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A Report Card on Jersey Calf Management

August 2003 - by Scott Bascom, Ph.D., Dairy Specialist, Renaissance Nutrition and Robert E. James, Ph.D., Professor, Virginia Tech Department of Dairy Science

Calf mortality from birth to weaning appears to be increasing. In a survey conducted by the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) in 1993 reported an 8.4% incidence of calf mortality between 48 hours of life and weaning. In 1996, mortality had risen to 11.0%.

Increased incidence of calf mortality is reason for concern and warrants consideration of factors associated with calf mortality. These NAHMS studies provide extensive information on the risk factors associated with calf mortality. However, only 2.4% of the herds in the NAHMS dataset were Jersey herds. Several other studies examined the relationship between a wide variety of factors and mortality (Hartman et al., 1974; James et al., 1984; Jenny et al., 1981) but these datasets were predominantly Holstein.

Therefore we designed a survey to evaluate Jersey calf mortality and examine the relation between nutrition, management, and calf mortality. We visited 88 Jersey herds in five different regions of the country and interviewed the owner or personnel responsible for rearing calves and heifers. Collectively these herds reared over 17,500 Jersey calves per year.

How are we doing? Are Jersey breeders making the grade when it comes to calf management and mortality? The remainder of this article will serve as our report card on Jersey calf management.

Calf Mortality

We evaluated mortality in three different age categories. Mortality in the first 24 hours of life, including stillbirths, averaged 5.0%. Mortality from 24 hours of age to three (3) months of age averaged 6.7%. Mortality from three (3) months of age to freshening averaged 1.3%. Collectively, Jersey calf and heifer mortality from birth to three (3) months of age is 13.0%.

Jersey breeders should be proud of the low level of calf mortality, particularly when Jersey calf mortality is compared to mortality in the U.S. population as reported in the NAHMS (1993, 1996). Perhaps Jersey calves are easier to rear than calves of other breed. More likely, Jersey breeders do a better job of managing calves!

Jersey breeders receive an A- for calf and heifer mortality. We are grading hard but with a demand for Jerseys, we have a strong incentive to continue to work to reduce calf mortality.

Colostrum Management

Colostrum management is critical to calf health and performance. Based upon the practices we observed, Jersey breeders appear to be well educated in the importance of feeding colostrum to newborn calves. The average age at first colostrum feeding was reported to be 3.8 hours. The average volume fed at the first feeding was two (2) quarts. The average total volume of colostrum fed in the first 24 hours was reported to be four (4) quarts.

The survey was not designed to evaluate the quality of the colostrum fed to calves. But, there was an increase in calf mortality in herds that reported the use of a colostrum substitute or supplement. Perhaps these products are best used as a last resort when quality colostrum is unavailable.

Overall Jersey breeders appear to be an excellent job of feeding colostrum to newborn calves in a timely fashion, so a grade of A is well deserved.

Calving Location

Calving location can affect calf performance and mortality. Jersey breeders reported using a wide variety of calving locations, including pasture (46%), maternity pen in milk cow barn (33%), maternity pen in a separate barn (29%), and loose housing (25%). In many cases, individual farms had more than one calving location.

Herds that used pasture as a calving location were more likely to have higher levels of calf mortality. Herds that used well-bedded maternity pens had reduced levels of calf mortality. It is possible that cows calving on pasture are observed less frequently and thus newborn calves are managed less intensively than calves born in maternity pens.

A grade of B is appropriate for calving location. This is an area we could focus more attention on and perhaps reduce calf mortality by managing calving locations more intensively.

Water Management

Providing fresh clean water to calves is critical. Dry feed intake is improved when calves have free choice water available. In addition calves that have free choice water available are healthier and less likely to scour. However, only 73% of Jersey breeders reported offering water to calves prior to weaning.

This is an area where we could make dramatic improvements in calf management. Ironically, herds located in colder climates where water is likely to freeze during the winter months, were more likely to offer water to calves than herds in warmer climates.

Water management is a weak link in many Jersey calf-rearing programs. Improving water management could yield some dramatic improvements in Jersey calf health and performance. Therefore a grade of C- is assigned to water management.

Liquid Feeds

Jersey breeders feed a wide variety of liquid feeds, including whole milk (48%), waste milk (25%), pasteurized waste milk (8%), and milk replacer (57%). Over 15% of the breeders surveyed fed more than one source of liquid feed. Those feeding milk reported feeding an average of 6.8 lbs. milk per calf per day. Those feeding milk replacer reported feeding an average of 1 lb. powder per calf per day.

Many questions arise in regard to liquid feeds for Jersey calves. Biosecurity is a concern when feeding raw milk, particularly waste milk, to calves. Pasteurizing milk for calves may be beneficial in terms of biosecurity. But very little data has been collected on the performance of calves fed pasteurized milk. Feeding milk replacers addresses the issue of biosecurity. But what is the appropriate level of fat and protein in a milk replacer fed to Jersey calves, given that most milk replacers are designed for Holstein calves?

There is much to learn about liquid feeds and how they could affect Jersey calf health, performance, and mortality. We need more research addressing issues like biosecurity and the unique nutrient requirements of a Jersey calf.

This nationwide survey shows that Jersey calf mortality (birth to three (3) months) averages 11.7%.

• Jersey calf mortality is similar to other studies. We are doing a good job.

• We need to continue to do a superior job of colostrum management.

• Intensive management of calving location could reduce calf mortality.

• Offering water to young calves is critical and we are missing the mark here.

• Additional research is needed, to develop ways to meet the unique nutritional requirements of Jersey calves and promote biosecurity.

Hartman, D. A., R. W. Everett, S. T. Slack, and R. G. Warner. 1974. Calf mortality. J. Res. 57:576-578.

James, R. E., M. L. McGilliard, and D. A. Hartman. 1984 Calf mortality in Virginia Dairy Herd Improvement herds. J. Dairy Sci. 67: 908-911.

Jenny, B. F., G. E.Gramling, and T. E. Glaze. 1981. Management factors associated with calf mortality in South Carolina dairy herds. J. Dairy Sci. 64:2284-2289.

 National Animal Health Monitoring System. 1993. Dairy Herd Management Practices Focusing on Preweaned Heifers. USDA/APHIS/VS: Ft. Collins, CO.

National Animal Health Monitoring System. 1996. Part I: Reference of 1996 Dairy Management Practices. USDA/APHIS/VS: Ft. Collins, CO.