tetanus, blackleg and other clostridial diseases Leptospirosis. Navel infection (navel ill or joint ill) Infection begins within the first week of life. Cause Clinical signs This is caused by an infection that has entered the calf through the navel cord soon after birth, often because calves are born in muddy conditions, wintering barns, or feed/standoff pads. It can also be due to rough handling and transport of calves from paddock to barn, usually by over-crowding, where calves stand on one another and bruise the navel cord. not feeding. swollen or pus ridden navel. body temperature change. joints become painful and swollen lameness. Treatment and prevention lying down or standing hunched up, not wanting to walk. If navel ill is not identified quickly the chance of death is high. treat calf with antibiotic see your vet for penicillin, dosage rates and length of treatment. spray navel cord with iodine based spray as soon as possible after birth. allow room for calves to sit comfortably when transporting. Place clean shavings on trailer to minimise the chance of infection Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any 35

36 Scours This is the most common cause of death and poor growth rates in calves. There are two main types of scours: nutritional scours infectious scours (caused by bacteria, virus or protozoa). Nutritional scours (white scours) This is a condition, not a disease as it is not caused by an infection. It can be seen while the calves are drinking milk. Causes Signs Calf drinks milk too quickly and milk enters the rumen which can t digest it. The milk sours and passes through the calf with little digestion. The result is white scours. faeces are runny and white. calf not interested in feeding. may be lying down, eyes sunken in, unwilling or not able to get up Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any

37 Treatment identify what brought the problem on was the calf overfed? Has the milk gone off or the diet changed too suddenly? isolate calves feed electrolytes to control dehydration and maintain energy levels. The amount of electrolytes depends on how bad the dehydration is. Reducing milk intake is now not recommended as there is a risk of calves starving. Use the pinch test to estimate level of dehydration: º º If skin is slow to return to normal 5% dehydrated. º º If calf is staggered or down 10% dehydrated. º º A calf that is 5% dehydrated will need 6 litres of Mild scouring: electrolyte per day. AM feed milk midday feed electrolytes PM feed milk offer electrolyte overnight Moderate severe day 1 AM Electrolytes, midday milk, PM electrolyte. Offer electrolytes overnight. day 2 AM milk, midday electrolytes, PM milk. Offer electrolytes overnight. day 3 as above or back to milk. Source Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any 37

38 Prevention of nutritional scours good housing good nutrition don t overfeed new calves. Give their body time to adjust to the new diet care of new arrivals in the barn don t feed for eight hours if calf has had enough colostrum (calves arrive in the barn stressed and tired, and they need time to become familiar with the new diet) do not use hot or warm water in colostrum or milk to heat it to feeding temperature don t overfeed calves before transport. Courtesy of Rose Erickson Treating calf for scours Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any

39 Infectious scours This may be caused by: bacterial infections E Coli., salmonellosis protozoal infections coccidiosis, cryptosporidia viral infections rotavirus, coronavirus. All causes of infectious scours can spread rapidly and cause widespread sickness, poor growth and death in calves. You need to act immediately to isolate and treat sick calves and improve preventative measures. Coccidiosis Cause Signs Coccidiosis is caused by protozoa in the small intestine. It invades the gut lining, rapidly multiplies and then bursts out of the cell in large numbers, causing a bleeding and inflamed bowel. It is passed on through infected faeces. It has a three week lifecycle so calves often show signs after they are three-weeks-old usually just before or after weaning. Calves are unlikely to get coccidiosis until after they are introduced to pasture. scours, often with flecks of blood loss of appetite leading to loss of weight or slow growth Treatment and prevention weakness and dehydration. diagnosis is needed by a vet using a simple microscopic examination. Restricted drugs can be used to treat this, however advice from the vet is needed avoid running younger calves behind older ones avoid using low feed troughs that can easily be contaminated with faeces use feeds that have an added coccidostat clean and disinfect rearing shed between batches of calves Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any 39

40 Rotavirus Up to 50% of calves that contract this disease will die. Cause Signs Rotavirus is a viral disease passed on through the faeces of the adult cow. It affects the calf s intestine.affects calves from birth through to weaning. watery scours colour varies between yellow and green, nasty smelling calves are depressed and lose their appetite; they may drool. Treatment and prevention correct diagnosis is needed by a vet infected calves can be treated with electrolytes and other products (see your vet for recommendations) cows can be vaccinated. Your vet can recommend which method is best for your herd spray rearing sheds with an approved viricide (Virkon S) calves are more likely to be infected if they haven t had enough first colostrum from vaccinated cows keep facilities clean. Keep cow faeces out of the calf shed Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any

