Calf Management. Cow-Calf Management u Definition- breeding of cows and raising of calves. u...

Calf ManagementCalf Management

Cow-Calf ManagementCow-Calf Management

Definition- breeding of cows and raising of calves.

commercial or purebred stockers facilities

shelter fence working equip. and facilities

From Birth to the BankFrom Birth to the Bank

The most important item in the beef cattle industry is insuring that a cow weans a calf & is able to rebreed in a reasonable time

Yet, first make sure the calf is born alive keep the calf alive and healthy to weaning provide favorable environment to manage

the calf at weaning to reduce stress market the calf to its advantage

Keys to profitable production Keys to profitable production of calvesof calves

Provide adequate forage common causes of inadequate forage is

overgrazing and poor stocking rate Care at calving

Dystocia Use a maternity pasture calving shed, clean pasture provide assistance only when needed

Calf ManagementCalf Management

1/2 the calf loss occurs at calving most of the trouble is with heifers size and weight is important, not age breed to easy calving bulls Immunization

Vac 45 program Growth Promotants- ralgro, synovex,

compudose, etc.

Feeding and Management of Feeding and Management of CalvesCalves

Orphans whole milk, replacer, or whole with a starter

Early Weaning Creep Feeding Replacement heifers

Calf ManagementCalf Management

Management Practices Identification Weaning castration vaccinations/ immunization dehorning implanting

Calf ManagementCalf Management

creep-feeding weaning management / pre-conditioning -

backgrounding Backgrounding - feeding and managing calves

for 45 + days after weaning in order to be more healthy and bunk ready

Pre-conditioning- a way of preparing a calf to withstand the stress and rigors of weaning

Calf ManagementCalf Management

Pre-conditioning use minimum excitement work early (dehorn) wean 30 days early creep vaccinate control parasites health certification

Dehorning, Castration and Dehorning, Castration and IdentificationIdentification

DehorningDehorning

What is dehorning? process of removing or preventing the growth of horns.

Why? improve appearance reduce injuries increase feeder space improve value.

Two methods non-invasive invasive

RestraintRestraint

Very important Remember safety

Restrain head

Non-InvasiveNon-Invasive

Bloodless Young animals Types

Chemical paste

Hot iron

InvasiveInvasive

Blood flow Older animals Involves cutting or scooping the horn off of

the animals skull. Types

Barnes dehorner Scoop dehorner

Keystone dehorner

Reasons for dehorningReasons for dehorning

Less barn, shed or feeding space less injuries easier to handle feedlots prefer dehorned cattle sometimes bring more money

DisadvantagesDisadvantages

sets the animal back due to stress cost and labor as well as equipment death loss due to bleeding disease spreading scurrs may occur if not properly done

Time to dehornTime to dehorn

genetically calves, early as possible older cattle, colder weather

Dehorning yearlings or olderDehorning yearlings or older

clippers, saw or surgical wire Clippers

restrain the animal stand on the opposite side of the head from the

horn to be removed spread the clippers open and place over the

horn with the bevel next to the head. remove 1/4 “of the hide and tissue below the

base of the horn

ClippersClippers

advantages fast neat job

disadvantages severe bleeding danger of cracking the skull

SawSaw

restrain the animal stand in front of the head and a little to one

side saw into the skull removing 1/4” of hide

and hair if anesthetic is used, use a 1”needle and

place in the hollow spot above the eye

SawSaw

Advantages smooth job less bleeding than clippers

Disadvantages much slower

Surgical WireSurgical Wire

cut the wire at arm span length restrain the animal place the wire at the base and back side of

the horn start with short strokes until wire is

imbeded use long smooth stroke to remove the horn

Surgical WireSurgical Wire

advantages smooth job less bleeding less set back

disadvantages cost of the wire slow may need more than one piece of wire/animal

Control of HemorrhageControl of Hemorrhage

perform dehorning early in the morning handle quietly as possible use forceps or hemostats to pull out the

veins or use a hot iron to sear them stuff cotton in the hole use sterile equipment never dehorn when cows are eating sweet

clover

Dehorning calvesDehorning calves

polled bulls chemicals bell irons tube spoon barnes elastrator

ChemicalsChemicals

basic substance such as KOH or NaOH restrain the animal remove hair around the button scrape button so that it is raw put ring of mineral oil around base of button apply chemical on button in liquid, paste, or

stick form

TubeTube

different sizes Tube

restrain the animal place the tube over the horn start at clockwise motion and push get below the tissue and pry out

SpoonSpoon

restrain the animal cut skin with spoon with back and forth

motion and get below the tissue gouge it out much more slowly and causes more

bleeding

Hot Iron (Bell Iron)Hot Iron (Bell Iron)

restrain the animal place iron over horn and press with rotating

motion when the entire circle around the button is

not brown in color, quit button will fall off in a couple weeks

Barnes typeBarnes type

secure the animal place the barnes over the horn at the slope

of the head press down and quickly spread the handles adv. - fast, can dehorn larger calves disadv. - more bleeding, danger of infection

and easier to make slips

CastrationCastration

Inactivation of primary sex organs for the male

the younger the better methods:

surgical, emasculator (burdizzo), elastrators, ethiopian style

CastrationCastration

What is castration? process of removing the testicles from a male.

