Calves that don’t want to drink, even after extensive, individual attention. The cause of these ‘dumb’ calves? A damaged or sometimes completely missing cerebellum due to bluetongue infection of the mother cow. The only solution? Create sufficient resilience in the cow.
Consequences bluetongue veal sector
The September 2023 bluetongue outbreak continues to have a major impact on calf health and thus the entire industry. Last month, an insightful article about this appeared in Dutch magazine De Kalverhouder.
Brain-damaged calves eat and drink poorly, often making euthanasia the only option. The calves cannot be treated or cured. After all, the development of a calf’s brain happens in utero from the third to the eighth week. It cannot be made up afterwards. In all likelihood, therefore, infection via the mother during this stage is the culprit.
Supporting the immune system
So the only solution is prevention: making sure the cow’s immune system is ideally supported to minimise the consequences for the calf. Here, drinking water can play a big role. After all, cows drink around 35 to 100 litres a day, depending on the production stage. Moreover, animals that do not feel well often reduce feed intake while maintaining water intake. This makes water the ideal medium to support cows’ resistance with liquid animal supplements.
Blood tests have shown that use of the drinking water supplement Nutriforte Top Lac increases the resistance of dairy cows. The minerals in Nutriforte Top Lac supplement building materials and support immunity and resistance in all cows, regardless of age or parity. This provides extra support during critical moments, but also structurally. After all, you can’t set the clock right at all critical moments.
Providing liquid minerals via the drinking water increases their absorption at intestinal level. In addition, bioavailability increases even more because 60% of the drinking water passes the rumen via the oesophageal groove. This avoids interactions that could have negative consequences for the minerals and their digestibility.
Want to know more about how to support your cows and calves through their drinking water?
Get in touch with us. Our specialists will be happy to think along with you.
