Bord Bia offers free online learning for Bord Bia farm scheme members through the Farm Sustainability Learning Hub. Certified members of Bord Bia can access the modules online at farm.bordbia.ie.
13 modules are currently available, and the library of modules will continue to grow over time.
In this article, we look at the calf welfare module. This is one of five modules on animal welfare, developed using guidelines from Animal Health Ireland and Teagasc.
Good animal health and welfare is an integral part of livestock farming and Irish farmers operate to high standards.
The modules are designed to support farmers in implementing the highest standards of welfare on farm.
The calf welfare module focuses on stress reduction, pain management, disease prevention and biosecurity practices.
The module is suitable for farmers working with either dairy, suckler or dairy to beef cows. To take this module, you must first complete the 30-minute introductory module on animal welfare.
The calf welfare module topics include:
- The ‘1-2-3’ technique for colostrum management;
- The optimal calf housing conditions to prevent stress and limit susceptibility to disease;
- The importance of providing pain management when disbudding and castrating;
- Supporting biosecurity through hygiene, a vaccination programme and scour treatment;
- How to reduce stress and promote the health and welfare of dairy and beef calves during weaning.
Topic 1: The 1-2-3 technique
Calves need high quality colostrum to survive and thrive, but it must be managed correctly. What does the 1-2-3 mean for giving colostrum to calves?
- Use colostrum from the first milking for the first feed;
- Give colostrum within two hours from the calf’s birth;
- Give at least 3L.
Topic 2: Calf housing
Wind and rain affects calves more than mature cows so it is important to keep them indoors or under shelter for the first three weeks of their life. Optimal housing management also prevents stress and limits your calves’ susceptibility to disease.
Topic 3: Pain management
Disbudding, dehorning and castrating are painful and stressful for calves. To follow the gold standard of pain management for disbudding, use both a local anaesthetic and pain relief using a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).
Dehorning requires a local anaesthetic provided by a vet or else overseen by one. You must also provide NSAID pain relief.
Topic 4: Health and hygiene
Improving calf health and welfare requires actively preventing and treating diseases. A herd health plan is an important measure for supporting biosecurity – most notably in the areas of hygiene, vaccination and scour treatment.
Topic 5: Weaning
Changing from a mostly liquid, animal protein diet to a solid, vegetable protein diet can be stressful for dairy calves. How you manage these changes within weaning impacts their level of stress.
For suckler systems, weaning includes breaking the maternal-offspring bond and removing milk from the calf’s diet.
In a natural environment, the cow would initiate weaning gradually by refusing the calf access to suckle; however this would be later than most farmers’ typical practice.
This man-made schedule change causes stress, but you can take steps to reduce the impact.
The module provides advice on managing the weaning of calves including guidance on starter intake and calf concentrates.
Next steps
Join the thousands of other farmers who have registered for the Farm Sustainability Learning Hub.
Visit farm.bordbia.ie to enroll in the Farm Sustainability Learning Hub.
You will be asked to enter your herd number and the pin number you received at your last audit. If you do not know this, there is a ‘forgot pin’ option that will text the pin to your mobile phone.
