TMF Milk Feeders

Production Technologies:
The use of cattle health intervention technologies have dramatically increased over the past decade. Whether a cattle producer is using a full system approach or a simple thermometer the devices have greatly improved our abilities to timely detect health challenges.

With increased production costs and the reduced supplies of available cattle the producer is faced with seeking affordable ways to manage his animal health programs. Early detection of cattle health challenges is the key to successful pen closeout, and overall herd health.

One of a producers greatest assets is his relationship with his Veterinarian. Timing of cattle health treatment intervention and the use of a sound pharmaceutical protocol has proven to be the best management strategy.

Intervention Timing:
Timing is everything when it comes to a health challenge, and is critical to full recovery. Days before visual signs of sickness occur (Timsit et al 2013), cattle are internally reacting to one or both viral and bacterial infections. One of first biological responses to these types of challenges (Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex, BRDC) is an increase in core-body temperature.

The question remains does the calf have the ability to over-come this challenge, without jeopardizing his over-all health condition? Research indicates that failure to identify BRDC in the early stages of the disease can result in re-treatments, longer days on feed, increased operational input cost, and ultimately lower yield grading at harvest.

Why Temperature?
The relationship of increased core-body temperature and BRDC is extremely strong. However at what point during a febrile response do we intervene? The core-body temperature of cattle is a moving target and will increase and decrease throughout the day depending on a number of external factors.

• Nutrition

• Stress associated with transportation, handling, co-mingling or re-grouping and weaning.

• Weather conditions (hot, cold, wind, rain, humidity)

• Behavior and temperament of the individual animal

All of these factors have an effect on the individual animal, and using temperature as a guide to indicate well-being of the animal is sometimes difficult. Using a device such as a thermometer will provide a "snap shot" of the core-body temperature, and provides a limited amount of information. Monitoring temperature continuously we are able to identify cattle that are developing a health challenge, and intervene based on the individual animals needs.

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