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Weaning management for reared calves

Weaning management for reared calves

Weaning places nutritional pressure on calves.  When this process is done poorly, scouring can result and it is not always due to worms. For optimal rumen development, as calves move from a milk-based diet, it is key to add starch, mostly derived from grain in the meal or pellets.

Coccidiosis and nutritional scours are common causes of scours during this period of diet change. Reducing milk intake during the seven to 14 days before weaning, while simultaneously increasing meal intake, will help keep the calf fully fed. Changing gradually is best. A benchmark meal or pellet consumption of one kg/calf/day indicates they are ready for weaning. Meal should still be part of their diet for several weeks after milk is removed, as the calf is unable to digest sufficient grass to maintain growth rates. Coccidiostat, also helps calf health when intakes are greater than one kg/calf/day.

Internal worms do not become an issue until grass is the greatest part of the calves’ diet for at least a month. The need for drenching occurs when calves are older than eight weeks, are grazing pasture, and weigh approximately 100 kg. Calves kept in sheds and not grazing pasture do not need drenching for worms when released from the shed.

Consider the following when drenching young calves:
» Use clean equipment when delivering the correct dose of drench

» Abamectin is toxic in calves less than 100 kg. Accurate weighing is critical when using drenches containing this active ingredient

» A safe, effective first drench option, for calves under 100 kg, is a BZ /Levamisole oral combination

» Never drench during feeding or mix drench with milk. This can result in toxicity, death, or ineffective drenching.

» Once calves are heavier than 100 kg and grazing pasture, drench at 28-day intervals through summer and autumn using a triple combination oral product.

» Perform a 10-day post-drench to determine if the product used is working effectively.

» To control Cooperia, use oral products containing Levamisole.

Consider these effective farm management practices to reduce your reliance on drenches:

» Avoid high stocking rates of calves on the same paddocks, year after year. To prevent increased infective worm larvae burdens and coccidia challenge.

» Incorporate grazing of adult cattle, or other species including sheep, to reduce pasture contamination of infective worm larvae.

» Use older, undrenched cattle to graze where calves have been to create refugia.

» Silage/hay paddocks, post-harvest, may have a reduced infective worm larvae population.

» Consider sowing alternative forage species, like brassicas or herb/clover mixes, to create environments less favourable for infective worm larvae.

To learn more about the management of reared calves, contact your local PGG Wrightson Technical Field Representative today.