You're listening to The Bullvine Podcast, where
science meets the stanchion. Today, we're diving
into the 72 -hour survival zone with next -gen
strategies that are rewriting calf mortality
math in 2025. Imagine slashing newborn deaths
by 40 % using aviation -style checklists and
AI that spots sick calves before they show symptoms.
We'll break down four battle -tested tactics
from Dutch dairies to Wisconsin innovators, including
how $18 colostrum boosts deliver 19 % survival
gains and why heat -treated colostrum might be
your silent profit killer. Stick around. By the
end of this episode, you'll have a three -step
action plan to implement before your next calving
shift. Let's revolutionize those critical first
72 hours together. Well, all right then. Let's
dive right into it. 12 .1%. Wow. Yeah. That's
the head -scratching figure for heifer mortality
here in the good old U .S. of A. 12%. That's
huge. It really is. Now picture this. You're
in Norway. maybe looking at a fjord, and their
calf mortality rate. Much lower, I bet. You got
it. A remarkably low 2 % to 3%. 2 % to 3%, okay.
Kind of makes you stop and think, doesn't it?
Are we just accepting losses that, well... when
you look at those numbers, seem frankly avoidable.
That Norwegian statistic certainly throws down
the gauntlet. It forces us to ask, you know,
can we really elevate our game? Beyond the basics.
Exactly. Beyond the dairy management 101 stuff
we've all been operating under. Yeah. Can we
embrace genuinely next generation strategies?
To give our calves a much stronger start. Right.
Right from the get -go. That's the goal. Absolutely.
Because let's face it, losing a calf, it punches
you in more ways than one. That $450 to $750
hit per calf loss, that's real money walking
off the farm. Oh, for sure. It adds up fast.
But there's also that knot in your stomach, right?
That feeling you've let down an animal that was
counting on you. Yeah. It's the kind of thing
that keeps you up those long nights in the calving
barn. Precisely. And that emotional investment
we have in our animals, it's often overlooked
in the spreadsheets. Our aim today isn't solely
about bolstering the bottom line, though, you
know, that's certainly a welcome outcome. Definitely
helps. It's also about enhancing animal well
-being and, let's be honest, injecting a little
less stress into those intense first 72 hours.
So what's the plan of attack for this deep dive?
We're not just going to rehash the basics of
getting some colostrum into those newborns. Nope.
We need to go deeper. We're plunging into Colostrum
2 .0 things, strategically boosting those all
-important immunoglobulin Gs, those IgGs. And
navigating the complexities of, like, heat treatment.
That's a big one. Yeah, definitely. We'll also
be exploring some truly fascinating technologies
designed to spot potential health issues in those
critical early hours. Before we can even see
them. Often, yeah. Before any visual cues might
alert us, wearable sensors are evolving really
rapidly. And hold on to your hats, because we're
also venturing into the realm of AI, artificial
intelligence. Right there in the calving pen.
Exactly. We're talking about smart cameras that
can predict calving with an accuracy that might
just, well, rival your most seasoned calving
crew. It's pretty amazing stuff. And finally,
we'll be examining something deceptively simple,
yet incredibly powerful. The humble checklist.
Back to basics, but effective. We'll see how
adopting a practice honed in, like aviation,
can lead to dramatic improvements right after
birth. Okay. So our mission, should you choose
to accept it, and trust me, your balance sheet
will thank you in 2025, is to equip you with
actionable insights. Grounded in solid data.
Right. To significantly elevate your calf survival
rates. So are we ready to roll up our sleeves
and get into the thick of it? Let's do it. Now,
regarding colostrum. We all get the fundamental
importance, right? Get it in early sufficient
quantity. Sure, colostrum 101. But the emerging
data suggests we need a more refined approach.
It's not simply about volume and timing anymore.
It's more nuanced. It's increasingly about the
quality specifically, that concentration of protective
IgGs and the consistency of that first feeding.
Right. It's like we've been operating on the
assumption that, you know. Any colostrum is good
enough. But the reality is there's a spectrum,
and we should be aiming for the high end, especially
for those calves that need it most. Exactly.
And that brings us to the intriguing practice
of IgG supplementation. Okay, tell me about that.
Precisely. We're talking about proactively enriching
the maternal colostrum with commercially available
IgG replacers. So adding a booster? Essentially,
yes. This is particularly beneficial for calves
that have experienced a challenging birth on
his mersons. Think assisted deliveries or C -sections.
Those really vulnerable ones. Right. Think about
it. These calves are often already at a disadvantage.