41 Calf pneumonia Death can happen within 24 hours for this condition, so quick diagnosis and treatment are essential. Cause Signs Can be caused by a bacterial or viral infection, or fluid collecting on the lungs, or by poor ventilation leading to high levels of ammonia gases. tiredness; discharge from eyes and nose rapid and shallow breathing increased body temperature. Treatment and prevention of calf pneumonia early diagnosis allows successful treatment with antibiotics. See your vet for specific recommendations take care when drenching or feeding calves. Forcing fluids into calves can result in them entering the lungs improve housing provide good ventilation without draughts. Provide shelter for calves in paddocks, especially during bad weather. Parasites worms Worms are the most common parasites effecting calves. Parasites are organisms that depend entirely on another living thing (the host) for some stage of their life and cause harm to the host. Other than feeding levels, this is probably the most common reason for poor calf growth rates. Cause Signs Calves eat pasture contaminated with worm eggs. Depending on the type of worm these can live in the gut or lung and reproduce, shedding their eggs which get returned to the ground through the calf s faeces. poor growth rates coughing after exercise loose, runny faeces 2016 Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any 41

42 Treatment and prevention graze calves in rotation with mature animals this reduces worm burden on the pasture regularly calibrate scales and drenching equipment monitor faecal egg counts and use to test drench spell paddocks between mobs of calves start a regular drenching programme at weaning. Drench to the heaviest calves in the mob. Drenching frequency will depend on the product used. Leptospirosis This is a disease people can get from animals (a zoonotic disease). Cause Signs Prevention Leptospirosis is caused by bacteria and enters humans through urine splashes on the skin, mouth and eyes. calves red water (blood in the urine) humans flu-like symptoms, headaches and back-pain lasting from several weeks to many months. Vaccination of stock is very important, especially in dairy herds. Calves can be vaccinated as early as 4 weeks of age. Calves should be vaccinated with two injections 4-6 weeks apart, plus yearly boosters Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any

43 Tetanus, blackleg and other clostridial diseases Blackleg, tetanus and pulpy kidney are the most common types of clostridial diseases in New Zealand. They are all caused by similar types of bacteria of the genus clostridium. These bacteria form very resistant spores that survive in the environment for decades or longer and may resist freezing and boiling. Clostridial organisms of various types are found in the soil, where they can survive for a very long time. When conditions are good for growth, clostridial bacteria produce powerful toxins (poisons). The effects of these toxins are usually fatal. Death is quick with pulpy kidney and blackleg, but takes between several days to weeks with tetanus. In severe outbreaks, many animals die suddenly. Prevention 5-in-1, or 7-in-1 vaccine administered in the calf s first six months is usually successful in preventing the disease (5-in-1 means the vaccine is for five of the more common clostridial diseases). Mineral deficiency Mineral deficiencies often go unnoticed. Most result in lower growth rates, poor production or lower fertility levels. Most New Zealand soils will be deficient (lacking) in some trace elements. This results in lower mineral levels in the pasture and so stock get lower amounts than they need. Diagnosis Vets can do blood or tissue samples on the animals these are then tested to see if the animal has enough of that mineral. The soil type you farm on, along with fertiliser applications, will determine which minerals are significant for your farm. Sometimes the presence of high levels of other minerals can stop the animal from absorbing the mineral it needs even though it is there in the pasture. These animals will also show mineral deficiencies. In this situation the animal must be treated, not the soil or pasture Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any 43

44 Common mineral deficiencies include: copper needed for growth and production, animal health and immunity, and reproduction. Farmers can supplement through injection or oral dosing. Bolus and copper fertiliser can be used as prevention/ supplementation methods selenium needed for disease resistance, reproduction and immunity. Supplement through oral drenching, injections, or by applying selenium fertiliser. Care needs to be taken as animals can be overdosed with selenium very easily. See your vet cobalt needed to produce vitamin B12 and B1. Helps with immunity and energy production in the rumen. Supplement by drenching, vitamin B12 injections or adding it to fertiliser iodine needed for energy metabolism, reproduction and heat detection, and making proteins. Supplement orally, by injections, or by absorption through skin Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any

45 Calf identification, recording, handling and treatment There are many tasks that need to be carried out on calves. It is important that these are done with minimal stress on the animal and in a humane way. Handling calves You cannot handle and move calves the same way you may move older stock. Calves respond to touch and sound more than sight. They will not automatically go towards an open gate as mature stock might. When moving young calves: give them time to move. If you push them from behind they will dig their front toes in to resist you. If you have to push a calf it is easier to push it backwards than forwards. use noise to keep them moving. Shakers are useful, as well as your voice. Do not kick, drop or physically abuse the calves. Take a breather instead and think of a better way to get the task done. Good facilities are a must if you are regularly handling stock and need to be built to suit the tasks you are going to do. They help you to do your job safely, more quickly and with less stress on you and the animals. Facilities must be built and maintained to minimise the risk of injury. Any sharp edges must be covered or removed Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any 45

