The annual CalfCare events returned to farms up and down the country over the last two months. Hosted by Animal Health Ireland in conjunction with Teagasc and the DairyBeef500 programme, these events aim to deliver simple messages for both dairy and calf-to-beef farmers, that can be implemented throughout the busy calving period.
The fifth event of the roadshow brought visitors to the farm of Aidan and David Treacy in Eyrecourt, Co Galway. The Treacys are milking 270 cows in a spring-calving system and place a major emphasis on good calf-rearing practices.
Colostrum
The first stop on the four-part tour was looking at the importance of colostrum management in newborn calves.
Teagasc’s Michael Donoghue was on hand to explain the benefits behind following a strict colostrum protocol.
AHI
“Calves are born with no level of antibodies in their system. This means that in the hours after birth they are highly susceptible to picking up bad bacteria and infections,” Michael said.
“The first feed of colostrum supplies the first of a calf’s antibodies, which are needed help fight off diseases. Therefore, the quicker that calf gets its first feed, the better.”
The 1-2-3 rule for colostrum feeding is still best practice to follow for those handling newborn calves, according to Michael. The rule is a simplified method of explaining the following:
1 – the first feed from the first milking. 2 – fed within two hours. 3 – at least three litres of colostrum to be fed.Before feeding the calf its first feed, it is vital that the quality of that colostrum is of a high standard.
The common belief among the audience on the day was that mature cows would provide the highest-quality colostrum. However, this is not the case.
First- and second-calvers are actually far more likely to provide better colostrum, according to Michael. The concentration of antibodies is higher in those animals, as they produce fewer litres.
His advice was for everyone to get their hands on a Brix refractometer this spring, so that colostrum quality can be tested for each animal.
A drop of colostrum is placed on the screen of the refractometer. When the lid is pressed down over the droplet, the percentage of antibodies, or IgG, can be measured.
If the value is below 22% on the refractometer, that colostrum is not of high enough quality to be used as the first feed. This is a very simple process that can help transform early-stage calf health on farms.
Maintaining a healthy gut
Developing a healthy and well-functioning rumen is the next step in giving a calf the best chance for growth and development.
When a calf is born, the rumen accounts for just 25% of the total capacity of that calf’s four stomachs. As the calf grows and develops into a mature animal, the rumen becomes the most important part of the stomach, making up 70% of total capacity.
To wean calves successfully, the rumen must be well enough developed. Otherwise that animal will suffer a setback in daily liveweight gains after weaning, which can take a long time to correct, according to Tipperary vet Gareth McLoughlin.
“To manage a successful calf-rearing stage, there are a couple of key points. Offer calves clean fresh water from a young age, as this helps develop healthy gut bacteria. Calves should also be offered access to a starter concentrate ration very early on,” he said. “When it eventually comes to weaning, step down the volume of milk the calves are drinking gradually to encourage them to eat more concentrate feed.
Michael Donohgue discussing the importance of colostrum management for calves
“They should only be weaned when they’re eating one kilo of meal a day at the very minimum. I’d prefer to see them eating closer to two kilos before dropping the milk out completely.
“That way the rumen will handle the diet change a lot better,” Gareth continued.
Summer scour syndrome is something that was discussed at length on the day, with anecdotal evidence suggesting the problem is becoming more frequent on farms.
According to Gareth, the exact cause for summer scour has not yet been identified, however, it’s highly likely that high nitrogen levels in late spring and early summer grass could be having an effect.
Some early research at UCD Lyons is showing that calves with adequately developed rumens, eating close to two kilos of meal and plenty of roughage in the form of straw, are far less likely to show symptoms of summer scour syndrome. Something to keep in mind in 2026 when weaning calves.
Fresh air
Pneumonia is an issue in calf sheds every year on many farms. In the majority of cases, the root of the problem can usually be traced back to poor ventilation, according to Dr Natascha Meunier of AHI.
To get an idea of how well-ventilated a shed is, the farmer needs to get an idea of what the environment is like at the calf’s level. Take a walk through the back of the pen, if there is a smell of ammonia in the air that should be the first indicator that enough fresh air is not passing through.
