There are five important steps involved in maximising your calf’s immune system.

Colostrum

Unlike many other animals, cattle are very dependent on this first milk for the transfer of immunity from dam to offspring. Colostrum quality can be measured prior to feeding using a refractometer. Once fed, calves can be blood-sampled to see if the uptake within the calf occurred and if the immunity is adequate.

Vaccinations

Vaccines work best in animals that can best respond to such a challenge, ie ones in good condition, good nutritional status and not compromised by disease. Anti-scour vaccines given to dams pre-calving and anti-pneumonia vaccines for calves in the first weeks of life help boost immunity.

Warmth

Calves in particular are vulnerable to the cold. If calves get chilled, be that from cold housing, exposure to draughts – especially ground draughts – or damp bedding, they can develop a chill, which will reduce the function of their defence mechanisms, making them more susceptible to disease.

Resistance

Germs are very good at adapting to changes in their environment. Antibiotics may have appeared on the scene, but the germs will outsmart these too. How long will we have antibiotics for? This very much depends on how we use them. If germs on your farm develop resistance, animals will be powerless to protect themselves against such germs.

Summer dosing

We are seeing the emergence of lungworm infection in adult cows. One factor in this emergence may well be a poorly developed immunity to lungworm as calves. It’s important that calves get exposure to lungworm in their first grazing season. Rotating the dosing products to include oral worm dosing is essential. Extending the time period between dosing is also worth considering. However, close monitoring of calves is essential here too. Newer approaches to dosing are being considered too such as selective calf dosing (SCD) – only dosing the weaker or poor-thriving calves or refugia, leaving 10% untreated each time of dosing. There are many products you can give cattle to boost immunity, but nothing best determines the quality of your herd’s immunity than the way you manage your own herd.

Michael Sexton is a partner in Riverview Veterinary Group, an 18-vet practice in Bandon, Clonakilty, Kinsale, Carrigaline and Ballincollig.