They might be slower to get up, less vigorous
when it comes to nursing effectively on their
own. They're starting life already a little behind
the eight ball, so giving them a concentrated
dose of antibodies right away just makes intuitive
sense. It's like providing an immediate boost
to their developing immune system when they need
it most. Okay. And the return on investment data
here is quite compelling. Let's consider maternal
colostrum, with a baseline BRICS reading at around
22%. Okay, standard stuff. Now, the research
shows that by adding just a modest 50 grams of
a quality IgG replacer, 50 grams. Okay. You can
see an average increase in serum IgG levels in
the calf at 24 hours to around 24 .1 grams per
liter. That sounds pretty good. But more importantly,
this translates to a significant 19 % reduction
in pre -weaning mortality. 19%. For a relatively
small investment of just $18 per calf. $18 to
potentially save a calf. In today's environment,
that's a pretty attractive proposition. And a
19 % drop in mortality is nothing to sneeze at.
Exactly. Now, the data also looks at the scenario
of heat -treating colostrum, which we know is
good for reducing bacteria. Right. Kills the
bugs. And then supplementing with a larger 100
-gram IgG replacer. Okay, double the dose. While
this approach also showed a reduction in mortality,
around 14%, the resulting serum IgG levels in
the calves were actually slightly lower, averaging
21 .7 grams per liter. Huh, lower IgG. Yeah,
and the cost per calf increased to $24. Okay.
So based on this evidence, that plus 50 gram
replacer strategy seems to offer a more favorable
balance of cost and effectiveness. So less might
be more here, or at least more cost effective.
It seems so. The key insight isn't just throwing
more money at it, but strategically targeting
those vulnerable calves for the biggest impact
on survival. Absolutely. It's about being smart
with your resources, focusing them where they'll
yield the greatest benefit. Now, this brings
us to that often debated topic of heat treatment.
We get the rationale killing off those harmful
bacteria, but there's this counterpoint about
potentially damaging the very thing we're trying
to preserve, those crucial antibodies. That's
a critical point. While heat treatment is indeed
effective at reducing the load of pathogenic
bacteria. Which is good. A meta -analysis, which,
for listeners, is basically a study combining
results from lots of other studies for a bigger
picture. Gotcha. Yeah. Highlights a potential
downside. It can actually increase the viscosity
of the colostrum. Makes it thicker. Yeah, thicker
and potentially more difficult for the newborn
calf to swallow and absorb properly. Like trying
to get thick molasses through a straw. Not exactly
ideal for a calf that's just entered the world.
Precisely. Yeah. But perhaps even more concerning
is the finding from this meta -analysis. that
heat treatment can lead to a reduction in the
concentration of those vital IgG antibodies.
Really? By how much? On average, by about 7 .4
grams per liter, which is roughly a 15 % decrease.
15%. That could significantly compromise the
passive transfer of immunity we're aiming for.
It absolutely could. So we're essentially caught
in a bit of a bind. We want to eliminate the
bad bugs, but doing so might weaken the very
defense system we're trying to bolster. It is
a delicate balance. The nuanced takeaway here
for producers is... maybe consider routinely
testing the IgG concentration of your raw colostrum
before you heat treat it. Pass first. Okay. If
your initial IgG levels are already kind of borderline,
that 15 % reduction from heat treatment could
push those calves into a significantly higher
risk category for failure of passive transfer.
Right. In such cases, a more strategic approach
might involve either adjusting your heat treatment
protocols, if possible, or maybe considering
supplementing with an IgG replacer after heat
treatment. heat treatment. To make up for the
difference. Exactly. To ensure an adequate dose
of antibodies is actually delivered. That's a
really important distinction. Knowing your baseline
IgG quality is key to making smart decisions
about heat treatment and supplementation. Okay,
so we've delved into the nuances of Colostrum
2 .0. Now, let's shift gears. Let's talk about
leveraging technology for early illness detection.
Because, as we all know, by the time a calf is
visibly sick, well, you're often playing catch
-up. That's precisely the challenge. Early detection
allows for timelier intervention, which leads
to better treatment outcomes and less overall
impact from disease on calf health and performance.
Makes sense. This is where the advancements in
wearable sensor technology are becoming increasingly
relevant. We're moving beyond relying solely
on our daily visual checks. Exactly. Forget just
walking through the pens and looking for the
obviously down or scouring calf. We're talking
proactive, continuous monitoring. Through these
smart sensors, tiny devices on ear tags, halters,
neck collars, even leg bands. It sounds like
something straight out of science fiction, but
it's here now. It might sound futuristic, but
the tech is becoming more accessible and pretty
sophisticated. These sensors continuously monitor
a range of vital signs and behaviors. Like what
specifically? Things like core body temperature,
levels of physical activity, patterns of feeding,
and even in older calves, rumination patterns.