Air inlets in sheds should be two to four times the size of the outlet to ensure a good flow of fresh air.
The next port of call is to check if the pen feels drafty or cold.
If calves are huddled together when lying or primarily lying in a certain part of the pen, that’s a strong indication that there may be a draft running through the shed.
A quick fix for this is putting something like a straw bale in the way of entrances, or areas where the draft may be coming from.
Overcrowding in sheds is the other big cause of pneumonia issues.
Calves should have 2m²/calf at a minimum. Avoid having calves sharing airspaces with adult cattle as this will inevitably lead to problems.
The final message from Natascha was to keep calf-bedding dry. Calves spend up to 80% of their time lying and if the bed is wet, the calves are likely to pick up chills which will suppress their immune system.
Perform the kneeling test to check if the bed is dry enough. It simply involves kneeling down in the calf pen where most of the calves lie. If your knees feel wet or cold, the bed is not dry enough for calves.
A shed with no leaks and a good floor slope (1:20 slope) will help to keep bedding dryer for longer. Where there is an automatic calf feeder on the farm, ensure waste liquid from the machine is drained away correctly.
Dairy beef
The last of the four stations on the tour was primarily aimed at dairy beef farmers and discussed winter weanling nutrition. The quality of silage available for weanlings will be the determining factor in what level of meal feeding is required according to Tommy Cox, DairyBeef500 programme adviser.
“We need weanlings to be putting on 0.6kg/day at a minimum. This can only be achieved if the diet is right. The first step for any farmer is testing silage quality. If you don’t know that, you can’t know how much meal they need,” Tommy said.
Once a farmer has the silage results, they can use Table 1 to calculate the optimum meal feeding rate. In terms of selecting the right ration, aim for one that’s greater than 0.94 UFL, between 14% and 16% crude protein, with vitamins and minerals.
Tommy Cox DairyBeef 500 advisor (left) and ICBF's
The annual CalfCare events returned to farms up and down the country over the last two months. Hosted by Animal Health Ireland in conjunction with Teagasc and the DairyBeef500 programme, these events aim to deliver simple messages for both dairy and calf-to-beef farmers, that can be implemented throughout the busy calving period.
The fifth event of the roadshow brought visitors to the farm of Aidan and David Treacy in Eyrecourt, Co Galway. The Treacys are milking 270 cows in a spring-calving system and place a major emphasis on good calf-rearing practices.
Colostrum
The first stop on the four-part tour was looking at the importance of colostrum management in newborn calves.
Teagasc’s Michael Donoghue was on hand to explain the benefits behind following a strict colostrum protocol.
AHI
“Calves are born with no level of antibodies in their system. This means that in the hours after birth they are highly susceptible to picking up bad bacteria and infections,” Michael said.
“The first feed of colostrum supplies the first of a calf’s antibodies, which are needed help fight off diseases. Therefore, the quicker that calf gets its first feed, the better.”
The 1-2-3 rule for colostrum feeding is still best practice to follow for those handling newborn calves, according to Michael. The rule is a simplified method of explaining the following:
1 – the first feed from the first milking. 2 – fed within two hours. 3 – at least three litres of colostrum to be fed.Before feeding the calf its first feed, it is vital that the quality of that colostrum is of a high standard.
The common belief among the audience on the day was that mature cows would provide the highest-quality colostrum. However, this is not the case.
First- and second-calvers are actually far more likely to provide better colostrum, according to Michael. The concentration of antibodies is higher in those animals, as they produce fewer litres.
His advice was for everyone to get their hands on a Brix refractometer this spring, so that colostrum quality can be tested for each animal.
A drop of colostrum is placed on the screen of the refractometer. When the lid is pressed down over the droplet, the percentage of antibodies, or IgG, can be measured.
If the value is below 22% on the refractometer, that colostrum is not of high enough quality to be used as the first feed. This is a very simple process that can help transform early-stage calf health on farms.
