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Brad J. White, DVM, MS Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine

This article explores strategies for optimizing calf wellness and minimizing stress during the pre-weaning period, including proper calving season management, colostrum management, and vaccination protocols. It also discusses the impact of calving distribution on calf health and the risk factors associated with pre-weaning bovine respiratory disease.

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Brad J. White, DVM, MS Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine

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  1. Optimizing Health Prior to Weaning Brad J. White, DVM, MS Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine

  2. Optimizing calf wellness Laying the foundation Pre-weaning disease Minimizing stress

  3. Optimizing calf wellness Laying the foundation Pre-weaning disease Minimizing stress

  4. Wellness management: birth to wean • Protect the cow • Protect the calf 7 5 85 90

  5. Calf Wellness STARTS at breeding • Appropriate Calving Season • Distribution • Length • Pre-calving management • BCS / colostrum

  6. Annual Momentum • Post-partum anestrus: • Mature cows: 50-60 d • First calf heifers: 80-100 d Cow PPI Cow Gestation (283 days) Mature (Multiparous) Cow Calving Season 65-90 days Primiparous and Multiparous Cow Breeding Season 65-90 days Cow Gestation (283 days) Heifer PPI Heifer Gestation (283 days) Heifer (Primiparous) Calving Season 45-65 days Heifer Breeding Season 45-65 days Heifer Gestation (283 days) Timeline (Weeks)

  7. Good Momentum Majority eligible at breeding start Cow PPI Cow Gestation (283 days) Mature (Multiparous) Cow Calving Season 65-90 days Primiparous and Multiparous Cow Breeding Season 65-90 days Cow Gestation (283 days) Heifer PPI Heifer Gestation (283 days) Heifer (Primiparous) Calving Season 45-65 days Heifer Breeding Season 45-65 days Heifer Gestation (283 days) Timeline (Weeks)

  8. Bad Momentum Majority eligible at breeding END Cow PPI Cow Gestation (283 days) Mature (Multiparous) Cow Calving Season 65-90 days Primiparous and Multiparous Cow Breeding Season 65-90 days Cow Gestation (283 days) Heifer PPI Heifer Gestation (283 days) Heifer (Primiparous) Calving Season 45-65 days Heifer Breeding Season 45-65 days Heifer Gestation (283 days) Timeline (Weeks)

  9. Calving Distribution and Performance • 13 year summary progeny Sandhills NE herd • Heifers retained 2012 Funston et al, JAS

  10. Calving distribution and performance • Calving early: Heavier calves through 6th calf • Total increased weaning weight of calving in first 21 = One extra calf over lifetime 2013 Cushman et al, JAS

  11. Colostral immunity • Passive transfer (colostrum) • 1st 24 hrs of life • Failure / partial failure passive transfer • Increase pre-wean mortality 5.4X • Increase pre-wean morbidity 3.2x • Increase BRD feedlot 3.1x • 1995 Wittum and Perino Am J Vet Res 56(9): 1149-54

  12. Maternal Immunity • Time to decrease varies by: • Agent • Initial level Fulton et al. 2004

  13. Acquired immunity • Immune system functional at birth • 5-8 months of age before response is rapid and effective Time 2009 Cortese Vet Clin North America 25(1):221-227

  14. Immunity gap Passive Immunity Acquired Immunity Immunity gap?

  15. Immunity development • BVD @ 7 weeks: • MLV: specific T cell response, but no humoral • Killed: no T or humoral • 2003, Endsley et al., Biologicals • MLV BVD one dose @ 10-14 days of age: protection from virulent strain for > 4 months • 2001, Ellis et al., JAVMA Passive Immunity Time

  16. Pre-weaning viral vaccination • Evaluation of pre-wean (70 days of age) vaccination combined with weaning vaccination • Increased titers and CMI after weaning vaccination • SC MLV to 70 DOA calves increased BVDV1 antibody titers before weaning Woolums et al 2013 Am J Vet Res 74(2):343-354

  17. Optimizing calf wellness Laying the foundation Pre-weaning disease Minimizing stress

  18. Percent beef calves born alive in 2007 that were lost prior to weaning: 2007-08 NAHMS Cow-Calf

  19. Neonatal Calf Diarrhea

  20. Calving distribution impact on health • 2003 Smith et al. Probability of death by week of birth

  21. Pre-weaning BRD • Herd-level prevalence: 18-21% • 2013 Woolums et al.; 2014 Woolums et al. • Within-herd prevalence: 5-15% • 2013 Hanzlicek et al.; 2013 Woolums et al.; 2014 Woolums et al. 2013 Hanzlicek et al.

