New York Ag Connection - NNYADP Research Identifies Cold Weather Strategies for Calf Managers

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NNYADP Research Identifies Cold Weather Strategies for Calf Managers
New York Ag Connection - 11/17/2017

As winter approaches, research funded by the farmer-driven Northern New York Agricultural Development Program (NNYADP) has identified cold weather challenges for attention by regional dairy calf managers.

"Winter weather poses a natural challenge to raising young animals. Respiratory illness in calves can negatively impact weight gain, age at their first calving, first lactation milk production, farm revenue and costs," says project leader Kimberley Morrill, Ph.D., a regional Cornell Cooperative Extension dairy specialist, Canton.

A USDA National Animal Health Monitoring Systems report that helped prompt the research in Northern New York indicated that 12.47 percent of pre-weaned dairy heifers in the United States are affected by respiratory illness with 93.4 percent of those calves requiring antibiotics.

Morrill evaluated 426 calves located across 27 farms in the northernmost counties of New York State from late November 2016 to early January 2017. In total those farms represented 2,408 pre-weaned calves, 32,269 heifers, and 33,557 lactating cows.

Among the factors Morrill measured and analyzed were temperature, humidity, dew point, wind chill, airflow, bedding, and calf age, weight, and health scoring.

Eight of the 27 participating farms had no calves with respiratory illness. On a per-farm basis, the prevalence of respiratory illness ranged from zero to 46 percent. Six farms had higher per-farm percentages of calves exhibiting signs of respiratory illness.

"Both environmental and management factors influenced the percentage of calves with respiratory illness per farm. Those factors included the type of housing system, bedding type and quality, and the number of calves per calf pen along with pen environmental quality, and weather factors," Morrill says.

The project design included development of strategies to reduce the risk of respiratory illness in pre-weaned calves. Each farm participating in the project received an individualized report with recommendations for steps to improve their winter season calf management. Recommendations included reducing the number of calves per group pen so each calf has a minimum of 35 square feet, increasing the calorie intake to meet daily requirements, and adding bedding to allow for nesting.

Other recommendations addressed revising the feeding equipment cleaning protocol to reduce the risk of bacterial growth, revising or creating new written calf care management protocols and implementing employee training in the areas of calf feeding and management.

Morrill notes that the majority of the farms participating in the project have adjusted their practices based on the recommendations received. The impact of the changes will be evaluated after the winter of 2017-18. Morrill will present an update on this research at the 2018 American Dairy Science Association meeting.

"Knowing the factors that have the greatest opportunity to enhance calf health through the winter helps farmers manage for seasonal challenges by taking the necessary steps to improve respiratory health," Morrill added.

Earlier NNYADP research evaluated warm season factors influencing the respiratory health of pre-weaned dairy calves on regional farms.

The farmer-driven NNYADP provides research and technical assistance to farmers in Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties. Funding for the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program is supported by the New York State Senate and administered by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.

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