Why? prevent mating or fighting, improve carcass quality gentle them

Two Methods Non-invasive Invasive

RestraintRestraint

Calves On side

Older bull calves In chute

Young lambs and kids On back Assistant’s arms V-shaped table

Non-invasiveNon-invasive

Bloodless Tetanus antitoxin Crimps or contracts the blood vessels and spermatic cord

resulting in loss of blood supply. Young calves or weanlings Types:

Burdizzo Elastrator Calicrate bander Short-scrotumed Chemical castration

Burdizzo

Elastrator

Calicrate smart bander

InvasiveInvasive

Blood flow Sanitation is key

Do not reach into the wound because it could cause infection

Types: Knife/Scalpel Emasculator

Knife

Scalpel

Emasculator

Surgical MethodSurgical Method

restrain the animal examine the calf to see if testes have

descended in to the scrotum disinfect equipment, hands, and scrotum grab the end of the scrotum with one hand

and pull down. cut off the lower 1/3 of the scrotum

surgical cont.surgical cont.

pull testicles down one at a time / scrape if necessary

trim excess fat and membrane carefully disinfect the area again Incision method is performed much the

same way, but make an incision on each side of the scrotum first, then pull down each testicle through the incision

BurdizzoBurdizzo

restrain the animal do one at a time push teste down into scrotum and over to the side place the lips of the instrument over the cord 1/2

the distance between the teste and abdomen push handles together until the cord is crushed

ElastratorsElastrators

bloodless castration method restrain the animal place the rubber band over the prongs spread the rubber band and push both testes down

through it release the band above the testes check later for the scrotum to fall off disinfect

AnimalAnimalIdentification SystemsIdentification Systems

Identification SystemsIdentification Systems

• Branding cattle

• Ear Tagging cattle goats

• Ear Notching swine

• Tattooing cattle rabbits

BrandingBranding

Used mainly for cattle Two types

Freeze Branding Hot Iron Branding

Uses a metal instrument to burn or freeze a mark on the animal’s hide

Originally used to show ownership

Angle Brand SystemAngle Brand System

Angle Brand SystemAngle Brand System

What would be the number of this

animal?

Answer: 95

Angle Brand SystemAngle Brand System

What would be the number of this

animal?

Answer:

140

Angle Brand SystemAngle Brand System

What would be the angle brand of this

animal?

Answer:120

Ear TaggingEar Tagging

Use special pliers to attach pieces with numbers on them Easy to read from the front view Not permanent Can be lost or removed

Ear TaggingEar Tagging

TattooingTattooing

Uses a special tool to put inked numbers in an animal’s skin

Most commonly found in the ear Can be used on the lips or other locations Permanent Simple and relatively painless Hard to read from a distance

TatooingTatooing

TatooingTatooing

Ownership ID- BrandingOwnership ID- Branding

Branding - hot iron Chemicals Cold Branding - freeze

BrandingBranding

heat the irons to red hot restrain the animal place brand on hide check it until the surface of the brand is a

shoe brown color selection of the brand should be simple and

ventilated with the face smooth

Fluid BrandingFluid Branding

uses potash or acids kills the hair follicles must be more careful because their is more

room for accidents and error to animals and humans

Freeze BrandingFreeze Branding

super cold iron will burn dry ice and alcohol or liquid nitrogen or spray can restrain the animal clip the brand area clean the area and place irons to get cold place iron firmly until the area is sl. Harden

Usually 50 seconds for dry ice /alcohol method 25-30 seconds for liquid nitrogen

3-4 weeks hair will grow back

TatooingTatooing

Rotary type- nos. are on a roller Standard type- nos. are loose secure the calf clean the ear check the numbers place the instrument between the first and second

ribs of the ear and clamp down place ink on the ear

Other Methods of IDOther Methods of ID

Eartags Horn Branding Earmarking Wattles - cutting a strip on the jawbone and

letting it hang down Dewlaps - cut a strip on the brisket Buds - cutting on incision through the nose