Calf Processing

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Let the cow lick her calf dry and then process the calf as soon as possible.  The goal is that calves spend no more than one hour with the cow and that they never stand or nurse.

1. Pay careful attention to cleanliness at all times.
2. Remove calf from maternity pen to temporary calf pen using clean cart.  Dry in the calf drier in cold weather.
3. Vaccinations: FOR HEIFERS TO KEEP ONLY
1. 1 dose Calf-Guard orally (Rota-coronavirus vaccine; Pfizer)
2. 10 cc Ecolizer orally
4. Soak navel thoroughly with strong iodine.
5. Tag heifers that are going to the heifer grower with American ID tags 
1. Small ("Junior") tag facing forward/button to rear in the right ear
1. Emerald - Yellow Tags
2. Baldwin - White Tags
2. RFID button tag in top of the left ear (the female, thick part of the tag goes into the inside of the ear so that it is protected)
3. All bulls and freemartins - Use both electronic bull button tags in the top of the left ear (similar RFID tag, yellow) and bull calf ear tag in the right ear (by color depending on the cow's ear tag color)
4. Record data onto daily log sheet (used later for also recording into computer)
6. Tube calf with one gallon of colostrum
1. Use calf's own dam as source for colostrum as much as possible
2. If there is not enough colostrum (minimum 3 quarts), use the pre-pasteurized colostrum stored in the freezer (heifer or bull calves the same for this).
7. Clean all colostrum feeding equipment thoroughly after each use
1. Storage containers
2. Feeding containers
3. All tubing, etc.
8. Be sure all colostrum collection equipment is cleaned thoroughly after each use
1. Equipment
1. Milking claw/long milk hoses/lid for floor pail/floor pail
2. Funnel/all colostrum storage and feeding equipment
2. Cleaning of equipment in sink at colostrum collection area
1. Thoroughly clean between cows
2. Use hot water with detergent at recommended amount
3. Scrub inside and outside of all units and equipment
4. Drain all water from teat shells
5. Reassemble equipment for next cow
6. Put equipment back into the colostrum collection area
9. Clean and disinfect temporary calf holding area once per day or more often if needed

Last updated April 17, 2006