Dairy NZ

Give your animals the best possible start

Calving

• Supplement cows with magnesium to reduce risk of milk fever and grass staggers
• Priority mob are the colostrum cows
• Calve cows in a well-draining or not pugged/muddy paddock. Do not use effluent paddocks for springers
• Have a plan for managing down cows:
• Make sure that cows down for longer than 48 hours receive veterinary attention (or are humanely destroyed)
• Provide down cows with shelter in poor weather conditions
• Use hip clamps carefully and discontinue use if there is no progress or cow cannot promptly support her own weight

New-born Calves

• Newborn calves receive at least 2-4 litres of colostrum (12% of body weight) within the first 12 hours of life
• All bobby calves should be individually assessed for fitness to transport
• Check the Best Practice Guidelines for Bobby Calves and Humane Destruction Guidelines.

Weaning calves

To wean calves successfully on to pasture:

• Wean at target weights (depends on rearing system used)
• Keep feeding meal once calves are on pasture (2 kg/head of meal daily, reducing over the next few months)
• Check weights after a few weeks, undertake faecal egg counts to monitor parasite levels and vaccinate.

Tip: For more information on calf rearing, including target weights, see the Dairy Exporter Great Farming Guide on Calf Rearing, the DairyNZ Spring Survival Guide or DairyNZ FarmFact: Calf rearing (3-20).