Points for attention in the process of raising calves in small cattle farms

Beef is rich in nutritional value and is very popular among people. If you want to raise cattle well, you must start with calves. Only by making calves grow up healthily can you bring more economic benefits to farmers.

1. Calf delivery room

The delivery room must be clean and hygienic, and disinfected once a day. The temperature of the delivery room should be kept at around 10°C. It is necessary to keep warm in winter and prevent heatstroke and cool down in summer.

2. Nursing newborn calves

After the calf is born, the mucus above the calf’s mouth and nose should be removed in time, so as not to affect the calf’s panting and cause death. Remove the horny blocks on the tips of the 4 hooves to avoid the phenomenon of “clamping hooves”.

Cut the umbilical cord of the calf in time. At a distance of 4 to 6 cm from the abdomen, tie it tightly with a sterilized rope, and then cut it 1 cm below the knot to stop the bleeding in time, do a good job of disinfection, and finally wrap it with gauze to prevent the umbilical cord from being infected by bacteria.

3. Matters needing attention after the calf is born

3.1 Eat cow’s colostrum as early as possible

The calf should be fed colostrum as early as possible, preferably within 1 hour after the calf is born. Calves tend to be thirsty during colostrum eating, and within 2 hours after eating colostrum, feed some warm water (warm water has no bacteria). Allowing calves to eat colostrum early is to improve the body’s immunity and increase the calf’s disease resistance.

3.2 Let calves recognize grass and food as early as possible

Before weaning, the calf should be trained to eat plant-based green feed as early as possible. This is mainly to allow the calf’s digestive and absorption system to be exercised as early as possible, so as to develop and grow faster. As the calf grows, it is necessary for the calf to drink cold boiled water and lick the concentrated feed every day. Wait until the calf has passed the weaning supplementary feeding period safely, and then feed the green grass. If there is silage with good fermentation and good palatability, it can also be fed. These works can enhance the immunity of calves themselves and improve the slaughter rate of beef cattle.

4. Feeding of calves after weaning

4.1 Feeding quantity

Do not feed too much in the first few days after weaning, so that the calf has a certain sense of hunger, which can maintain a good appetite and reduce dependence on the cow and breast milk.

4.2 Feeding times

It is necessary to “feed less and more frequently, eat less and more meals, and regularly and quantitatively”. It is advisable to feed newly weaned calves 4 to 6 times a day. The number of feedings was reduced to 3 times a day.

4.3 Make a good observation

It is mainly to observe the calf’s feeding and spirit, so as to find problems and solve them in time.

5. Feeding method of calves

5.1 Centralized feeding

After 15 days of life, calves are mixed with other calves, placed in the same pen, and fed on the same feeding trough. The advantage of centralized feeding is that it is convenient for unified management, saves manpower, and the cowshed occupies a small area. The disadvantage is that it is not easy to grasp how much the calf is fed, and it cannot be taken care of for every calf. Moreover, calves will lick and suck each other, which will create opportunities for the spread of pathogenic microorganisms and increase the probability of disease in calves.

5.2 Breeding alone

Calves are housed in individual pens from birth to weaning. Breeding alone can prevent calves from sucking each other as much as possible, reduce the spread of diseases, and reduce the incidence of calves; in addition, calves raised in single pens can move freely, enjoy sufficient sunlight, and breathe fresh air, thereby enhancing the physical fitness of calves , Improve disease resistance of calves.

6. Calf feeding and management

Keep the calf house well ventilated, with fresh air and sufficient sunlight.

Calf pens and cattle beds must be kept clean and dry, bedding in the house should be changed frequently, cow dung should be removed in time, and regular disinfection should be done. Let the calves live in clean and hygienic stalls.

The trough where the calf licks the fine forage should be cleaned every day and disinfected regularly. Brush the body of the calf twice a day. Brushing the body of the calf is to prevent the growth of parasites and cultivate the docile character of the calf. Breeders should have frequent contact with calves, so that they can find out the condition of the calves at any time, treat them in time, and also find out the changes in the calf’s food intake, and adjust the diet structure of the calves at any time to ensure the healthy growth of the calves.

7. Prevention and control of calf epidemics

7.1 Regular vaccination of calves

In the process of treating calf diseases, attention should be paid to the prevention and treatment of calf diseases, which can greatly reduce the cost of treating calf diseases. Vaccination of calves is very important in the prevention and control of calf diseases.

7.2 Choosing the right veterinary drug for treatment

In the process of treating calf diseases, appropriate veterinary drugs should be selected for treatment, which requires the ability to accurately diagnose the diseases suffered by calves. When choosing veterinary drugs, attention should be paid to the cooperation between different types of drugs to improve the overall therapeutic effect.