When raising dairy calves, the importance of wellness management cannot be overstated. Stressed or ill animals cost the dairy farmer not only with a loss of production, but also with a loss of income. Disease and illness cost production animal industries millions of dollars per year. Healthier animals have improved survival rates, increased production and efficiency, and reduced costs. It is commonly accepted that poor quality colostrum increases the level of depression making the animal more susceptible to viral and/or bacterial infections.

Common Stresses Dairy Cattle Face

Cattle, both dairy and beef, have two extremely vulnerable periods during their life span that can dramatically lower production and can even threaten their very survival. The first period of vulnerability occurs during the first hours after the calf is born, when the immune system is still in the developmental stage. Colostrum intake in these first few hours is critical, because it contains antibodies / immunoglobins (Iggs) that provide the calf with protection from disease until its own immune system develops.

These Iggs circulate throughout the body . The second period of vulnerability is at weaning, especially in the case of beef calves. During this time, calves experience changes in everything from their environment to their feed and water. “Weaning slump” is a term often used to describe the growth and health problems associated with this period. Not only is there a growth and development slow-down during this time due to decreased feed intake, but also, the calf is more susceptible to infections, especially respiratory infections. It can take several weeks for the calf to get over this slump.

Finally, transport will stress livestock. Contact with people, constraint, and being moved to new environments can add to the number of stressors. The stress of shipping depresses the animals immune system.

Supplements Can Help

Fortunately, oral as well as intranasal supplements that boost the calves’ immune systems have been developed. A Wisconsin company offers a line of unique and effective products that provide targeted, broad spectrum immunoglobulins (Iggs) that offer a new level of cost effectiveness, improved health and ease of administration.

They offer a proprietary system that features four different products to address four different stress periods. The first product, called 1st Bridge is mixed with a calf’s first milk within 6 hours of birth.

RP-Bridge (intranasal) addresses the response challenges at birth, weaning and times of transition. GT-Bridge is an oral application, either liquid or dry, that is administered prior to anticipated stress periods. It helps the calf get off to a good start and is delivered by mixing with milk or a milk replacer.. The last product is LT-Bridge. This product can be added to the transition diet, as well as to any adaptation diet to help bridge the gap when calves or heifers subject to upcoming production challenges or new environments.

These products bring together proven science and cutting-edge technology to achieve new levels of calf survival . Included is patented technology that offers an advanced RFID (radio-frequency identification), web-based trace back system for keeping track in real time of each step of the way in the entire production process, all the way to the end user.

Targeted, broad-spectrum immunoglobulins in these supplements can improve immunity in commercial animals, reducing mortality and morbidity and reducing the need for medical treatments, which can have a major impact on bottom line profitability. Preventing illness means faster growth and an increase in production as well as production efficiency.

Using cutting edge biotechnology, these products enhance the defensive capabilities of the animals’ immune system in two ways.

Easy administered, immune enhancing supplements, given within six hours of birth and again prior to the anticipated stresses help the animals get off to a good start and can lead to a healthier herd, increased production, and lower costs.