46 Drenching As the calves get older you will need to be able to drench and treat them. This will involve you getting into the race with the calves. Remove your watch, wear steel capped boots, long trousers and long sleeves to protect yourself. keep as close as possible to the calf being drenched work from the front to back of the race be aware that calves will kick and scrabble about with their hind legs to hold the head, run your hand from the calf s neck to just under the ear and along the jawbone. The jaw can then be cupped in your hand. Remember that as you work in the race the calves will push backwards. Make sure that if any calves go down in the race the pressure can be released to allow them to stand up again. Getting too rough with calves could be seen as serious misconduct by an employee and may result in dismissal. It is also a criminal offence and could result in legal action. Identification Good identification of stock allows for better management of feeding, disease and breeding. You will be able to make more accurate decisions about the selection of livestock, including: which females should be kept for breeding which calves should be sold how fast are the calves growing do they have any withholding restrictions on them. Greater improvements in selecting stock for breeding can be made if the parents, animal health history, growth rates and other desirable traits can be identified to specific animals Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any

47 Tagging requirements NAIT (National Animal Identification and Tracing) Scheme The NAIT (National Animal Identification and Tracing) scheme has a radio transmitting chip embedded in a plastic ear tag. This provides lifetime traceability of individual animals and details of each animal s location and up to date contact details of the person in charge of each animal are kept on the NAIT database. Visit From 1 July 2012 all cattle moving to slaughter, sale or grazing (and all deer as from 1 March 2013) are required by law to be tagged with a NAIT approved RFID (Radio Frequency Identification Device) tag. This has replaced the former national tagging programme and are the only mandatory tags for cattle (and deer from 1 March 2013). newborns must be tagged within 180 days of birth, or before their first off farm movement bobby calves (animals less than 30 days old going directly to slaughter) require a tag issued by the meat processing company for safety reasons, capital stock which are considered by a farmer to be impractical to tag are also exempt from NAIT tagging requirements if they are going direct to a meat processor and have already been tagged with an TBfree New Zealand barcoded primary tag. If you are using this exemption a levy of $13 per head excluding GST will apply to these animals farmers may still wish to use other or existing tags as well for management reasons. The TBfree New Zealand will continue to work closely with NAIT to make sure the ability to trace and identify suspected or confirmed TB infected cattle and deer is maintained Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any 47

48 Visit What must a farmer do to comply? 1. the person in charge of animals must register themselves and the farm or property with NAIT (including all lifestylers no matter what the herd size) 2. you will then receive a NAIT number 3. tag cattle and deer with NAIT approved RFID tags 4. register all cattle and deer in the NAIT IT system within 1 week of being tagged 5. record all movements on or off farm within 2 days of movement (both the sender and receiver must record movement) into the NAIT IT System. If you send animals to NAIT accredited sale yards or meat processor they will record the movement 6. record all your kills, deaths, losses, exports into the NAIT IT System 7. include NAIT number on the Animal Status Declaration (ASD) form when moving stock. XXApplication: 1. put tag in the right ear (preferred) 2. put tag in central/ inner part of ear between the two veins 3. white female part of tag facing forward. XXTags: An advantage of the RFID NAIT tags is that a large amount of individual animal information can be stored in them and used for a number of management purposes including breeding and production records Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any

49 Farmers have the option of purchasing linked ear tags, comprising an electronic NAIT tag and a matching visual panel secondary tag which will allow farmers to identify animals by sight via the secondary tag. Farmers should use NAIT approved RFID birth tags for animals born after 1 July Birth tags are printed with the TBfree New Zealand herd number or LIC/ CRV participant code, animal number, and year of birth (optional). Example of a NAIT birth tag Farmers also have the option of purchasing birth tag sets, which come with a NAIT RFID tag, and a matching panel tag. The panel tag allows farmers to identify animals by sight. The panel tag is not compulsory as part of the scheme, but is useful for on-farm purposes. Example of NAIT birth tag set Recording Keeping records is an essential part of rearing calves. Farmers keep records to: identify the calf to its cow and sire for selection and breeding purposes record treatments that calves have had and the date of the treatment record liveweights to monitor growth and progress to target liveweights record information about other traits record ownership of the calf Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any 49

50 Minor procedures Dehorning Horns can cause severe harm to other cattle and humans. They cowage hides and meat. The horn may also grow inwards towards the skull. All cattle over nine months must have anaesthetic (drug used to dull pain) when being dehorned. Disbudding This is when you remove the soft immature horns (horn buds). They should be removed within the first two months of life. Methods of horn removal XXCauterisation achieved by burning with a hot iron, or extremely cold iron for freeze burning anaesthetic should be used to minimise pain and also to help with removal cautery is often done with either gas or electrical burners held down onto the horn bud. This is the preferred method of horn removal and is best done when the calves are between 4 6 weeks-old. XXCaustic paste the paste is normally in a tube this burns the horn tissue away chemically it will also burn your skin as well so cover your arms and use gloves care must be used to keep the caustic only on the horn buds use Vaseline around the area so when the caustic is applied it doesn t run down into the eyes calves may rub it on one another or onto the cows they suckle, so keep monitoring them after treatment Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any

