Management
He encourages producers to:
• Provide pregnant
cows with a vitamin
and mineral supplement
• Get the ration they are
feeding their cows tested
for nutrient value. A feed
test will identify if the
energy and protein
content of the ration
is adequate. If energy and
protein are low, changing
the ration immediately
might help reduce
the risk of weak calves.
• Invite a neighbor or
other producer to provide
an unbiased evaluation
of their herd’s body
condition score. The goal
should be a body
condition score of 5
or 6 at calving, with no
ribs or backbones visible.
However, even a healthy,
well-conditioned cow fed a
balanced ration can give birth
to a weak calf in poor weather
conditions. Windbreaks,
bedding and barns can help
offset some weather stress.
Another issue is that although
well-fed cows in good body
condition seem to have fewer
problems with weak calves,
some producers fear calves will
be too big at birth and have
dystocia, or a difficult birth,
when the cows are fed well.
“Usually, that’s not a problem
because a well-fed cow can
expel the calf quickly and
less mortality is observed,”
Hoppe says. “If calf size is a
consideration, look for bulls
with calving ease traits to
solve the problem. Don’t do
it with inadequate feed.”
Having a veterinarian necropsy
a dead calf can help determine
causes of weak calves. Calves
with minimal fat reserves
are indicative of poor cow
nutrition. Muscle color can
indicate vitamin E deficiency.
182 | JUNE/JULY 2018