Clover Club calf husbandry, management and health day

DESPITE the lovely spring weather, the latest Clover Club meeting saw an excellent turn-out of 15 farmers to listen to various speakers share their knowledge on the many different aspects of calf health.

 

Held at Moors Farm at Hambleton, Poulton-le-Fylde, by kind permission of the Cornthwaite family, the meeting opened with an introduction by Bill May, of Lambert Leonard and May veterinary group, who gave a general overview of the importance of calf care and the costs associated with calf diseases and deaths. The group was then split up into four smaller groups that worked their way around the different stations.

 

CLICK HERE for the hand out given out on the day - offering tips on when to intervene at calving, calf treatments /medicines /vaccines, housing and management. 

 

At the first station Bill May looked at the types of calf housing available and described the critical aspects in relation to ventilation and the link to pneumonia. The group were also given the chance to view the automatic calf feeding system on the farm and speak to the representatives from Volac and Coar Farm Supplies.

 

Discussions at the second station were led by Tom Lyons and Phil Parker of Intervet Schering Plough. The importance of colostrum was the subject of interest, and the group learned how best to manage their colostrum and the potential for vaccinating pregnant cows in order to increase the level of antibodies in their milk.

 

Jude Roberts spoke at the third station about the various stages of calving and the action that should be taken following birth. The management of the newborn calf is crucial in determining how quickly the calf recovers after birth and begins to take in colostrum.

 

At the fourth station Ian Cure described the varying treatment options available for sick calves, and discussed in detail prevention of infectious calf scour.

 

Following the group presentations all the farmers had chance to see all the speakers and discuss any issues with them in greater detail.

 

The previous week the Clover Club held a training session on Heatime aimed specifically at those who use the heat detection system.

 

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