So it's like having a silent, tireless health
monitor on every single calf. Pretty much. What's
particularly fascinating is that these systems
can apparently detect subtle deviations from
normal baselines that our human eyes might totally
miss in the early stages. That's the crucial
advantage. We might only notice a calf has a
reduced appetite when it's already significantly
off its feed, right? Yeah, when it's obvious.
These sensors can often pick up those initial
subtle dips in activity or slight rises in body
temp that signal an emerging health challenge.
How much earlier are we talking? Sometimes up
to 12 hours before clinical signs become apparent
to us. That early warning system can be a real
game changer. 12 hours. That can make a world
of difference in treatment efficacy. You used
a great analogy earlier. It's like finding a
spark versus a barn fire. Exactly. That early
intervention can dramatically alter the course
of the illness. And speaking of those... physical
cues, it sounds like sensor placement is absolutely
critical for accuracy, especially temperature.
Absolutely. For accurate core body temp readings,
the sensor ideally needs to be on the lateral
side of the neck. Side of the neck. Okay. Not
the top. No. That area gives good skin contact
and reflects underlying blood flow, minimizing
interference from the hair coat. We heard that
story about incorrect placement on top of the
neck leading to false readings. Right, the false
deceased reading. A good reminder to, you know,
read the instructions and understand the tech.
Definitely. Follow the manufacturer's guidelines.
So what about cost? Around $45 per calf for this
tech. Yeah, around there. And that might give
some producers pause, especially with tight margins.
Yeah. But it's essential to weigh that against
the average cost of treating a sick calf, which
can easily hit $44 or more. And that doesn't
even count labor or lost growth. Exactly. So
for those higher risk calves born to first calf
heifers, difficult calvings. This proactive monitoring
can be a very sound financial investment in the
long run. Okay, so we're moving from just looking
at calves to leveraging tech for deeper physiological
insights. Being proactive, not reactive. Pretty
impressive stuff. It is. Now let's really crank
up the futuristic factor and delve into AI in
the calving pen. When I first heard about this,
I was frankly astounded. It truly represents
a paradigm shift in how we can manage calving.
Imagine having a tireless, constantly vigilant
observer in your calving area. One that doesn't
need coffee breaks. Or sleep. That's essentially
what artificial intelligence -powered video monitoring
systems like EverDot Egg's Maternity Warden So
this isn't just a standard security camera we're
talking about. No, no. It has intelligence built
in to actually interpret what it's seeing. How
does that even work, that sophisticated analysis?
These systems use conventional video cameras,
sure, but the real magic is in the AI software
behind them. This AI has been trained using just
massive amounts of video footage. To recognize
what? To recognize a specific set of behavioral
markers, 17 distinct behaviors, in fact, that
strongly indicate a cow is entering the early
stages of labor. 17? Like what? Subtle things,
like changes in tail position, increased restlessness,
pacing, the start of abdominal contractions,
cues that a human observer, especially overnight
or during busy times, might easily miss. Okay.
So it uses machine learning craned on tons of
data to spot those patterns. Exactly. Yeah. Spotting
the subtle signs of calving. And the accuracy.
Especially for things. 7 .0 % in predicting mid
-delivery. Critical five -hour ratings. Yeah.
That's almost uncanny. It's incredibly precise.
You're right. That might just outperform even
the most experienced eyes in the barn. Well,
the key insight with AI isn't just. Are proactive.
It's about the consistency. And that early warning
it provides. Right. Allowing for timely intervention.
Ultimately saving calves and reducing stress.
It's a powerful demonstration of machine learning
in agriculture. And the implications for reducing
dystocia difficult births and cutting stillbirth
rates are huge. Yeah. Tell me about those dystocia
stats again. They were pretty stark. They really
are. Consider this. If a cow stays in stage two
labor for more than two hours, the risk of calf
mortality jumps 4 .7 times. 4 .7 times. And the
estimated economic impact is nearly $1 ,300 per
case. Wow. That underscores the critical need
for timely help. Prolonged labor is bad news
all around. And it gets worse. Using a mechanical
calf puller increases mortality risk by 3 .2
times, costing around $890. And cases of unassisted
placental failure, 5 .1 times higher risk of
calf death and a cost of about $430. The costs
associated with difficult calvings are just substantial.
Clearly. So the AI acts as that early warning
system, giving us that crucial window to intervene
proactively before things escalate into emergencies.
