Are your calves going on a grazing holiday? Have you filled out their arrival card yet? Effective communication with your grazier about what your calves have received already, and what you expect them to receive over the next 18 months sets up clear expectations for the care of your valuable young stock. Vetora has created a comprehensive arrival card that summarises all the essentials.

Weights – ideally an individual weight for each calf before going to grazing allows you to closely monitor their weight gains over the coming months, and identify individuals that may not be doing as well. If individual weights are not possible, a mob average using digital scales would be recommended. 

Vaccines – both clostridial (5-in-one or 10-in-one) and Lepto-3-way vaccination boosters should be completed before calves go to grazing. 

Lepto-3-way especially should be completed as early as possible. Did you know, if an animal gets infected with leptospirosis before vaccination, the bacteria can set up home in the kidneys and the animal will continue to shed bacteria for up to 2 years; vaccination does not cure it! The first Lepto-3 way injection can be give as early as 4 weeks, so don’t wait until they are at grazing to complete their vaccination course.

It is also worth keeping in mind they will need an aligning lepto-3-way booster while at grazing! Talk to your vet if you’re unsure about the timing of when this should occur.

Have you considered BVD vaccination of your 3 month old calves? BVD virus circulating your young stock mob has the potential to reduce growth rates, suppress the immune system and cause them to be more susceptible to other diseases. This effect is often more pronounced if the mob is also running with a persistently infected animal (it does not have to be your animal). Make sure they are protected with two shots starting from 3 months old.

Do you often see pink eye spread through your calves through the summer and do you know how much weight gain that is costing you? An Australian article quoted up to 10% weight loss in affected weaner calves. Have you considered Piliguard Pink eye vaccination?

The second page of the arrival card covers your basic mating plan, plus the routine treatments that you want your calves to receive while at grazing. It’s a good page that lays out whether the owner or the grazier is responsible for a specific treatment.

If you would like a copy of an arrival card for your calves, speak to your vet and we can sort you out.