Technical Information
On this page you will find a number of different pieces of Technical Information. Click on the links below to find out more:
Rehydration for Scouring Calves
Colostrum
Colostrum is the starting block to disease prevention. Calves should receive at least 10% of their body weight (about 4 litres) in colostrum in the first 10 hours. That is 2 litres within 4 hours after birth and another 2 litres within 10 hours. The protection to the calf is by the immunoglobulins (IgG) in the first milk. However these IgG levels drop by 75% in subsequent milkings. Colostrum is also high in fat and protein so it provides a source of high energy for the new born.
Fresh Colostrum versus whole milk
Fat 2x that of whole milk
Protein 4x that of whole milk
IgG proteins 60x that of whole milk
Lactose Same as whole milk
Vitamins 5 - 10x that of whole milk
Energy 10% higher that of whole milk
- Colostrum can be frozen or stored for long periods without damage to the immunoglobulins.
- Stored colostrum may be preserved with lactobacillus, yoghurt or a colostrum keeper. The stored product must be kept in a cool place and stirred twice a day.
- Colostrum after 5 days of age will only provide local gut protection; however, it remains a high energy source of nutrient for the calf.
- The Immunoglobulin G (IgG) in the colostrum is related to the health and the vaccination program of the dam. The colostrum from herds vaccinated with Rotavirus is particularly valuable.
- Colostrum from individual cows varies significantly - depending on the age of the dam and the amount of colostrum produced at the first milking. Heifers’ colostrum compares to that of an adult cow in quality and IgG concentration. If in doubt pooling of first day colostrum gives added safety to the newborn.
- Jump-Start™ Full Cream Colostrum is a highly specialised colostrum powder that can supply IgG if no fresh colostrum is available. Even if Jump-Start™ is given after the first 12 hours the high levels of IgG in this product will add some protection to the calf at the local gut level.
- A blood test to ascertain the IgG status of the calf is available and is advisable. Ask your vet.
Rehydration & Electrolytes for Scouring Calves
Calves that are scouring are losing body water; body salts (electrolytes) and energy. Weight loss can be dramatic and fatal. These ingredients must all be replaced as quickly as possible.
Irrespective of the cause of the diarrhoea (nutritional or infectious) the treatment is the same. That is to replace the lost fluids and salts and to maintain the energy of the calf. This is best done by giving a good quality oral electrolyte at therapeutic levels during the period of the diarrhoea and the recovery period.
However oral electrolytes by themselves are lower in energy than milk, so milk feeding during the scouring period should be continued as much as possible. Milk should never be withheld for longer than 24 hours.
Calf symptoms % dehydration
Diarrhoea only 5%
Eyes slightly sunken, skin losing elasticity, calf staggery but still suckling 7%
Eyes sunken, skin slow to flatten if pinched gums sticky, calf depressed 9%*
Eyes very sunken, skin won’t flatten out if pinched, calf cannot stand 12%*
* These calves will need additional intravenous fluids administered by a vet.
Note: Any calf that has scoured for one day is at least 5% dehydrated.
To rehydrate the calf and maintain its hydration, use the following calculations.
Step One: To determine the volume of fluid required to correct the dehydration, multiply the weight of the calf by the percentage of dehydration (from table above). E.g.: a 40kg calf x 7% dehydration = 2.8 litres electrolyte just to correct the fluid loss.
Step Two: The calf requires a further 10% of the body weight in fluids for maintenance that day. E.g.: a 40kg calf requires a minimum of 4 litres of fluids/day
Therefore: To fully rehydrate the calf add these two volumes (Rehydration + Maintenance) together to give the total required for that day. The example above equals 6.8+ litres.
Notes:
Give no more than 2 litres per feed. So the calf needs to be fed 3-4 times per day.
Do not mix electrolytes with milk. Feed separately, the interval between feeds to be not less than 2 hours.
Abomasal Bloat in Lambs
Abomasal bloat often occurs where lambs are fed cow’s milk or CMR. If there is presence of certain bacteria (e.g. sarcina ventriculi) in the lambs gut, warm milk entering the abomasum creates the ideal environment for these bacteria to flourish. The lactose in the gut converts to lactic acid, an environment where good bacteria can’t survive, but harmful bacteria can. The result sees a fermentation that creates gas in the gut that expands the stomach and either compresses other organs causing them to fail or ruptures the stomach wall, both cases causing death.