And you mentioned a dairy in the Netherlands,
Coupon Holdings. They saw big results. Yeah,
Coupon Holdings is a great case study. They put
in this AI video system and set up dedicated
calving response teams ready to act on the AI
alerts. Okay. They cut their average intervention
time during calving from 22 minutes down to just
eight minutes. 22 down to eight. That's huge.
And the outcome, a remarkable 19 % jump in their
calf survival rate within a single lactation
cycle. 19 % increase in survival in one season.
That's not just tweaking things. That's a major
leap forward. truly transformative improvement
in efficiency and animal welfare. Now, you did
mention the upfront cost, $15 ,000 to $25 ,000
per 100 cows. That's a significant chunk of change
from many operations. It is a substantial investment,
no doubt. However, an analysis by Wageningen
University suggests that for herds with stillbirth
rates above 4%, the system could pay for itself
in about 14 months. 14 months payback if your
stillbirth rate is over 4%. Okay. And I like
that anecdote from the Wisconsin farmer who basically
said the AI was like having an extra skilled
calving attendant on duty 24 -7. Right, like
having a highly experienced, always awake expert
on staff without the salary and benefits costs.
Okay, AI and the calving pen, definitely something
to watch. For sure. Now let's pivot to a strategy
that's significantly less robotic, but maybe
just as impactful. You drew that interesting
parallel to... Aeroline pilots and checklists.
That kind of caught my ear. It might seem like
an odd comparison at first, but think about the
core principles. Both pilots and farmers managing
calving operate in high stakes situations. Where
small mistakes can have big consequences. Exactly.
Pilots rely heavily on standardized checklists
to make sure every critical step is followed
every single time, no matter their experience.
Takes the guesswork out. It ensures consistency
and cuts the risk of error, especially under
pressure. Right. It takes the pressure off relying
just on memory, especially during calving, Stephen,
when you're tired and things are hectic. Precisely.
Yeah. And look at the findings from Ohio State
University's dairy extension. Their research
showed that simply providing comprehensive training
on best calving management practices. Just training.
Just training led to a remarkable nine percentage
point drop in stillbirths from 15 .5 % down to
6 .5%. Nine points just from training. That's
a huge impact from education and standard procedures
alone. It really is. So if training alone does
that, adding consistent checklist use could boost
those benefits even more. You outlined seven
key items for a pre -calving checklist. Let's
walk through those. Okay. First, it might seem
obvious, but it's fundamental. Have a system
for accurately tracking due dates and flagging
high -risk situations, like twins. No, it's coming.
Second, verify the dam's vaccination status,
especially for things that protect against calfhood
diseases like scours. Third, Ensure dry cows
get the right dry cow minerals for at least six
weeks pre -calving. That's crucial for mom's
health and colostrum quality. That dry mineral
part is so key for setting the stage, ensuring
good quality colostrum, right? Absolutely vital.
Fourth on the pre -calving checklist, body condition
scoring. Interestingly, cows over a 3 .5 BCS
actually have more calving difficulties. Oh,
good to know. So monitor that. Fifth. Purely
practical. Make sure all your calving equipment
is ready, clean, and working. Gloves, lube, calving
jack maybe, ropes, navel dip. Nothing worse than
scrambling for supplies mid -delivery. What's
next? Sixth, regularly check your inventory of
emergency meds that might be needed. Don't run
out when time is critical. Good point. And finally,
seventh, confirm staffing is adequate for supervision
and that everyone involved knows your farm's
specific calving protocols and is trained up.
That pre -calving checklist seems like a really
solid, systematic way to head off problems. And
then there's the big role of sire selection.
Huge role. As the FAES dairy management guidelines
point out, prioritizing proven sires with high
calving ease ratings should be a core breeding
goal. Especially for heifers. Especially for
heifers, yes. That one decision has ripple effects.
Switching to calving ease sires for heifers can
really cut down on dystocia. We saw that ourselves
when we made that shift. It made a noticeable
difference. Real -world proof. Now, beyond pre
-calving, there's the immediate post -calving
bit and this vigor scoring system you mentioned.
That sounds new. It might be a new concept for
some listeners, yeah. Think of vigor scoring
like an Apgar score for human babies, but adapted
for calves. Okay, like Apgar for calf. Right.
It gives a standard, objective way to assess
a calf's vitality right after birth. It looks
at five things. Vigor, responsiveness, initiation
of respiration, color, mucous membranes, ocular
reflexes, and response to drying. V -I -G -O
-R. Got it. The idea is to have laminated cards
or clear guidelines with the scoring right there
in the calving area. That way, everyone experienced
or new evaluates calves consistently. So it takes
out some of the guesswork. Standardizes identifying
calves needing quick help. And you also use a
detailed processing checklist right after birth.
Yes, focusing on those critical first few hours.
