Gi kalven mer melk!

Fôring av spedkalv i melkeproduksjon har fått stor oppmerksomhet det siste tiåret. Mange forskningsmiljøer har bidratt med mye ny kunnskap. Høgskolen i Nord-Trøndelag har i år utgitt nye anbefalinger for melkefôring av kalv, og temaet fikk også stor oppmerksomhet under årets husdyrforsøksmøte. I det følgende gjengis kort noen av de nyeste anbefalingene og forskningsresultatene innen fagfeltet

Overføring av smittestoffer fra ku til kalv i melkefôringsperioden - en litteraturstudie

The purpose of this literature review was to evaluate if it should be avoided to keep the cow and calf together after birth because of the risk of transmission of infectious pathogens from the cow to the preweaning calf. The sources of transmission of common infections in newborn calves are described. E.coli, rotavirus, bovine coronavirus, Clostridium spp., Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia and Eimeria spp. are ubiquitous, and infected calves can excrete extreme numbers of microorganisms and cause contamination of the environment. According to the literature, microorganisms in the environment represent a higher risk than adults for transmission to the newborn, and hygienic measures and good passive immune status of the newborn are important prophylaxes. Transplacental transmission of bovine virus diarrhea virus may cause persistently infected individuals, which represent the most important route of viral shedding. Mycoplasma bovis usually cause infection in newborn calves with the pathogen often transmitted from the environment. The importance of the cow for direct transmission to the calf is dubious. Resent research has demonstrated that Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis can be spread by bio-aerosols, and that intrauterine infection is quite common. Some authors suggest that separation of the dam and calf might be less effective in preventing the spread of this infection than previously anticipated. The authors’ conclusion is that cows in Norway do not represent a greater risk of transmission of pathogens to the newborn calf than the other calves and young animals in the herd

Calf rearing in organic dairy production

Organic farmers utilize a wide variety of practices for suckling and separation of cows and calves, and experiences vary. This constitutes an important resource for finding and testing management practices that may improve animal welfare and diminish stress at separation. Farmers’ increased awareness of their animals’ behaviours may provide improvements in welfare and production in the years to come

Ku, kalv og diing - Økobonden sine erfaringar.

Only poster shown, no paper in the proceedings. Tips ved separasjon • Separasjon med kontakt men ikkje diing • Gradvis nedtrapping av diing, gi surmjølk i tillegg • Nedtrapping av samvær • Gi kalven ei flaske mjølk før den får kome saman med kua. • Avvend fleire kalver samtidi

Improving welfare for dairy cows and calves at separation.

The results indicate that both the intensity and extent of the behavioural reaction to separation is alleviated when cow and calf are separated with physical contact. In dairy herds practicing suckling systems, fence-line separation may increase cow and calf welfare compared to separation into pens allowing merely auditory contact

Velferd hos storfe

Tidligere ble god fysisk helse, høy tilvekst/ytelse og god fruktbarhet ansett å være ensbetydende med at dyret hadde det bra. I dag regnes ikke dette som tilstrekkelige indikatorer. Atferd, stressmestring og ulike uttrykk for dyrs mentale tilstand står sentralt. Negative indikatorer som sjukdom og atferdsforstyrrelser må vurderes, sammen med tilstedeværelse av positive indikatorer som lek og annen trivselsatferd. Denne artikkelen omhandler i hovedsak de delene av velferdsbegrepet som omfatter trivsel og mulighet for naturlig atferd

Effekt av forskjellige separasjonsmetoder på atferden til melkekyr og kalver - foreløpige resultater.

Det er foreløpig undersøkt 4 par i hver gruppe. FK førte til signifikant mindre rauting blant kalvene, (p = 0,001) og videre til at kalver lå signifikant mer i dagene etter separasjonen (p = 0,006) sammenlignet med HK. Generelt ble det observert mindre alert adferd ved denne separasjonsmetoden hos kalvene (p < 0,0001). FK-kalver viste også sjeldnere adferden urolig/vandring sammenlignet med HK kalvene (p < 0,0001). Dette samsvarer med funn av andre som har vist at separasjon med fortsatt mulighet til fysisk kontakt minsker kalvenes rauting og vandring (Haley, 2006; Price et al., 2003; Stookey et al., 1997). Rauting og bevegelse kan gjenspeile motivasjon til gjenforening, noe som ved FK fortsatt var mulig. For kalven kan FK separasjon uten avvenning ligne den første delen av avvenningen slik den foregår i naturen: kalven får ikke die, men har fortsatt mulighet til fysisk kontakt med mor (Haley, 2006). Det var ingen effekt på antall ganger kuene rautet mellom FK og HK Rauting med lukket munn ble hyppigere observert ved FK. Resultatene er gjengitt i tabell . FK-kuer sto mer og hvilte enn HK-kuer (p = 0,017,), og viste mer ”avslappet ” adferd (sove/hvile liggende og stående samt drøvtygging liggende/stående) (p < 0,0001)

Investigating cow−calf contact in a cow-driven system: performance of cow and calf