51 separate cows and calves for 6 8 hours after application to prevent transfer from calf to cow keep calves out of rain for a day this method is most effective when calves are 7 10 days-old. XXSurgical procedures use a sharp knife or scoop disbudder anaesthetic is required to do this procedure the horns are cut or scooped out. For all methods check the calves regularly for signs of infection. Dehorning requires an anaesthetic to be used if the animal is older than nine months. Castration Bull calves which are to be kept as steers should be castrated between 3 6 weeks of age. Castration is a procedure to remove the testes of a male. Animals over six months should only be castrated by a vet or under a vet s control. This operation will need to be performed under a local or general anaesthetic to prevent the calf feeling pain, together with some form of long acting pain relief (for example, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug). If the animal is under four months old, a rubber elastic ring is used. This is the preferred method of castration (also using a local anaesthetic). An elastrator is used to apply the rubber ring to the neck of the scrotum make sure the testes are both in the scrotum. This method should not be used when the animal is more than four months-old, as after this, the ring is unable to effectively restrict blood flow leading to swelling and associated pain. After four months some form of anaesthetic is required along with a surgical procedure Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any 51

52 Vasectomy A vasectomy is a procedure where part of the vas deferens (tube that carries sperm out of the testes) is surgically removed, so the seminal fluid does not carry any sperm when ejaculated. This is used to produce teaser bulls for a breeding herd. A vet is required for this operation. Removal of extra teats Removing extra teats is a common practice in dairy herds for two reasons: it helps the udder develop so that it is easier to milk the cow, as some of the extra teats will produce milk there is an increased chance of mastitis in unmilked quarters. XXHow to remove extra teats remove extra teats when the calf is between 2 6 weeks-old. At this age there is little blood circulation in the teats make sure you have correctly identified that these teats are the extra ones. In general they are smaller and behind the four normal teats, but this is not always the case. Get someone to check with you before removal make sure the udder area is clean and that your scissors are both sharp and disinfected hold the surplus teat stretched out and cut off at base where it attaches onto the udder. Tail shortening in cattle Tail shortening is allowed in cattle but only the last 2 3 vertebrae in the tail can be removed using a rubber ring applied between the joints. This must either be left to drop off naturally or cut off below the ring (not less than seven days after applying it). Use a sharp instrument for this so you don t cause pain or discomfort to the animal. It is better to manage tail cleanliness through other methods such as trimming the switch, rather than shortening Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any

53 Euthanasia of calves Humane slaughter of calves (birth to yearling) may be required when rearing is not considered viable. (Page 4 on captive bolt). Restraint The animal may need to be confined, eg, in a pen or restrained by backing the calf into a corner or pinning it against a sturdy wall or fence in a restricted area, especially if older or more active. This assures an accurate shot or stun. Firearm use a chute or race constructed from hay or straw bales to minimise any risk of ricochet, in the event of the projectile leaving the body. Preferred method The accepted methods of euthanasia of calves include either: captive bolt (using appropriate charge), or shooting using a rifle.22 or greater. Shooting The most common, recommended and humane method is shooting using a: rifle captive bolt pistol Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any 53

54 For any of these methods the site of the shot (target) is critical. If a rifle is used, the end of the barrel must be at least 10cm away from the head to avoid back pressure and possible rupture of the barrel. The shot should be aimed towards the brain at the intersection of two imaginary lines drawn from the inside corner of the eye to a point a little above the opposite ear. Warning! Make sure the operator of the firearm has a firearms licence. Even though you are on a farm, guns must be stored and operated in a manner that meets the gun laws. Calves must always be euthanised in the most humane manner possible to meet welfare requirements. Calves cannot be killed by a blow to the head because there is a risk that they will not be made insensible immediately. The only times calves can be killed by a blow to the head is in an unseen or unexpected situation where emergency destruction is required. Even in an emergency, destruction must be humane and it is therefore more likely that the approved method of shooting would be used Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any

55 Disposal of dead calves It is important that dead calves are disposed of as soon as possible. Decomposing stock are a source of disease, producing bacteria and other organisms. Poor disposal can lead to contamination of ground water and waterways which may be sources of drinking water. The sight and smell of dead calves creates a bad public perception of the industry. In most dairy farming areas there is a slink skin run in the calving season. Farmers are paid for the hide of the calf based on the calf size. The calves are picked up from the farm gate or tanker track regularly. At other times of year there are two main options: dead stock collection service there is a per head fee for this service. Carcasses must not be left within 45m of the farm dairy, or within 50m of a water source on-farm disposal if there is no collection service available the most common option is burial. Disposal option Advantages Disadvantages Burial Simple Cost effective Out of sight. Can t use if ground water is high. Keep away from waterways Predator and vermin control is needed Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any 55

