Gregory M. Goodell, DVMThe Dairy Authority, LLCGreeley, Colorado

Defining the Standards for Calf Raising Operations

Veterinarian Influence…

Nutrition Vaccinology Breeding Health Monitoring Human Resource (Training, Protocols, etc.)

Major Components of Heifer Development

Arrival Vaccinations Breeding Health Departure (return to dairy)

Arrival of Heifers

Report card on heifer load the day they arrive– Body condition, thriftiness and disease

Report card sent to producer if too many outliers

Heifers are processed 24-48 hours after arrival– First vaccinations given– First weight data collected

Vaccinology

Recommend aggressive vaccine program Mandatory individual BVD PI testing Recommend Pre-shipment vaccine protocol Vaccinate with mod-live 2 times the first 4

weeks of arrival First vaccination 24-48 hours after arrival

Viable Vaccination Programs depend on…

The number of heifers/calves in an operation The number of different sources within the

operation Vaccine programs should be dynamic and

change with types of disease seen at an operation

Vaccinations

First vaccines given 24-48 hours post arrival Have seen no issues with vaccinating this

quickly after transport– Gentle trucking– Pre-conditioning– Excellent nutrition pre-shipping

Individual testing for BVD PI

A requirement for incoming heifers to maintain BVD-PI free facility

Pooled BVD samples are not acceptable Still identified BVD problems at facilities Controversial??

BVD PI positive heifers

Not necessarily worried about BVD outbreaks

1 positive in 1000 causes substantial risk Impact on growth and reproduction in heifer

population Impact of reproduction on herd of origin

Pre-Shipment Vaccination

Two doses modified live Two doses Spirovac Two half doses SRP Pastuerella Clostridial vaccination at herd vet discretion

Monitoring of Heifer Development

Disease prevalence Morbidity/mortality Evaluation of Program

– Weights most important for this

Weights an Important Part of Management

Heifers should be weighed a minimum of 3 times– 24-48 hours after arrival– Pre-breeding– 1-2 days before departure

In addition heifers may be weighed in/out of hospital pen or if they show up on “poor performance” list

SUM BW8T BY AGEAR SF FOR INDAT>4.1.11 AGEAR=4-7

By AGEAR SF=FM1 SF=FM2 SF=FM3 SF=FM4 SF=FM5 SF=FM6 SF=FM7

0-4 0 0 354 0 375 0 428 0-5 0 404 408 384 392 389 421 0-6 464 434 471 413 426 431 454 0-7 511 394 515 0 0 435 0

========= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= Total 490 412 416 389 393 398 424

42

42.5

43

43.5

44

44.5

45

45.5

46

46.5

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

4508/

19/0

9

9/19

/09

10/1

9/09

11/1

9/09

12/1

9/09

1/19

/10

2/19

/10

3/19

/10

4/19

/10

5/19

/10

6/19

/10

7/19

/10

8/19

/10

9/19

/10

10/1

9/10

11/1

9/10

12/1

9/10

1/19

/11

2/19

/11

3/19

/11

4/19

/11

5/19

/11

6/19

/11

7/19

/11

Inch

es

Poun

dsWeight and Hip Height of Heifers arriving from Farm 3

Av BW8T

AvBHPHT

AABP, Sept. 2009, Omaha, Nebraska

Quantitative Evaluation of Growth

ADG used to evaluate nutrition program program pre-breeding

ADG of 2.0-2.2 is the target ADG can be used as a “first-cut” Used to evaluate in-house management

– Heifers moved to appropriate rations– Stocking Density– Target parameters

SHOW ...FOR ADG>0 ADG<1.5

By SF Pct Count AvADGBR AvADGEN Av ADGFarm 1 1 20 2.47 1.89 2.14Farm 2 12 377 2.49 1.78 2.08Farm 3 7 234 2.54 1.73 2.1Farm 4 1 34 2.55 1.75 2.05Farm 5 5 148 2.5 1.76 2.11Farm 6 7 226 2.55 1.78 2.11Farm 7 17 552 2.61 1.76 2.1Farm 8 16 506 2.47 1.85 2.12Farm 9 17 524 2.48 1.82 2.1

Farm 10 2 48 2.12 1.82 1.93Farm 11 15 486 2.46 1.82 2.1

========= ==== ====== ======= ======= =======Total 100 3155 2.5 1.8 2.1

Breeding- Veterinarian’s Role

Breeding programs Breeder training Set parameters Monitor outcome

Breeding Program

850 lbs and 52 inch hip height Heifers moved into breeding pens minimum of

2 weeks before breeding begins Acclimate to headlocks, new pen, etc A dose of PGF at move and two weeks later Breeding initiated after second dose PGF Once a day heat detection based on tail chalk

