Building a strong foundation in a cow herd or a heifer program starts with genetics — but that foundation can also be affected by management and nutrition. The nutritional and health status of the mother during pregnancy can subsequently impact the health and productivity of her calf.
Providing the proper cattle nutrition through all stages of gestation is vital for the cow and the developing calf.
- At birth, calves are born with a naïve immune system due to maternal antibodies being unable to pass through the placenta, which leaves calves susceptible to disease.
- Colostrum, the first milk produced at calving, is one of the most important components of calf health. Colostrum is a calf’s initial source of the antibodies that are essential for protecting young calves until their immune systems are fully developed, which takes 1 to 2 months.
- Studies of perinatal mortality indicate that 4–12% of calves are born dead or die within 24 hours of birth. Numerous risk factors contribute to higher perinatal mortality rates, including failed antibody transfer from dam to calf, which only reinforces the importance of colostrum and early nutritional management for calves.
- There are numerous factors that can affect colostrum quality, including the dam’s age, breed and nutrition. Making sure that the dam’s nutritional requirements are being met prior to calving allows the dam to pass along quality stored colostrum to the calf.
Maternal nutrition can impact the foetus and potentially alter its development, not just in utero but later in the calf’s life as well. Compromised nutrition during gestation can result in low calf birthweight, increased pre-weaning mortalities, poor growth rates and even getting cattle bred back in a timely manner.
Mineral supplementation
Forages can vary in terms of their trace mineral concentration. As such, supplemental copper, zinc, manganese and selenium are needed to optimize the cattle herd’s trace mineral status, as meeting their trace mineral requirements is fundamental for achieving optimal immunity, health, reproductive efficiency and growth.
During summer, dry feed and forages are often lacking in vitamins and minerals causing nutrient imbalances in cattle. In late pregnancy the demand for calcium increases significantly and often supplementary feed such as cereal grains and hay are low in calcium levels. The cow’s calcium requirements cannot be met and therefore reserves are mobilised from her bones. Around the time of calving the need for calcium reaches peak demand and when reserves are lacking can result in hypocalcaemia or milk fever and may lead to cow and calf loss. Magnesium is also crucial during this time as it aids muscular function to assist with the ease of calving.
Alltech Lienert’s Supplamins Mid Mag is a granulated, weather resistant loose mineral lick designed for maximum absorption, better growth, health and performance. Supplamins Mid Mag contains essential trace minerals, Vitamins (A, D, E and B1) along with high levels of Magnesium and Calcium.
Content adapted from: A winning strategy for calf gut health by Dr. Shelby Roberts and How organic trace minerals impact reproductive efficiency by Laurentia van Rensburg.
