Calf health...

Much like when babies are born our calves go through a process to be checked out.  Every year we analyze our procedure and decide what vaccines we will be giving the calves to ensure they stay healthy.

There are two approaches.  Vaccinate the mother and allow the calf to receive immunoglobulins in the colostrum (milk) (passive immunity) or vaccinate the calf in order for the calf to produces its own immunoglobulins (direct immunity). 

This year we eliminated the vaccine for the cows and are giving an extra vaccine to the calves.

As soon after birth as possible we "process" or "work" the calf.  This means the calf is caught by hand, checked over and given shots.  Here is what they are getting this year.

Nasal spray:  This protects against the 3 main repiratory diseases (BRSV, PI3 and IBR) that a young calf can get (think pnemonia and bronchitis)

Mouth:  This vaccine aids in preventing diarrhea caused by bovine rotavirus and corona virus.

Throat:  This bolus is swallowed by the calf.  It contains antibodies for e coli and corona virus.

Neck:  The vaccine is injected in the neck via BQA procedure and protects against a disease known as overeating.  This is caused by clostidial bacteria in the small intestine.

Eartag:  On our ranch the bulls get a tag in the left ear and the heifers in the right.

Weight:  Each calf is weighed.  We actually don't use a scale to weigh our calves.  We have a tape measure the is used to measure the circumferance of the hoof.  That length then correlates to a weight.  (Just imagine if you never had to step on a scale again.  Just held out your little finger and had it measured!)

Bull calves are castrated.

Wes also takes notes on calving ease (unassisted or needed assistance), calf vigor (calf gets up, is active and nurses or lethargic, doesn't nurse or "just dumb") and mother's docility (mama is nice and lets Wes process the calf or she tries to see how fast Wes can run carrying a calf to the 4-wheeler).