SUM ... FOR BRWGT>0 BRWDT>5/25/11 BY BRWDT\B

By BRWDT Count AvBRWGT AvAGEFB 5/24/11 7 833 12 6/06/11 252 848 12 6/13/11 62 842 13 6/27/11 214 857 12 7/12/11 184 858 12 7/26/11 209 862 12 8/01/11 7 884 12 8/09/11 174 859 12

========= ====== ======= =======Total 1109 855 12.1

Breeder Training/Monitoring

Reports for Facility Reports for

Clientele Performed monthly In-depth review

every 3-4 months

Conventional/Sexed Semen (SS)

Clients select semen (sexed or not) Heifers bred based solely on weight (850 lbs)

and hip height Only heifers with strong heats used for SS SS appears to show differences in fertility

amplified by sexing

Breeding By Calendar MonthChalk/K Sexed

2012 January 62 51

2012 February 60 37

2012 March 62 48

2012 April 65 44

2012 May 68 41

2012 June 65 39

2012 July 64

2012 August 57

2012 September 58 41

2012 October 63 37

2012 November 64 46

2012 December 64 37

By Breeding Code for past 12 Months

Breeding Code %Conc #Preg #Open Other Abort Total %Tot SPCChalk/K-Mar 63 2046 1204 745 54 3995 70 1.6

Sexed 44 658 835 105 13 1598 28 2.3Timed AI 39 28 44 9 4 81 2 2.6OTHERS 100 1 0 0 0 1 0 1TOTALS 57 2733 2083 859 71 5675 100 1.8

Sire Name %Conc #Preg #Open Other Abort Total %Tot SPC 507H6695 70 28 12 0 1 40 1 1.4 501H7094 64 7 4 5 0 16 0 1.6 507H7858 62 21 13 1 0 35 1 1.6 501H7467 58 11 8 3 0 22 0 1.7 507H7762 57 21 16 4 0 41 1 1.8 501H8675 56 28 22 1 0 51 1 1.8 501H8812 53 25 22 0 0 47 1 1.9 507H7135 53 28 25 0 1 53 1 1.9 501H8714 52 32 30 1 2 63 1 1.9 501H8762 52 37 34 2 1 73 1 1.9 501H8789 51 34 33 0 1 67 1 2 507H7763 51 32 31 0 0 63 1 2 501H8883 50 9 9 1 0 19 0 2 507H7602 50 5 5 0 0 10 0 2 507H9176 50 5 5 0 0 10 0 2 507H7566 48 30 32 1 3 63 1 2.1 529H11512 48 24 26 1 0 51 1 2.1 501H8813 47 40 46 0 3 86 1 2.1 501H8903 47 25 28 0 0 53 1 2.1 529H11084 47 27 30 4 1 61 1 2.1 501H8853 45 30 36 0 0 66 1 2.2 507H6168 45 5 6 0 0 11 0 2.2 529H11563 43 6 8 0 0 14 0 2.3 507H7173 40 6 9 1 0 16 0 2.5 501H8711 38 25 41 0 3 66 1 2.6 501J506 30 3 7 0 0 10 0 3.3

529H11661 21 3 11 3 0 17 0 4.7 507H7735 20 2 8 0 0 10 0 5 529H11473 11 2 17 1 0 20 0 9.5

62.8% 4505 2672 275 108 7452

Sire Name %Conc #Preg #Open Other Abort Total %Tot SPC 507H6695 70 28 12 0 1 40 1 1.4 501H7094 64 7 4 5 0 16 0 1.6 507H7858 62 21 13 1 0 35 1 1.6 501H7467 58 11 8 3 0 22 0 1.7 507H7762 57 21 16 4 0 41 1 1.8 501H8675 56 28 22 1 0 51 1 1.8 501H8812 53 25 22 0 0 47 1 1.9 507H7135 53 28 25 0 1 53 1 1.9 501H8714 52 32 30 1 2 63 1 1.9 501H8762 52 37 34 2 1 73 1 1.9 501H8789 51 34 33 0 1 67 1 2 507H7763 51 32 31 0 0 63 1 2 501H8883 50 9 9 1 0 19 0 2 507H7602 50 5 5 0 0 10 0 2 507H9176 50 5 5 0 0 10 0 2 507H7566 48 30 32 1 3 63 1 2.1 529H11512 48 24 26 1 0 51 1 2.1 501H8813 47 40 46 0 3 86 1 2.1 501H8903 47 25 28 0 0 53 1 2.1 529H11084 47 27 30 4 1 61 1 2.1 501H8853 45 30 36 0 0 66 1 2.2 507H6168 45 5 6 0 0 11 0 2.2 529H11563 43 6 8 0 0 14 0 2.3 507H7173 40 6 9 1 0 16 0 2.5 501H8711 38 25 41 0 3 66 1 2.6 501J506 30 3 7 0 0 10 0 3.3

