It’s Like Living in England
There are cases of tricky calvings and calves born dead occurring this winter. We need to assess each of these cases individually as the season is probably throwing up a few causes for this.
Lazy calving syndrome is probably playing a part. The green feed causes metabolic imbalances - high potassium, low sodium, low calcium, low magnesium. The uterus doesn’t have enough minerals to get good muscular contractions, so she won’t push. Put some lime and salt (or a commercial lick of your choice) out for them.
We’ve seen big calves. Girls calving now conceived prior to the rain last November. It was dry, so the placenta got set up to deliver maximum nutrients to the foetus. We have finished the gestation period off with a big flush of green clover which has meant the calves have gotten big over the past month. Hard to prevent without some seriously strict nutritional management, and if you’re in the thick of it, it’s too late now.
If you’re pulling calves - weight them. Anything >30kg in a heifer or >35kg in a cow is a big calf in my book. Dystocia is also a consideration when you are buying bulls this season so do your homework and develop a relationship with your seedstock producer to get the right article.
Infectious disease. It’s the one we all lean to, but it’s the least common in my experience (but definitely worth ruling out). Pestivirus, leptospirosis and, this year, Akabane could all be part of what you’re seeing. Let’s have a look at some dead calves and start to build a picture of what is occurring in your mob this season.
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