Care for Calves in Hot Weather
The extended forecast will put animals well into heat stress. Beyond a reduction in feed intake, calves can become dehydrated, over heated, and their gut lining will be stressed and “leaky”- or open to pathogens. Keep the points below in mind:
Entice Water Consumption
- Offer WARM water immediately after feeding milk. Cold water requires the calf to expend more energy to bring the water to body temperature.
- Offer warm water in bottles to calves that do not drink out of pails. Just because they may be younger does not mean they don’t require extra hydration.
- Add an electrolyte feeding in addition to water – a great option is Land O Lakes electrolyte base. Do this between feedings if possible, or leave in buckets overnight or in a pail in a group pen. This must be cleaned daily.
- Calves will get up at night to drink water- be sure it is there!
Fly Stress
- Use a pour on to deter flies away from calves… flies are exploding right now and can rapidly dehydrate calves.
- Keep the air moving in barns! Fans by the milk area/feeding station will be important to lower flies in high traffic areas. Fans near grain will deter flies from settling in for a calf-grain snack!
Weaned calves
- Weaning is already considered a significant stress event and stress means high cortisol, which can be a signal to pathogenic bacteria to begin colonization. Add this with a leaky gut and calves are significantly compromised.
- Fans, see above.
- Use a stress tub especially if you had preweaning challenges with calves. Leave in the pen 10-14 days.
- Consider a few days of electrolytes to keep calves hydrated.
- Delay weaning for any “challenged” calves.
Future Notes
- Pneumonia for calves can develop following heat stress up to a few weeks. Be on the watch.
- Because heat stress can depress feed intake, length of time on grain prior to moving to fermented forages may be prolonged by a week or 2 to ensure adequate rumen development.
For more information on electrolytes, stress tubs, and heat stress abatement ideas, please feel free to contact me or the Ag Partners nutritionist you work with!
-Rebekah
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Rebekah Mathews, M.S. Calf & Heifer Nutrition Specialist Ag Partners (612) 237-0714 |
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