  22. Cow-calf management practices as risk factors for pre-weaning bovine respiratory disease complex in a U.S. national survey • Objectives: • Identify risk factors for pre-weaning BRDC • Available data: management practices and associations with pre-weaning BRDC • 567 herds; > 800 variables • Conducted by the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) as part of the USDA (2007 and 2008) G.A. Hanzlicek, D.G. Renter, B.J. White, B.W. Wagner, D. A. Dargatz, M. W. Sanderson, H. M. Scott, R.A. Larson 2013 JAVMA 242(9): 1271-1278

  23. Multivariable associations with BRD • 6 variables associated with BRDC • Higher IRR • Fed antibiotics to prevent BRD • Brought in weaned steers • Avg # of visitors per month • Multiple breed cross • Lower IRR • Brought in bred heifers • Operation is primary source of income IRR = incidence rate ratio; interpreted similar to relative risk

  24. A case-control study to determine herd-level risk factors for nursing calf bovine respiratory disease (BRD) on cow-calf operations A. R. Woolums, R. D. Berghaus, D. R. Smith, R.F. Daly, G.L. Stokka, B. J. White, T. Avra, A.T. Daniel, M. Jenerette. • Objectives: • Matched case control study • Determine herd-level risk factors for BRD in nursing calves • 2017 Woolums et al. JAVMA In press

  25. Factors associated with higher BRD risk

  26. A Producer Survey of Herd-Level Risk Factors for Nursing Beef Calf Respiratory Disease A. R. Woolums, R. D. Berghaus, D. R. Smith, B. J. White, T. J. Engelken, M. Irsik, D. K. Matlick, A. L. Jones, R. W. Ellis, I. J. Smith, G. L. Mason, E. R. Waggoner • Objectives: • Determine herd level risk factors for pre-wean BRD • Cross-sectional survey cow-calf operations in two regions: • Eastern: Florida, Georgia, West Virginia • Plains: Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska • 459 usable responses regarding pre-weaning BRD • 2013 Woolums et al. JAVMA 243(4): 538-547

  27. Risk factors for cumulative BRD incidence

  28. Calves most affected: 90-160 days of age 90-160 days of age 2013, Woolums et al. JAVMA 253:538-547 2005, Snowder et al. J Anim Sci 83:1247-1261 • Summer pneumonia

  29. Pre-wean BRD timing Passive Immunity Acquired Immunity 2005 Snowder et al J Anim Sci 83:1247-1261

  30. Pre-weaning BRD

  31. Optimizing calf wellness Laying the foundation Pre-weaning disease Minimizing stress

  32. Physiological and behavioral effects of transportation of calves in hyperthermal conditions • Objectives: • Determine effect of transporting calves in hyperthermal conditions • Temperature • Behavior M. E. Theurer, B. J. White, D. E. Anderson, M. Miesner, D. Mosier, J. Coetzee, D. E. Amrine 2013 Am J Vet Res 74(3): 481-490

  33. Materials and Methods • 20 black heifers avg: 480 lbs. • Divided into 2 groups: • Group 1 transported 362 miles • Group 2: stayed in pen

  34. Summary • Transported calves: lower temp to 24 hours post-transit • After 48 hr: calves recovered weight lost during transit • Transported calves spent statistical more time lying down and walk on 1 and 2 days post transportation • Minimal differences in pen location • Transported calves spent more time within 1 foot of the hay bunk on the transit day compared to the control calves • Transitory differences in behavior and physiology

  35. How do you wean? Confined Weaning • Pros: Find feed, water; Labor? • Cons: Disease concentration, Environment, Labor? Pasture Weaning • Pros: Low stress • Cons: Facility / labor requirements

  36. Summary • Reproductive management • Season length / distribution • Cow gestational management • Complete health program • Immunization plan • Biosecurity / biocontainment protocol • Risks of importation of specific classes of animals • Specific testing and quarantine procedures

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