The first critical step is to ensure your calves get colostrum within an hour after being born. Colostrum is sometimes referred to as “liquid gold” due to its saturated levels of:
Newborn calves have a very permeable digestive system that allows immunoglobulins and other colostrum components to be passed directly into their bloodstream. This permeability steadily decreases in their first 24 hours of life, so getting colostrum into their system immediately is extremely important. Calves should receive 3-4 quarts (depending on breed size) of colostrum in the first hour, and 2 quarts again around 6-8 hours (according to Penn State Extension).
If calves are separated from their dams for any reason, dams should be milked for colostrum immediately. For orphaned calves, the next best option would be thawed colostrum from frozen storage, followed by a colostrum supplement if no natural colostrum is available.
After day 1, colostrum begins to transition into mature milk. From day 2 to until weaning, calves should bottle feed 2-3 times a day. If natural milk is not available, make sure you use a calf starter or milk replacer with around 21% crude protein to maintain healthy growth rates (according to Penn State). Consult your vet on a proper weaning schedule for your operation, so your calves' rumen develop properly.
A whole range of viruses, bacteria, and protozoa can cause scours (diarrhea) in your calves. According to UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, the most common strains include E. coli, Rota virus, Corona virus, and Cryptosporidium. These infectious microbes can cause severe dehydration and even death in some cases. Scours can also occur due to poor nutrition, inconsistent feeding, and incorrectly mixing and warming bottled feeds.
The best way to prevent and help your calves with scours is to:
Maintaining a clean calving environment will greatly reduce the chance for pathogens to grow and spread.
Tip: Try Redmond Udder Mud to naturally inhibit infection (like mastitis), reduce swelling, and relieve pain for your lactating animals
Offering calves electrolytes and trace minerals can reduce dehydration and support your calves immune system. Electrolytes are substances that provide the electrical impulses needed for healthy heart, brain, nerve, and muscle function. The 4 chloride salts (magnesium chloride, sodium chloride, calcium chloride, and potassium chloride) are important electrolytes that can help deter dehydration.
Not only are these salts great for reducing dehydration, they also are delicious and highly craved by your animals. Mineral mixes with a higher salt to trace mineral ratio are much more palatable to your animals and their natural salt cravings encourage healthy intake. UC Davis recommends mineral mixes with selenium and copper for cattle to reduce the occurrence of scours.
"Copper and selenium are both important for the proper functioning of the immune system. Deficiencies in either one of these trace minerals will result in an increase in sick and/or dead calves."
For over 50 years, Redmond Minerals has supported healthy farming operations with our delicious mineral mixes. Our delicious blend of 4 electrolyte salts is the perfect carrier for our expansive profile of over 60 trace minerals, including selenium and copper. For calf health, we recommend Selenium 90; fortified with extra selenium (90ppm), copper, manganese, cobalt, iodine and zinc.
When given a choice between Redmond and other mineral mixes animals choose ours every time. Our products are a great way to encourage young calves to have a healthy relationship with their minerals right from the beginning.
Redmond is always looking for new ways to support our hardworking farmers. We are happy to announce a wonderful new product, Redmond First Month.
First Month is an immune stimulator containing a nourishing blend of our mineral conditioner, probiotics, and yeast derivative MOS (mannan-oligosaccharides) perfect for the first month of life for your calves. The clay found in First Month has been tested and proven to reduce calf death losses by 63%!
First Month increases mineral and immunoglobulin levels in the blood and reduces calf mortality rates. Customers already love the results they are seeing:"I had been losing almost every calf within 3 days of life. My Redmond rep got me a small pouch of Redmond First Month. I started feeding it in the colostrum. My next 2 heifer calves are doing great. I will not raise calves without this product.” -Paul H. Pennsylvania
Give us a call today at
© 2024 Redmond Minerals Inc.