Maintaining a healthy gut
Developing a healthy and well-functioning rumen is the next step in giving a calf the best chance for growth and development.
When a calf is born, the rumen accounts for just 25% of the total capacity of that calf’s four stomachs. As the calf grows and develops into a mature animal, the rumen becomes the most important part of the stomach, making up 70% of total capacity.
To wean calves successfully, the rumen must be well enough developed. Otherwise that animal will suffer a setback in daily liveweight gains after weaning, which can take a long time to correct, according to Tipperary vet Gareth McLoughlin.
“To manage a successful calf-rearing stage, there are a couple of key points. Offer calves clean fresh water from a young age, as this helps develop healthy gut bacteria. Calves should also be offered access to a starter concentrate ration very early on,” he said. “When it eventually comes to weaning, step down the volume of milk the calves are drinking gradually to encourage them to eat more concentrate feed.
Michael Donohgue discussing the importance of colostrum management for calves
“They should only be weaned when they’re eating one kilo of meal a day at the very minimum. I’d prefer to see them eating closer to two kilos before dropping the milk out completely.
“That way the rumen will handle the diet change a lot better,” Gareth continued.
Summer scour syndrome is something that was discussed at length on the day, with anecdotal evidence suggesting the problem is becoming more frequent on farms.
According to Gareth, the exact cause for summer scour has not yet been identified, however, it’s highly likely that high nitrogen levels in late spring and early summer grass could be having an effect.
Some early research at UCD Lyons is showing that calves with adequately developed rumens, eating close to two kilos of meal and plenty of roughage in the form of straw, are far less likely to show symptoms of summer scour syndrome. Something to keep in mind in 2026 when weaning calves.
Fresh air
Pneumonia is an issue in calf sheds every year on many farms. In the majority of cases, the root of the problem can usually be traced back to poor ventilation, according to Dr Natascha Meunier of AHI.
To get an idea of how well-ventilated a shed is, the farmer needs to get an idea of what the environment is like at the calf’s level. Take a walk through the back of the pen, if there is a smell of ammonia in the air that should be the first indicator that enough fresh air is not passing through.
Air inlets in sheds should be two to four times the size of the outlet to ensure a good flow of fresh air.
The next port of call is to check if the pen feels drafty or cold.
If calves are huddled together when lying or primarily lying in a certain part of the pen, that’s a strong indication that there may be a draft running through the shed.
A quick fix for this is putting something like a straw bale in the way of entrances, or areas where the draft may be coming from.
Overcrowding in sheds is the other big cause of pneumonia issues.
Calves should have 2m²/calf at a minimum. Avoid having calves sharing airspaces with adult cattle as this will inevitably lead to problems.
The final message from Natascha was to keep calf-bedding dry. Calves spend up to 80% of their time lying and if the bed is wet, the calves are likely to pick up chills which will suppress their immune system.
Perform the kneeling test to check if the bed is dry enough. It simply involves kneeling down in the calf pen where most of the calves lie. If your knees feel wet or cold, the bed is not dry enough for calves.
A shed with no leaks and a good floor slope (1:20 slope) will help to keep bedding dryer for longer. Where there is an automatic calf feeder on the farm, ensure waste liquid from the machine is drained away correctly.
Dairy beef
The last of the four stations on the tour was primarily aimed at dairy beef farmers and discussed winter weanling nutrition. The quality of silage available for weanlings will be the determining factor in what level of meal feeding is required according to Tommy Cox, DairyBeef500 programme adviser.
“We need weanlings to be putting on 0.6kg/day at a minimum. This can only be achieved if the diet is right. The first step for any farmer is testing silage quality. If you don’t know that, you can’t know how much meal they need,” Tommy said.
Once a farmer has the silage results, they can use Table 1 to calculate the optimum meal feeding rate. In terms of selecting the right ration, aim for one that’s greater than 0.94 UFL, between 14% and 16% crude protein, with vitamins and minerals.
Tommy Cox DairyBeef 500 advisor (left) and ICBF's
SHARING OPTIONS