56 Selling and transporting calves Many calves are sold and transported each year. It is important that we transport calves in a humane way. The farmer and his staff are responsible for preparing the animals before they are transported. When transporting stock you have to make sure: they are not hungry or thirsty they are as comfortable as possible any animal health problems are addressed they are not distressed they are able to behave normally. Animal Status Declaration (ASD) All stock that are transported from the farm, sale yards or to the meat processors are now covered by one standard form, the Animal Status Declaration (ASD). This is produced by the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) and the TBfree New Zealand. The welfare of all animals is covered by legislation the Animal Welfare Act. The ASD form You need this form whenever stock are moved. This includes: stock sold between a private buyer and a private seller stock from private seller (farmer) to the meat company. All calves over one month of age must also have an TBfree New Zealand farm ID tag. This form covers all the information the farmer needs to declare about his or her stock before they go on the truck. It has to be filled in correctly, signed and handed to the driver of the truck, or to the person receiving the stock. It is a legal requirement to fill out the form properly Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any

57 The ASD form includes: details of the farm (name, address, location) stock details: º º stock type and number being transported (tally) º º stock description (breed, age, sex, ID or brand) º º destination of the stock º º history where they were born and if you have farmed them for more than 60 days. Animal health details full details have to be provided to make sure any animal health treatments that have been used are outside their withholding periods (ie, the required number of days have passed since treatment) º º name of product (for example, dips, drenches, vaccines, hormone growth promotants) º º method of treatment (drench, pour on, injection) º º date of the treatment Johnes disease have they been vaccinated? TB status and if accurate records are provided Feeding details have the animals been fed anything other than milk or pasture? Animals are not allowed to be fed any ruminant protein (meat-based feed). Have a go! Fill out the sample ASD form on the next page for a line of 75, six month-old Friesian steers that are going to your local sale yards Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any 57

58 Animal Status Declaration Declaration: I am the person in charge of these animals and I declare that I have read and understand the requirements for this ASD and that the information that follows is true and accurate. AHB herd no. or LIC MINDA code (cattle and deer only) Signature (person in charge) Name (person in charge) Owner/Trade name (if different from person in charge) Address animals moved from (Rapid number, road and town/district) Owner s postal address (if different from above) NAIT no. Phone Fax Date / / Stock type Steer Heifer Cow Bull Lamb Sheep Deer Other Tallies Description (e.g. breed, age, ID, etc) Destination (e.g. name and location of processor, saleyard or farm destination) 1.0 Withholding periods all animals (see note 1 of the requirements) 1.1 Are any of these animals within the withholding period of any treatment? yes 1.2 If Yes, state the product name, method of treatment and dates applied (NB: these animals are NOT eligible for slaughter for human consumption until outside the withholding periods) no Product name Method of treatment Date used / / / / 2.0 Animal history all animals (see note 2 of the requirements) 2.1 Were all of these animals born on your property? yes no 2.2 Were any of these animals imported into New Zealand? yes no 2.3 Are any of these animals from either an MPI surveillance listed property or under MPI movement yes no control for residues or any purpose other than TB? 3.0 Animal feeding cattle, sheep, lambs, goats, deer, alpacas, llamas (see note 3 of the requirements) 3.1 Have any of these animals been fed ruminant protein in their lifetime? yes no 3.2 Have any of these animals been fed ANYTHING OTHER than milk or pasture (see description of yes no Pasture fed ) in their lifetime? 4.0 Johne s Disease vaccination where applicable (see note 4 of the requirements) 4.1 Have any of these animals been vaccinated against Johne s disease in their lifetime? yes no 5.0 HGP treatment cattle (see note 5 of the requirements) 5.1 Have any of these cattle been treated with a hormonal growth promotant in their lifetime? yes no 5.2 If Yes, how many of these cattle have been treated with a hormonal growth promotant in their lifetime? Number 6.0 TB Declaration cattle, deer (see note 6 of the requirements) 6.1 What is the TB status of these animals? Enter status and index number Status Number 6.2 Have any of these animals been tested while under your management? yes no 6.3 What is the date of the last TB test for these animals and was TB detected? Date / / yes no 6.4 What is the date of the last TB test for the whole herd and was TB detected? Date / / yes no 6.5 Is the herd under TB movement control? (If Yes, a permit is required unless going direct to slaughter) yes no 6.6 Are these animals being moved from a property within a Movement Control Area? yes no 6.7 If Yes, have these animals been tested within 60 days prior to this movement? yes no (The 60-day test is not required if the animals are going direct to slaughter) 6.8 Does the herd from which these animals are being moved include cattle or deer which have been yes no introduced from a herd of lower TB status within the last three years? I understand the obligations under the Animal Welfare Act of persons in charge of animals to ensure that their physical, health and behavioural needs are met in accordance with the minimum standards defined in Codes of Welfare under the Act 7.0 Additional information (see note 7 of the requirements) HAVE YOU SIGNED THIS FORM AT THE TOP LEFT? May

