Howick Veterinary Clinic - Large Animal

Dr Veon Kuhn assisting FreeMe Wildlife with another interesting case, this time a Cape Porcupine!

The beautiful Midlands area has recently been devastated by fires, which have destroyed land, forests, homes and so much more.
In spite of the devastation and loss, the Midlands community has once again come together to offer support and assistance any way they can.
Through fantastic initiatives of Hopewell Supplies and TWK Agri in Howick, the Howick Veterinary Clinic joined in and donated much needed bags of feed to the collection. We are so proud to be part of such a wonderful community who stand together in the toughest of times.

For anyone wishing to contribute in any way, please contact Hopewell's and TWK Agri Howick to see how you can help.

Colostrum – Life-saver for calves

What is Colostrum?
Colostrum is the thick, yellowish first milk produced by a cow shortly before giving birth. It contains many antibodies from the mother, which get directly absorbed into the bloodstream of the calf. In addition to this, it is more nutrient dense than normal milk, and also provides local immunity in the calf’s stomach and intestines.

Why is it important for a calf to drink Colostrum?
Most antibodies are not passed to the calf via the placenta, so another mechanism needs to exist. During the first few hours after birth, special pores in the intestine of calves are open and big enough to allow direct absorption of these antibodies from the colostrum into the calf’s bloodstream. After 6 hours, and until 24 hours, these pores will start to close. If the calf did not consume colostrum in this time, the pores will close and it will be impossible to absorb such antibodies after that.

Why are antibodies important for a calf?
Antibodies are small particles in the bloodstream that help the body fight against diseases. If a calf does not have antibodies (it did not get colostrum), it will be much more susceptible to certain disease syndromes, such as diarrhoea, pneumonia, navel ill etc. Often, calves that have not received colostrum, will die.

When must a calf get colostrum?
As soon as possible. After birth, it takes a few minutes to an hour to stand, depending on breed, ease of birth and due to a variety of other factors. Once standing, the healthy calf will naturally try to locate the udder, and start drinking. We need the calf to have received colostrum within 6 hours after birth, and at the very latest, 24 hours after birth. After this, the pores have closed and it is too late.

How much colostrum does a calf need?
Approximately 10% of body weight during the first day. This means about 4 liters, split between multiple feedings.

Can I just feed normal milk or milk replacer?
No. A newborn calf needs colostrum, either from it’s own mother or from another cow that has calved on the same or previous day. Freezing colostrum from good, old cows is another option to consider. Keep in deep freeze and thaw in warm water and feed as needed. If no other option exists, a synthetic called Bioglobin can be used.

Any more questions?
Pop by and visit us at the Howick Large Animal Clinic and we can discuss this issue further.