529H11661 21 3 11 3 0 17 0 4.7 507H7735 20 2 8 0 0 10 0 5 529H11473 11 2 17 1 0 20 0 9.5

62.8% 4505 2672 275 108 7452

Sire Name %Conc #Preg #Open Other Abort Total SPC

501H8711 38 25 41 0 3 66 2.6

Sire Name %Conc #Preg #Open Other Abort Total %Tot SPC 507H6695 70 28 12 0 1 40 1 1.4 501H7094 64 7 4 5 0 16 0 1.6 507H7858 62 21 13 1 0 35 1 1.6 501H7467 58 11 8 3 0 22 0 1.7 507H7762 57 21 16 4 0 41 1 1.8 501H8675 56 28 22 1 0 51 1 1.8 501H8812 53 25 22 0 0 47 1 1.9 507H7135 53 28 25 0 1 53 1 1.9 501H8714 52 32 30 1 2 63 1 1.9 501H8762 52 37 34 2 1 73 1 1.9 501H8789 51 34 33 0 1 67 1 2 507H7763 51 32 31 0 0 63 1 2 501H8883 50 9 9 1 0 19 0 2 507H7602 50 5 5 0 0 10 0 2 507H9176 50 5 5 0 0 10 0 2 507H7566 48 30 32 1 3 63 1 2.1 529H11512 48 24 26 1 0 51 1 2.1 501H8813 47 40 46 0 3 86 1 2.1 501H8903 47 25 28 0 0 53 1 2.1 529H11084 47 27 30 4 1 61 1 2.1 501H8853 45 30 36 0 0 66 1 2.2 507H6168 45 5 6 0 0 11 0 2.2 529H11563 43 6 8 0 0 14 0 2.3 507H7173 40 6 9 1 0 16 0 2.5 501H8711 38 25 41 0 3 66 1 2.6 501J506 30 3 7 0 0 10 0 3.3

529H11661 21 3 11 3 0 17 0 4.7 507H7735 20 2 8 0 0 10 0 5 529H11473 11 2 17 1 0 20 0 9.5

62.8% 4505 2672 275 108 7452

Sire Name %Conc #Preg #Open Other Abort Total SPC

501H8711 38 25 41 0 3 66 2.6

Sire Name %Conc #Preg #Open Other Abort Total SPC

507H66954 70 28 12 0 1 40 1.4

Report for Heifer Yard Clientele

Farm1 Farm2 Farm3 Farm4 Farm5 Farm6 Farm7 Farm8

% CR (Conv) 71.0% 67.0% 67.0% 64.0% 68.0% 66.0% 65.0% 67.0%

%CR (Sexed) 67.0% 100.0% 42.0% 61.0% 49.0% 49.0% N/A 100.0%

% Breedings SS 1.0% 2.0% 21.0% 27.0% 21.0% 29.0% 0.0% 12.0%

Overall SPC 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.6 1.6 1.7 1.5 1.4