59 You must supply an ASD when animals are moved from your property and get one for all animals you receive. Requirements for the Animal Status Declaration Purpose of the Animal Status Declaration Practices on the farm impact on the suitability of animals for processing and on animal products eligibility for trade. The purpose of the Animal Status Declaration (ASD) is to transfer key information about an animal, or group of animals, to the next person in charge, or the processor. For the processor, the information on the ASD is vital for guiding ante-mortem and post-mortem examination, and for determining export eligibility and certification. The ASD also incorporates the TB questions required by the Animal Health Board under the Biosecurity National Bovine Tuberculosis Pest Management Strategy Order Privacy Act Statement The Privacy Act 1993 provides rights of access to, and correction of, personal information held in readily retrievable form. The information is held by the receiver of the ASD. Who is to complete and sign the Animal Status Declaration? The ASD is to be completed by a person in charge of the animals who has the knowledge and authority to answer all the applicable questions. The person in charge of the animals could be the owner, farm manager or saleyard operator, but does NOT include transport operators. However, transport operators are required to transfer the ASD accompanying the animals being moved. Guidelines for completing the Animal Status Declaration The ASD MUST be completed for all consignments of cattle (except bobby calves going to slaughter), buffalo, deer, sheep, lambs, goats, alpacas, llamas, horses, ostriches, and emus sent for processing. In addition, the ASD MUST be completed for all: movements of sheep, lambs, goats, ostriches and emus sent from one property or saleyard to another property or saleyard where there is a different person in charge of the animals; and movements of cattle (including calves) and deer Saleyard operators are to complete a new ASD or, where there is no change to the status of animals, the saleyard operator may use a clear photocopy of the ASD received with the animals. Where photocopies are used, the tallies must be altered to match the departing mobs and the ASD MUST be countersigned by the saleyard operator as being true and accurate and tally changes initialled. Alternatively, it is acceptable for the sales docket which accurately states the number of animals purchased to be attached to a copy of the incoming ASD. Where there is change to the status of animals at the saleyard, a new ASD must be completed. Notes The ASD is a mandated form under the Animal Products Act No additional commercial information is to be added to the form. NAIT no. is the unique number which identifies the Person In Charge of Animals (PICA) with respect to their registered NAIT location. You will obtain a NAIT number when you register with NAIT on It is compulsory for all PICA of NAIT animals to have a NAIT number. The inclusion of your NAIT number on this form is recommended. AHB herd no. or LIC MINDA code (cattle and deer only) is the Animal Health Board herd number or MINDA participant code or CRV Ambreed code of the herd from which the cattle or deer are being moved. The box Address animals moved from is the physical address of the property from which the animals are being moved. Please include the name of the road and if available, the Rapid number. Where the animals description will not fit in the space provided, the additional information box (question 7.0) may be used. Then, if necessary, an additional piece of paper that is signed by the person in charge and attached to the ASD could be used. The box Destination is to be completed to the best of your knowledge; for example provide the processor s company name and plant location, or the saleyard name and location, or address of the destination farm. 1. Withholding periods all animals You need only detail any treatments which remain within the withholding period. If you do not know the withholding period, the following defaults apply 91 days (3 months) for cattle, deer, sheep, goats, alpacas, and llamas; 63 days for horses, ostriches and emus. Calves for rearing: If the dam was within a meat withholding period at the time of birth of the calf, or if the calf has been fed milk from a dam within a milk withholding period of any animal treatment, or the calf itself has been treated, then enter details of the treatment in this section when the calf is within a withholding period. Animals grazing in vineyards: There is a recommendation to withhold from slaughter or sale all animals used for leaf-plucking for at least 6 months from either the time of the last known spray or from when the animals were removed from the vines, whichever is earlier. 