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Nebraska BQA: Starting calves off right

Calving season for many producers is near, which means it is time to develop a Herd Health Plan to start those newborn calves out on the right track and promote good health. An appropriate herd health plan/protocol ensures that all cattle are raised in the best health.

A strong HHP begins with a yearly production calendar that includes cattle nutrition, reproduction management, vaccination schedules, and marketing – all of which are critical to sustainable beef cattle production. Management practices can be better matched with cattle needs by looking at the annual production cycle month-by-month.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Animal Science Department has an example of a beef production calendar at beef.unl.edu.

Once a production calendar is developed, a producer can work with his or her veterinarian to plan a specific preventative health program for the herd. The veterinarian can help a beef operation best tailor health management to deal with local diseases, parasites, and other regional health issues.

For young calves (birth to three months), the core vaccination program should include 4-way IBR, BVD, PI3, BRSV; 2 way Pasteurella; and 4/7 way Clostridial. Additional planning and consideration is needed when developing a preconditioning program two to four weeks prior to weaning. Besides the vaccination of young calves, producers need to develop plans for good management practices for castration, dehorning and branding (if applicable).

Beef Quality Assurance (BQA), in a collaborative effort with veterinarians, animal scientists, cattle industry leaders, production managers, and producers, have put forward a consensus opinion for achieving optimal outcomes. The following guidelines are not intended to be exclusive of any one specific technique over another, but are focused on the animal and are aimed to satisfy scientifically valid and feasible approaches to meeting cattle health and welfare.

Castration of beef cattle is performed to reduce inter-animal aggression and injuries, improve human safety and avoid the risk of unwanted pregnancies in the herd. Where practical, cattle should be castrated before the age of three months, or at the first available handling opportunity beyond that age.

Dehorning of naturally horned cattle is common to reduce animal injuries and for human safety. Cattle should be dehorned while horn development is still at the horn bud stage, or at the first available handling opportunity. This is because the procedure involves less tissue trauma at that age.

Branding of calves may be the only practical method of permanent identification or requirement of ownership. If calves are hot-iron or freeze branded, it should be accomplished quickly, expertly and with the proper equipment. BQA guidelines recommend branding on the hip area and never on the face or jaw.

Lastly, remember to follow all product labels pertaining to dosage, administration, storage and withdrawal times and to keep good health records.

For more information about Nebraska Beef Quality Assurance or to get BQA certified, visit bqa.unl.edu or contact Rob Eirich, UNL Extension Educator and Nebraska Director of BQA at the UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center at (308) 632-1230 or [email protected].

 

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