As winter approaches, research funded by the farmer-driven
Northern New York Agricultural Development Program has identified cold weather
challenges for attention by regional dairy calf managers.
“Winter weather poses a natural challenge to raising young animals. Respiratory
illness in calves can negatively impact weight gain, age at their first
calving, first lactation milk production, farm revenue and costs,” says project
leader Kimberley Morrill, Ph.D., a regional Cornell Cooperative Extension dairy
specialist, Canton, NY.
A USDA National Animal Health Monitoring Systems report that helped prompt the
research in Northern New York indicated that 12.47 percent of pre-weaned dairy
heifers in the United States are affected by respiratory illness with 93.4
percent of those calves requiring antibiotics.
Morrill evaluated 426 calves located across 27 farms in the northernmost
counties of New York State from late November 2016 to early January 2017. In
total those farms represented 2,408 pre-weaned calves, 32,269 heifers, and
33,557 lactating cows.
Among the factors Morrill measured and analyzed were temperature, humidity, dew
point, wind chill, airflow, bedding, and calf age, weight, and health scoring.
Eight of the 27 participating farms had no calves with respiratory illness. On
a per-farm basis, the prevalence of respiratory illness ranged from zero to 46
percent. Six farms had higher per-farm percentages of calves exhibiting signs
of respiratory illness.
“Both environmental and management factors influenced the percentage of calves
with respiratory illness per farm. Those factors included the type of housing
system, bedding type and quality, and the number of calves per calf pen along
with pen environmental quality, and weather factors,” Morrill says.
The project design included development of strategies to reduce the risk of
respiratory illness in pre-weaned calves. Each farm participating in the
project received an individualized report with recommendations for steps to
improve their winter season calf management. Recommendations included reducing
the number of calves per group pen so each calf has a minimum of 35 square
feet, increasing the calorie intake to meet daily requirements, and adding
bedding to allow for nesting.
Other recommendations addressed revising the feeding equipment cleaning
protocol to reduce the risk of bacterial growth, revising or creating new
written calf care management protocols and implementing employee training in
the areas of calf feeding and management.
Morrill notes that the majority of the farms participating in the project have
adjusted their practices based on the recommendations received. The impact of
the changes will be evaluated after the winter of 2017-18. Morrill will present
an update on this research at the 2018 American Dairy Science Association
meeting.
“Knowing the factors that have the greatest opportunity to enhance calf health
through the winter helps farmers manage for seasonal challenges by taking the
necessary steps to improve respiratory health,” Morrill added.
Earlier research funded by the farmer-driven Northern New York Agricultural
Development Program evaluated warm season factors influencing the respiratory
health of pre-weaned dairy calves on regional farms.
The farmer-driven Northern New York Agricultural Development Program provides
research and technical assistance to farmers in Clinton, Essex, Franklin,
Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties. Funding for the Northern New York
Agricultural Development Program is supported by the New York State Senate and
administered by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets.
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Last updated December 15, 2017