2. Animal history all animals Movement Control: the ASD question 2.3 must be ticked Yes when animals are under any movement control imposed by MPI. 3. Animal feeding Under the Biosecurity (Ruminant Protein) Regulations 1999 it is an offence to feed ruminant protein in any form, composition or admixture to ruminants. Ruminant protein means protein derived from ruminant tissue including blood but excluding dairy product. Ruminant refers to cattle (including buffalo), calves, deer, sheep, lambs, goats, alpacas and llamas. Pasture fed means that the animals have been raised under normal New Zealand farming conditions with year round access to grass (e.g. hay, silage, lucerne, feed crops or other grazed or conserved forages) and other supplementary feeds (including manufacturing feeds, provided that you have a statement from the manufacturer that the feed does not contain animal protein or animal fat, other than dairy). You must keep the manufacturers declaration. Where animals have been fed on a feed pad or feedlot other than for short term periods (e.g. only as supplementary feed immediately prior to slaughter) then they would not be pasture fed because of not having year-round access to grass. If you do not know if an animal has been only pasture fed you must tick the Yes box. 4. Johne s Disease vaccination The ASD must be ticked Yes when any of the animals have been vaccinated with Johne s Disease vaccination or you believe a previous owner may have vaccinated them. 5. Hormonal Growth Promotants (HGP) HGPs may only be used under veterinary supervision. If you do not know whether the cattle have been treated with HGPs you must tick the Yes box, and put Unknown in the number box. 6. Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) Declaration The TB status to be declared is the TB status currently assigned to the herd by the Animal Health Board, the agency responsible for implementing the TBfree New Zealand Programme. Special movement conditions apply to herds with an Infected (I) status and to some herds with a Suspended (S) status. If you have received a legal notice restricting the movement of your herd, refer to the conditions contained within that notice prior to moving your stock. If you move stock without a completed ASD or without the correct pre-movement test, you may be prosecuted and the stock may be redirected back to your property. If you are uncertain how to complete this declaration or you do not know your herd s TB status or whether the herd is located within a Movement Control Area (risk area) contact prior to moving stock. 7. Any further information This box enables other important information to be given by the person completing the ASD, for example identifying that the animals are experimental animals. Animal welfare The Animal Welfare Act creates obligations to alleviate pain or distress of ill or injured animals. A veterinary declaration of fitness to transport is required for any ill or injured animals. Further information and Codes of Welfare are available at the MAF website ( by searching Animal Welfare. Records The person in charge who completed and signed the ASD must keep a copy of the completed ASD for 1 year. The person in charge who received the animals must keep the ASD received for the period that the animals are kept and then for an additional year. Processing companies must keep the signed ASD (and any faxed changes) for 4 years from receipt. Use of the ASD When it is provided, the signed ASD form must accompany the animals sent from the property. In the case of electronic transfer the ASD must be present at the receiving property when the animals arrive. If animals arrive at a property without an accompanying ASD or the receipt of an electronic ASD, then the animals must be separated from all other stock and held until a completed and signed ASD is received OR the animals must be returned to the supplier. Scanned (and ed), or faxed copies of any changes to the ASD are acceptable. Warning It is an offence under the Animal Products Act 1999 to falsify, alter or misrepresent any declaration required by this Act, with the intent to deceive or for the purposes of obtaining any material benefit or avoiding any material detriment. It is an offence under the Biosecurity Act 1993 to: 1) Move cattle or deer aged 30 days or more unless accompanied by a completed TB declaration; 2) Move cattle or deer aged 90 days or more from a risk area to a place outside that risk area or within any risk area from its herd of origin or the place of establishment at which the animal is being kept to a place other than the place occupied by the owner or person in charge of the cattle beast or deer, unless it has undergone within 60 days prior to the date of movement, a negative test for bovine tuberculosis; 3) Make a declaration that is false or misleading. It is an offence under the Biosecurity (Ruminant Protein) Regulations 1999 to allow ruminants to be fed ruminant protein. It is an offence under the Biosecurity (Animal Identification Systems) Regulations 1999 to move cattle and deer over 30 days of age from the herd of origin or place where the animals are kept unless identified in accordance with these regulations. 59

