Calf Health Checklist

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This checklist will help identify key processes, combined with a veterinarian’s knowledge, to create a workable action plan to identify areas that may help with the rearing of healthy calves.

Improved calf health results in reduced losses and enhanced growth rates, which can boost the profitability of each calf as it joins the milking herd. This, in turn, contributes to increased farm profitability and greater job satisfaction.

Complete all five sections of this checklist to identify strengths and weaknesses of the calf rearing unit’s environment and processes.
For each question, choose the most appropriate statement for the situation on farm
Your scores for each section will be provided upon completion of the checklist.

What will the results of the calf health checklist provide me?

Upon completion of this calf health checklist the results of your answers are used to determine areas of key focus to improve animal health and future productivity. You can repeat this checklist as often as you like to benchmark against yourself and monitor progress. In consultation with your vet this is a useful tool to identify areas for improvement within calf health.

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Set Goals and Measure

What is available for recording growth rates?*

None

Weigh tape

Weigh scales

What is the mortality rate (of live-born calves) day 0 to weaning?*

> 10% variance, or unknown

5 – 10% variance

< 5% variance

Do you test your calves for FPT (Failure of passive transfer)*

Not measured, or very infrequently

< 80% of calves IgG < 10g/L or total protein < 52 g/L

> 80% of calves IgG > 10g/L or > total protein 52 g/L

What weight of calf meal or concentrate is being eaten at weaning age?*

None or unknown

< 1.5 kg/head/day

> 1.5 kg/head/day

How regularly are calf health and growth performance results reviewed with vet?*

Never

Occasionally

At least twice a year, or after every calving season

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SCORE 1 (Set Goals & Measure)

Good Colostrum

Collection of colostrum. Typically, how soon after birth is colostrum harvested from a cow or heifer?*

> 12 hours

4 – 12 hours

< 4 hours

Feeding Colostrum. How quickly after birth does a calf typically receive its first feed of colostrum?*

> 12 hours, or unknown

4 – 12 hours

< 4 hours

Feeding Colostrum. What is the usual volume of colostrum fed in the first 12 hours after birth?*

Unknown

< 10 – 12% bodyweight, or only ‘topped up’

≥ 10 – 12% bodyweight

Are feeding equipment and storage vessels always cleaned with hot soapy water between use?*

No, or unknown

Sometimes

Always

Do you Brix test gold colostrum?*

Never, or rarely

Sometimes

Always

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SCORE 2 – Good Colostrum

Good Nutrition

How much calf milk replacer or whole milk is fed per calf per day at the peak feed rate?*

< 4.5 litres

4.5 – 6 litres

> 6 litres

Do you feed calves waste (red) milk?*

Often/always

Sometimes

Never

When is clean, fresh water made available to calves?*

Not available from birth

Available from birth, but restricted or unclean

Available from birth and cleaned at least daily

What forage is available to calves?*

No forage available, or only from bedding

Long straw / fibrous hay available in racks

Good quality meal or straw/hay available

How many times per day are calves fed milk or milk replacer?*

Once a day

Twice a day

More than twice a day or adlib

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SCORE 3 – Good Nutrition

Low Infection Pressure

How long does the calf remain with the cow after birth?*

12 – 24 hours

6 – 12 hours

0 – 6 hours

Are calves always removed from cow into a clean, disinfected pen?*

Mostly yes, or pens not always disinfected between calves

Yes, always; pens pressure washed and disinfected and left to dry fully

Is there provision for sick calves to be treated separately?*

Yes, but adjacent to other calves

Yes and isolated from other calves and cows

What proportion of calves receive treatment for scours, including electrolytes, before weaning?*

> 30%, or unable to estimate

15 – 30%

< 15%

What scour vaccinations are used in cows pre-calving?*

No vaccination used and disease is present

Partial vaccination; or scours deemed well controlled

All dams vaccinated annually

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SCORE 4 – Low Infection Pressure

Healthy Environment

On average, how many times are calves moved between the removal from their dam and weaning?*

More than once

Once only

They remain in the same pen/air space until weaning

Do your calves have at least 1.5m² in the calf pen per calf*

Yes

Are there draughts at calf level?*

Yes, and there are no areas to shelter

Yes in some places, but with areas of shelter

How dry are the bedded areas?*

Multiple damp areas and overall poorly drained

Isolated patches of damp bedding but drainage present

Dry beds with good drainage taking moisture from the shed

How many of these management changes are implemented during cold weather? Calf jackets, Heat lamps for sick/ newborn calves, Deeper dry bedding, Increased milk feeds/ milk solids concentration

None

1-2

3-4

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SCORE 5 – Healthy Environment

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SCORE 1 – Set Goals and Measure

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SCORE 2 – Good Colostrum

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SCORE 4 – Low Infection Pressure

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SCORE 3 – Good Nutrition

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SCORE 5 – Healthy Environment

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Total Score out of 50

Email your results

Please complete the following details to receive your results via email.

First Name*

Last Name*

Email*

Region*

Veterinary practice

Vet name

Vet email

Communications Consent*

I agree to receive information via email and or text from MSD Animal Health including updates on products provided by MSD Animal Health (please note some material may be promotional in nature)

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Set Goals and Measure

Good Colostrum

Good Nutrition

Low Infection Pressure

Healthy Environment

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