In this research communication we describe the performance of dairy cow−calf pairs in two cow-driven CCC-systems differing in cows' access to the calves through computer-controlled access gates (smart gates, SG). We investigated cows' machine milk yield in the automatic milking system (AMS), calf growth, and intake of supplemental milk and concentrate. Two groups each with four cow-calf pairs were housed in a system with a cow area, a calf creep and a meeting area. SG's controlled cow traffic between the meeting area and the cow area where cows could obtain feed, cubicles and the AMS. Calves had ad libitum access to supplemental milk and concentrate. During the suckling phase of 31 d, cow access to the meeting area was free 24 h/d (group 1) or restricted (group 2) based on milking permission. Following the suckling phase, cow access was gradually decreased over 9 d (separation phase). During the suckling phase, cows' machine milk yield (mean ± sd) in the AMS was 11.4 ± 6.38 kg/d. In the separation phase, the yield increased to 25.0 ± 10.37 kg/d. Calf average daily gain (ADG) was high during the suckling phase: 1.2 ± 0.74 kg. During the separation phase, ADG decreased to 0.4 ± 0.72 kg which may be related to a low intake of supplemental milk. Calves' concentrate intake increased with age, and all calves consumed >1 kg/d after separation. We conclude that cows nurse the calf in a cow-directed CCC system well resulting in high ADG, and AMS milk yields were, at least, partially maintained during the suckling phase. Although the AMS yields increased in response to separation, calf ADG was decreased. A low sample size limits interpretation beyond description but provides a basis for hypotheses regarding future research into CCC-systems.publishedVersio

Investigating cow−calf contact in cow-driven systems: behaviour of the dairy cow and calf

Research is needed on how technology can facilitate cow−calf contact (CCC). This research communication describes the behaviour of dairy cow−calf pairs in two cow-driven CCC-systems differing in cows' access to the calves through computer-controlled access gates (smart gates, SG). Specifically, cow traffic through SG when visiting their calves, allogrooming, suckling and cross-suckling, cows' eating and resting behaviour and finally vocal response to separation were assessed. After 3 d in an individual calving pen, pairs (n = 8) were moved to the CCC compartment with a cow area, a calf creep and a meeting area. During the next 31 d calves could suckle the cows whenever they visited the meeting area (suckling phase). Cows had free (group 1, n = 4 pairs) or restricted access to the calves based on previous activity in the automatic milking system (group 2, n = 4 pairs). SG's controlled cow traffic between the meeting area and the cow area, in which the cows could access resources such as feed, cubicles, and the automatic milking system. Following the suckling phase cow access into the meeting area was gradually decreased over 9 d (separation phase). During the suckling phase, cows paid frequent and short visits to their calves. Pairs spent in total approximately one h/d suckling and allogrooming. However, the duration and frequencies of these events varied among pairs and groups, as did the vocal response to separation. Restricted access − cows performed more (unrewarded) attempts to visit the calves who cross-suckled more. Collectively, free access to the calves may have been more intuitive and welfare friendly. Although a low sample size limits interpretation beyond description and enabling hypothesis formulation for future research, the results indicate that the cow is motivated to visit her calf, albeit through a SG, thus facilitating particular behaviours for which cow-calf pairs are highly motivated.publishedVersio

Indirect quantification of IgG using a digital refractometer, and factors associated with colostrum quality in Norwegian Red Cattle

Background: There is an increased interest in using digital refractometers to indirectly assess colostrum quality of dairy cattle, but knowledge on diagnostic accuracy for Norwegian Red dairy cows is lacking. Recent research has indicated a profound variability in the colostrum quality among dairy cows and herds in Norway. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic test sensitivity and specificity of a digital refractometer (Brix refractometer) at different cut-offs in Brix% for detection of colostrum of high quality (> 50 g/L) defined by the gold standard single radial immunodiffusion (IgG g/L). Furthermore, we aimed to identify possible associations between selected herd and cow-level management factors and colostrum IgG-levels in Norwegian Red dairy cows. Results: Median colostrum IgG level across 167 cows from 19 herds was 35.0 g/L, ranging from 5 to 129 g/L. Mean Brix% (± SD) was 19.7 ± 4.12%, ranging from 10.1 to 30.5. Most samples (72.5%) had inferior quality as compared to the international standard of 50 g/L. Brix% and IgG in colostrum were strongly correlated (r = 0.71, P 50 g/L). The only factor found to be associated with low colostrum quality was parity. Specifically, cows in the second parity were found to produce colostrum with low quality compared to cows in parities four and later. Conclusions: The agreement between colostrum IgG and Brix% is good. However, the diagnostic test evaluation indicates suboptimal performance in identifying high vs. low colostrum quality in this population, possibly related to a high proportion of the samples with < 50 g/L IgG. The only factor found to be associated with low colostrum quality was parity. Specifically, cows in the second parity were found to produce colostrum with lower quality. Future research should investigate colostrum and serum IgG levels which best prevent calf illness under Norwegian conditions.publishedVersio