60 Where can you get the forms? from your meat company (for example Alliance, Canterbury Meat Packers) from a livestock agent or stock and station company from the transport company online download a form from the NZSFA website: the TBfree New Zealand (if you own cattle or deer and are registered on the TB control database). Transporting feeding calves (pre-weaning) Most of the calves born on a dairy farm are sold off farm within a few weeks of birth. The most common place of sale is the bobby calf trade. Heifer or bull calves are sold for rearing off farm. Calves sold pre-weaning have some special transporting requirements. Bobby calves These are calves from dairy farms sold for slaughter for human consumption. There are some minimum requirements that must be met. These are outlined in the Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for the Welfare of Bobby Calves (AWAC). You can access the code at animal-welfare/codes/dairy-cattle Calves sold as bobby calves must: be strong enough to cope with the stress of travel be free of disease, deformity, blindness or any disability be warm and dry be alert and able to rise from a lying position be able to move and suck freely, and not be listless or unable to protect themselves from trampling and being injured by other calves Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any

61 have hooves that are firm and flat not bulbous with soft unworn tissue have a navel cord which is wrinkled and shrivelled not pink, red coloured, raw or fleshy have been fed a good amount of milk or colostrum within at least two hours of pick up for transport be free from drug residues be clean and kept in hygienic conditions be at least four days-old. Treating bobby calves with antibiotics Bobby calves must not retain any drug residues. If a bobby calf drinks milk from a cow that has been treated with antibiotics, the calf must be withheld from sale. Refer to your vet to check for the required withholding period. The Code of Recommendations and Minimum Standards for Bobby Calves states that calves that have been treated with antibiotics or sulphur drugs must not be submitted for slaughter as bobby calves. Meat companies may accept the calves outside of the withholding period. Some large operators humanely kill bobby calves that have been treated with antibiotics and sulphur drugs. Selling calves for rearing Many calves are sold for rearing for either the beef trade or replacement dairy heifer trade each year Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any 61

62 These calves must meet some requirements before being transported. If calves are over one month-old they must be tagged with an TBfree New Zealand tag and an ASD form must go with them calves must be in good health and strong enough to cope with the stress of transportation calves weighing less than 15kg at birth, and those with severe physical defects or pain should be destroyed and not transported the vehicle or trailer must have a closed-in front to prevent wind-chill. Covers must be positioned so there is shelter but still good ventilation. Calves must not suffer from either extreme heat or cold during transportation the vehicle must be cleaned before calves are loaded electric prodders must not be used on calves It must take less than 12 hours from collection of the first calf to reach the final destination the crate and floor of the vehicle must be sound and free of any rust, rot, sharp objects and be securely fastened to the vehicle there must be enough space for the calves to be transported comfortably. Space requirements for calves Weight Bobby calves Young cattle Minimum area required m 2 /calf Maximum area required m 2 /calf Source: Recommendations and Minimum standards for the Welfare of Animals Transported within New Zealand Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any

63 Post weaning transportation of calves Many calves are sold after weaning for either the beef trade or replacement dairy heifer trade each year. These calves must meet some requirements before being transported. These requirements are shown below. before going on the truck the calves should be held off pasture for six hours. This gives them time to empty out after their last feed which will help them travel better check that all calves over one-month-old have a TBfree New Zealand tag. Replace with an R tag if it is missing calves should still have access to water before transporting the farmer is responsible for selecting stock that are fit to travel and checking they are: º º in good body condition º º free of disease or parasites º º free of injury or physical defects. make sure the ASD form is filled out correctly and signed the truck driver is responsible for the comfort of the stock while they are being transported and until they are off the truck at the next farm, processor or sale yards. However, the farmer would still be responsible if he knew the calves he organised were unfit for transporting don t allow transport of stock further or for longer than needed rest the calves before loading on the truck. This is very important if they have been mustered from the back of a big property or walked a long distance along a road shelter the stock in the yards before loading loading areas and ramps should be in good condition so they don t cause any injury to the stock while loading. Ramps should be wide enough for the stock and not too steep. They should have a non-slip surface clear of rubbish, and have no sharp objects on the rails. Any temporary ramps should be well secured check and make sure there are no gaps between the ramp and the truck Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any 63

64 Walk around the loading area and yards on your farm and see if you can find anything that might cause problems at loading. If the stock are to be transported for long distances they have to be provided with access to food and water. This will have to be organised in advance. The food and water also have to be of good quality Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any

65 Rearing weaned calves Successful calf rearing means rearing calves to achieve their targets with few losses and maximum profit. Target growth rates for dairy calves Achieving targets for dairy calves is important to profitability. Most of the heifer calves are reared for breeding. The results of the first year s calving can determine what production will happen in that, and following years. In the dairy herd, achieving mating targets is critical as this influences their calving date the following year. As a result it will influence not only milk production performance, but the ability of that animal to get in-calf for the following season within the required timeframe. Both research and experience shows that calves that are light at weaning will be light at calving two years later. Dairy heifer liveweight targets Age Checkpoint weight Jersey F X J Friesian 6 months 30% of mature liveweight months 40% of mature liveweight months 60% of mature liveweight months 90% of mature liveweight Setting targets and calculating growth rates For your farm, find out the target liveweights for the calves that you have. Work out the required growth rates needed to achieve these targets. Discuss with your farmer how this is going to be achieved Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any 65

66 Keys to achieving growth rate targets There are four keys to achieving targets: feed quality feed quantity stock health and care regular monitoring. Feed quality High quality feed will result in higher growth rates. A drop in feed quality by 1 MJME/kgDM means that calves will need 10% more feed in kgdm to make up for the poorer quality feed (and vice versa). Good quality feed will be young leafy pasture with little stem or dead material normally between kgDM/ha. Feed quantity The greater the calf s feed intake, the higher the growth rate will be. If calves are grazing on rolling or steep land, you will need to increase the amount of feed for them to reach the target growth rates Primary Industry Training Organisation Inc. This material may not be used, copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any