GPS the Pneumonia Problems in Your Dairy Calf Enterprise
Published:May 13, 2009
Summary
Some farmers use a tractor-mounted Global Positioning System (GPS) - a constellation of earth-orbiting satellites - to help determine how much fertilizer and herbicide to apply in a specific location in a field when combined with other information such as soil samples, moisture content, and weed density in a computer spreadsheet. It is also used to measure acreages and field slope, and iden...
Main cause of mortality and stunted growth in young calves is pneumonia.
As per one survey 50% death in young calves in subcontinent is this disease.
Protection of calves from scour n pneumonia plays an important role in Calf management strategy. I feel this is a very good article from extension deptt of the university and if farmers follow the guide lines given in the article can help in reducing calf mortality and lowering econonmical loss in treatment of pneumonia affected calves in the herd.
In addition to the points listed in the article for prevention of pneumonia, feeding of clostridium within first 2 hours of birth is also important. The calves weaned from birth are more susceptible as compared to calves that are allowed suckling for first few days.
First 20 days of calves in their lives and 20 days after weaning are very important periods regarding to calf pneumonia. Because generally calf diarrhea occurs in the first three weeks of calf's life and causes immune system malfunction and pneumonia agents can find the chance to infect calf. As we know they are in enviroment and always ready to cause disease. Pasteurella is the main cause of the pneumonia and generally works with other infective agents (virus, bacteria) and mix infections occurs. This can be prevented by using Pasteurella vaccines and hygienic precautions. After weaning calves are generally taken to group barns and different diets used in their feeding which causes stress and immune system supression and pneumonia cases generally increase in this period. Calves must be housed in small groups and feed changes should be done slowly and softly. If we manage these periods as best as we can, Pneumonia cases decrease at he same ratio.
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