Health

Case Definitions– Defining for producer

Protocols– Treatment, feeding, processing, etc

Procedures– Animal handling– Treatment administration

Health comparison by source farm

Health PerformanceFARM1 FARM2 FARM3 FARM4 FARM5 FARM6

ABORT 1.7% 3.6% 4.6% 5.1% 4.1% 4.6%

SOLD 1.6% 3.5% 3.0% 2.9% 2.8% 1.9%

DIED 1.7% 0.3% 0.8% 0.5% 0.7% 0.6%

DIARHEA 0.0% 1.0% 0.0% 0.7% 0.1% 0.0%

LAME 1.1% 2.7% 2.2% 2.2% 1.3% 1.8%PNEUMON

5.6% 21.6% 4.1% 36.3% 2.3% 2.6%

BLOAT 0.0% 4.3% 0.0% 0.3% 0.1% 0.0%

Health PerformanceFARM1 FARM2 FARM3 FARM4 FARM5 FARM6

ABORT 1.7% 3.6% 4.6% 5.1% 4.1% 4.6%

SOLD 1.6% 3.5% 3.0% 2.9% 2.8% 1.9%

DIED 1.7% 0.3% 0.8% 0.5% 0.7% 0.6%

DIARHEA 0.0% 1.0% 0.0% 0.7% 0.1% 0.0%

LAME 1.1% 2.7% 2.2% 2.2% 1.3% 1.8%

EYES 55.1% 46.1% 44.5% 60.6% 33.5% 56.0%

PNEUMON 5.6% 21.6% 4.1% 36.3% 2.3% 2.6%

BLOAT 0.0% 4.3% 0.0% 0.3% 0.1% 0.0%

Health PerformanceFARM1 FARM2 FARM3 FARM4 FARM5 FARM6

ABORT 1.7% 3.6% 4.6% 5.1% 4.1% 4.6%

SOLD 1.6% 3.5% 3.0% 2.9% 2.8% 1.9%

DIED 1.7% 0.3% 0.8% 0.5% 0.7% 0.6%

DIARHEA 0.0% 1.0% 0.0% 0.7% 0.1% 0.0%

LAME 1.1% 2.7% 2.2% 2.2% 1.3% 1.8%

EYES 55.1% 46.1% 44.5% 60.6% 33.5% 56.0%

PNEUMON 5.6% 21.6% 4.1% 36.3% 2.3% 2.6%

BLOAT 0.0% 4.3% 0.0% 0.3% 0.1% 0.0%

Monitoring for Calf Yard Clients

An events report, several breeding reports, yardage reports and a performance report are all emailed to the clients on a monthly basis.

DC305 herds may have records uploaded or emailed to them so that have a current snapshot of their heifer herd

Departure of Heifers from THA

Heifers returned 4-6 weeks pre partum TB tested 30 days prior to departure Vaccinated with half dose SRP and weighed

2-4 days prior to departure If desired data files for DC305 herds

accompany returning heifers weights, breedings, etc return with heifers

SHOW ... FOR TID=1 BY SFID SFID AGE DCC EW8T EHPHT DTC ADG PCWGT===== ===== ===== ====== ======= ===== ======= ====== 3777 2-0 230 1248 58.00 49 1.65 1331 3794 2-0 230 1538 59.00 49 1.99 1638 3839 1-10 218 1194 58.00 61 1.74 1302 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4011 1-6 199 1242 59.00 80 2.01 1405 4014 1-6 200 1220 59.00 79 2.09 1387 4026 1-6 200 1254 59.00 79 2.09 1421 4027 1-6 199 1252 58.00 80 2.05 1418 4053 1-5 200 1208 57.00 79 2.10 1376 35 total Total Number Average Minimum Maximum StndDev StndErr================ ======= ======= ======== ======= ======= ======= ======= SFID 138223 35 3949 3777 4053 63 11 AGE 693 35 20 1-5 2-0 2 1 DCC 7410 35 212 199 234 12 2 EW8T 44682 35 1277 1138 1648 110 19 EHPHT 204100 35 58.31 57.00 61.00 1.05 0.18 DTC 2355 35 67 45 80 12 2 ADG 7057 35 2.02 1.65 2.61 0.19 0.03 PCWGT 49498 35 1414 1278 1781 106 18

SUM ... FOR CAR=13 By OUTDT %COW #COW Av AGE Av DCC Av EW8T Av ADG AvPCWGT--------- ---- ------ ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- 6/11/09 9 73 20 218 1303 2.10 1433 6/13/09 4 35 20 216 1361 2.22 1503 6/17/09 4 35 20 216 1323 2.12 1459 6/26/09 4 35 20 212 1315 2.09 1458 6/30/09 4 35 21 212 1311 2.07 1453 7/ 8/09 9 70 20 220 1331 2.12 1455 7/18/09 4 35 20 223 1279 2.13 1400 7/29/09 9 70 21 220 1349 2.08 1474 7/31/09 1 4 20 219 1406 1.93 1523 8/ 3/09 5 36 20 225 1294 2.08 1411 8/ 8/09 9 70 20 223 1312 2.07 1431 8/12/09 10 75 20 219 1291 2.00 1413 8/15/09 4 35 21 231 1284 2.00 1382 8/19/09 4 35 20 226 1307 2.09 1421 8/21/09 4 35 20 222 1313 2.11 1436 8/24/09 4 35 20 210 1291 2.05 1434 8/28/09 4 35 20 215 1305 1.98 1435 8/30/09 4 35 20 212 1277 2.02 1414========= ==== ====== ======= ======= ======= ======= =======Total 100 783 20 219 1311 2.08 1437

Summary

Assisting in communication with clients have the largest impact on management outcomes

Constant monitoring key to good outcome Individual weights are paramount to

producer/client education and management