Claire Bull, a successful Waikato lamb rearer, has worked on a Scandinavian concept of introducing the benefits of probiotic and prebiotic in CMR-based yoghurt to the diets of lambs. The general premise is that the volume of good bacteria entering the abomasum creates an ideal environment for good bacteria to flourish and inhibit the multiplying of harmful pathogens.
Claire, in conjunction with vet Jenny Burton, documented the benefits, recipe and successes and published them with Meat & Wool NZ in 2006.
Click here to view and download the document.
Since the publishing of the document, Claire has slightly revised her format to focus on smaller recipes, fermented in a consistently warm environment and a new batch to be made weekly.
Claire is always happy to provide us with her knowledge or advice. If you have further enquiry we can use Claire’s and our own knowledge to assist you. Please contact us here.
Additives
Ancalci is an additive in ancalf™ Premium Calf Milk Replacer. It is a Calcium Chloride based additive that assists with bone development. Though calcium is present in all our premium CMR products including ancalf™, the Ancalci is added to ancalf™ to promote bone development and strength. In addition to bone health, calcium aids in a number of functions including nerve transmission, cardiac regulation, muscle function, and transmission of nerve impulses.
Supagest™ is an additive in SupaCalf™ Premium Calf Milk Replacer. It is a Sodium Bentonite based additive that maximises nutrient uptake and minimises nutritional scouring problems through its ability to absorb water. Sodium bentonite expands when wet, absorbing as much as several times its dry mass in water. Not only is it helpful to the calf but is highly palatable. The addition of Supagest™ in a calf’s diet helps to retain water in their system to discourage potential scouring.
Deccox® is an additive in ancalf™ and SupaCalf™. Its active ingredient, decoquinate, aids in the prevention of Coccidiosis. Coccidiosis is a parasitic disease that causes reduced feed consumption and conversion in the sub-clinical form. Clinical signs include bloody scouring and weight loss.
Deccox® works by preventing the growth of coccidia causing parasites Eimeria bovis and Eimeria zuernii.
Actigen® is an additive in Brown Bag Calf Milk Replacer™. It is a natural yeast-derived carbohydrate fraction that supports an animal’s natural defense, maintains intestinal function and aids full absorption of nutrients. Actigen® is traceable and is a valuable growth permitter helping animals achieve their full potential.
The following is a press release produced by Alltech, the manufacturer of Actigen and world leader in the research and development of natural animal nutritional feed supplements:
Actigen® – Invest in CMR not in the veterinarian
NZAgbiz, New Zealand’s leading producer of milk powder blends, has brought a New Zealand first to calf milk replacers. Using the technology of Nutrigenomics, it is possible to research nutrition at the gene level, allowing scientists to rationally design novel ways to enhance animal performance through nutrition. NZAgbiz is the only New Zealand CMR producer now using additives developed using technology that measures genetic expression in response to nutrition.
Targeted nutrition means stronger, healthier calves. Everything starts with the development and maintenance of the intestine. For a long time it has been known that the use of carbohydrates isolated from the cell wall of a specific yeast can play a central role in eliminating pathogens such as Salmonella and E. coli from the intestine and have a crucial function in the immune response. This growing understanding of the structure and function of carbohydrates opens new opportunities to use carbohydrates as functional feed ingredients in calf rearing.
Intestinal microflora are influenced by the presence of specific carbohydrates. Intestinal bacteria have important effects on the animal, including regulation of cell turnover in the gut wall, competition for nutrients, modification of digestion, competitive exclusion of pathogens, metabolism of mucus secretions and modulation of mucosal immunity. It’s essential that these elements function to their fullest capability for maximal growth.
Alltech, the maker of Actigen, has spent more than seventeen years researching gut health. This has led to the accumulation of over 600 research studies, including 110 peer reviewed papers, on the effects of carbohydrate fractions in animal production systems published to date. Actigen is the result of dedicated research at Alltech’s state of the art Nutrigenomics facility. Building on years of research in intestinal physiology and intestinal health using natural compounds, Actigen is the next generation in natural technology.
Actigen supports animal performance and aids in nutrient utilization. Supported by research and backed up by an independent quality control test, Actigen is the right tool to maximize calf performance and profitability.
Closing the gap between ideal and actual performance is essential to maximise profitability. From start to finish, Actigen is a key part of strategic feeding programs.
We have an excellent relationship with Alltech. If you If you have further enquiry about Alltech or Actigen see Alltech's website here or please contact us here.