Top tips on how to reduce disease and stress in calves

“It’s important to minimise stresses on calves, especially during the first 90 days of life when the diet is set for future productivity,” said Alan Smith from Volac. Keeping young calves healthy, happy and meeting target growth rates with sound nutrition should be the goal.”

He said stressful events trigger a cascade of hormonal changes that can lead to serious consequences, such as reduced feed conversion, greater production of manure and even infectious calf scours. Exposing calves to overly stressful situations can also hamper well-intentioned husbandry efforts.

“Calves have good memories and learn to associate certain events or environments with stress. For example, if medication was injected or an ear tag administered while a calf is drinking from a trough or using an automatic feeder, a calf may be nervous and resistant to those ‘events’ in future.”

Learning to pick up on cues can help farm staff mitigate stress and prevent any negative health or performance consequences.

Alan Smith says calves should be kept in a stress environment as much as possible

“Stressed calves often have a reduced feed intake, an elevated heart or breathing rate and/or may lack vigour. Calves may also stand with their head down and ears lowered – or even look excessively fatigued or display signs of fear. All these signs point to calves in a potentially stressed state.”

Two of the most significant stress triggers come from the housing environment and weaning. But the list of specific triggers also includes excessive cold or heat, transportation, overcrowding, handling, tagging, administering vaccinations, feed competition, weighing and de-horning.

He added that calves don’t tolerate change well, so when it comes to mitigating housing stressors, comfort and consistency is key. Calves also like a quiet environment and should be checked regularly,” says Alan.

“Calves are most comfortable when housing ambient temperature is between 10-20C (humidity 65-75%). If the temperature falls below 10C consider the use of calf jackets to keep youngstock warm and dry.

“Good ventilation is important too. Aim to locate your calf housing upwind of other cattle housing facilities and at right angles to the prevailing wind direction. Good ventilation is all about encouraging fresh air to circulate (to remove airborne pathogens) without exposing calves to draughts.”

Calves should be kept in an airy shed and have sufficient comfortable dry bedding

Mr Smith added that overcrowding should be avoided and that calves up to four weeks of age should have 1.1m2, increasing to 1.8m2 for 12-week-old youngstock. The age range of groups should also be as close as possible.”

To keep calves comfortable, clean, dry bedding is a must. “Carry out the ‘kneel’ test regularly. This means getting on your knees in the calf shed and if your knees get damp, so will your calves and eventually become stressed!”

Weaning should be smooth and gradual. Abrupt weaning is too stressful, leaving little or no time for a calf to adjust to a forage-based diet.

“It’s good practice to begin offering chopped straw and creep feed while they are milk-fed to give the rumen ample opportunity to adapt. This more considered approach to weaning will lead to increased weaning weight, reduced growth checks and more efficient feed conversion.

Calves like to play too. “Many calf rearers are now embracing the idea of enrichment activities to alleviate boredom amongst calves. Providing brushes, swinging punch bags and padded posts also helps mitigate stress and keeps animals happy, healthy and performing well.”