Calf & weaning

The calf is already born with a small stock of trace minerals as provided by the cow, thanks to the umbilical cord, the afterbirth, and the amniotic fluid. At birth, the calf can be described as immature in the face of its new environment. Oxidative stress increases at this time as the calf begins to breathe oxygen-rich air. The lack of trace minerals aggravates this stress and predisposes the calf to develop diarrhoea and then respiratory diseases.

Good quality colostrum represents the first means of combating oxidative stress linked to birth and helps prevent diseases by providing immunity to the calf.

Colostrum is the first line of immune defence in newborn calves. To cope with the various diseases that the calf will encounter as it ages, vaccination is the most effective way of building immune defence.

Trace minerals are very important for optimal immune function in cattle. They play a fundamental role in the activity of immune cells and production of antibodies, that occur after a vaccination. When an animal has an adequate trace minerals status, its immune system will respond to vaccination optimally. Otherwise, the animal will draw on its stores to meet several competing needs, and it will not be able to produce an effective and optimal vaccine response or respond adequately to a booster dose.

Weaning is a stressful time for the calf, which can adversely affect the immune system as it will be exposed to new infectious agents resulting from transport, comuning and handling. Frequently, calves enter unfamiliar environments with new herd mates and drastic changes in diet.

Because of the stress, the calf tends to eat less, which will have the effect of reducing their supply of trace minerals necessary for the proper functioning of their immune system.
Despite standard dietary trace mineral supplementation, marginal deficiencies and subclinical diseases can occur.