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Protect calf health from storms by adapting housing and rearing practices

Changes in weather can create the perfect storm for disease, even when rearers pay good attention to detail in their rearing practices.

Graphs 1, 2 and 3, which map the daily temperature highs and lows from September to November in 2021, 2022 and 2023 reflect the unpredictability of weather.

These graphs show that 2022 had a cooler September and a warmer November than the temperatures experienced in 2021 and 2023. However, overall, temperature patterns were not markedly different.

Rainfall levels, shown in Table 1, also varied. In autumn 2023, there were some very wet days.

The biggest differential has been the number of storms experienced. In 2021, the first autumn storm was on November 26th while in 2022 there were no storms during the autumn; in 2023 there have already been four.

Storms can be a huge stressor for calves for many reasons; they often put more pressure on staff therefore less time to spend with calves. They can require earlier housing, putting older animals under stress and creating more pathogens on the farm. Bedding can get wet and draughts created from changing wind directions.

Feed areas can also be too airy and more bullying can take place in the pens as calves battle for the few warm and dry areas in the house.

The weather just before and after a storm is also a factor.

With storms becoming almost a weekly occurrence, health issues can last for weeks, especially if calving is taking place during that period too.

During cold weather, some of the most important elements of the immune system don’t function as effectively, especially those that fight viral infections, and this means vaccine protection against virus infection is also reduced.

This is because calves will use sugar to keep warm and sugar is also required by the immune system.

Fighting disease can increase a calf’s sugar energy requirements significantly and if the calf must also produce heat to keep warm then the immune system is compromised.

It is worth appraising how you and the calves have coped during the weather this autumn to examine what changes might be needed to prepare for what might be in store in the future.

Consider the following:

  • Creating a nesting area in pens
  • Reducing number of calves per pen
  • Increasing the morning feed rate during bad weather as calves prefer a bigger morning feed and will be more settled during the day
  • Ensuring new calf accommodation is built as far away as possible from housing for older cattle
  • Increasing bedding rates during bad weather
  • Avoiding dehorning, weaning, or mixing calves for up to four or five days after a storm

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