Our protocol has specific steps for proper navel
dipping, the exact product, concentration, how
to apply it. Details matter. Then comprehensive
guidelines for colostrum. Testing quality, target
volume based on size, the ideal timing for that
first feed, and how to deliver it. And the Vigor
score gets documented on this checklist, too,
with clear thresholds for intervention based
on the score. Precisely. And finally, our checklist
includes strict protocols for documenting everything.
Might seem like extra paperwork. But it's valuable
data. Exactly. It lets you track trends, spot
issues early, and see if your protocols are working.
We also brought in really strict 72 -hour sterility
protocols for all medical gear used on newborns.
72 -hour sterility. Yeah. Sounds intense, but
it coincided with nearly a one -third drop in
our overall calf mortality. Wow. A near one -third
reduction just from checklists and strict sterility.
That's incredible. And the cost of checklists
is basically... Exactly. That's what makes it
such a high impact, low cost strategy. The ROI
is immediate and significant, potentially 30
percent lower mortality for practically the cost
of printing the lists. OK, let's put all this
together. We've explored some really cutting
edge tech, but also some surprisingly simple
yet really effective management practices. What's
the bottom line here about investing in those
first seven? The fundamental message is that
each preventable calf loss is a significant financial
hit around $1 ,300 when you factor everything
in. Investing in these proactive strategies isn't
just an expense. It's a strategic investment
with a potentially huge return. You put together
a really useful summary table comparing these
strategies. Let's quickly run through that again.
Okay. Colostrum 2 .0. That plus 50 grain replacer
costs about $20 per calf, potential 25 % mortality
reduction, immediate ROI, wearable sensors, higher
upfront cost, maybe $45 per calf, but bigger
mortality reduction around 40 % with ROI in maybe
three to six months. Got it. AI video monitoring.
Yep. Biggest initial investment. $150, $250 per
calf, but 30, 40 % mortality reduction. Payback
estimated around 14 months if stillbirths are
over 4%. Right. And then the power of checklists.
Minimal costs, like $5 per calf, delivering maybe
a 30 % reduction in mortality with immediate
ROI. That table makes it crystal clear that immediate
ROI on checklists is just... Hard to ignore.
It really stands out. So for a producer listening
now, maybe feeling a bit overwhelmed by all this
info, what are your top three actionable steps
they could start with like today? Okay. First,
I'd say prioritize developing and implementing
comprehensive calving and newborn processing
checklists. If you don't have standard insight
with AI pre and post calving care, that's the
lowest hanging fruit. Start there. Easiest win.
Biggest immediate potential return. Second, set
up a system to really track your 72 -hour calf
mortality rate before you change anything and
keep monitoring it closely after. You need objective
data to measure impact and find areas to improve.
And third, once you have some data and try a
few things, actually calculate the ROI you're
seeing on your farm. Then scale up what works
best for you. Solid practical advice. Producers
can take that and run with it. Waiting and just
accepting current loss rates is basically leaving
money on the table every calving season. It really
is. The message seems clear. Those first 72 hours
are absolutely pivotal. A proactive, data -informed
approach can truly revolutionize calving management
and calf health. Precisely. The calves that get
optimal hair and thrive in those first two days.
They're the foundation of your future milking
herd. Investing in them is a direct investment
in your dairy's long -term success and resilience.
All right, we've taken a pretty comprehensive
deep dive into some fascinating The consistency
Potentially transformative strategies for those
critical for 72 hours. We've seen how moving
beyond just the basics By embracing smart colostrum
management using early detection tech Exploring
AI and the calving pen and harnessing that simple
power of checklists Can have a huge impact on
calf survival and Ultimately, your farm's bottom
line. It's about adopting that proactive mindset,
right? Shifting from reacting to problems to
actively preventing them. Exactly. And we hope
we've given you some valuable insights and practical
ideas about which strategies might fit best for
your own operation. So here's a final thought
to really chew on. What if fundamentally changing
our perspective on calf management in those first
days? Moving from accepting a certain level of
loss to... aggressively striving for near -zero
losses. What if that unlocks a whole new level
of efficiency, productivity, and profitability
on our farms that maybe we haven't even fully
grasped yet? It's definitely a question worth
pondering. The data and the real -world success
stories we've talked about certainly paint a
compelling picture. The potential for a significant
improvement is definitely there. Before we wrap,
let's cement these game changers. Colostrum 2
.0 isn't optional. 50 grams IgG replacers at
$18 calf cut deaths, 19%. Neck sensors beat human
eyes, detecting illness 12 hours sooner for $45
ROI in six months. Checklists are your cheapest
win. Standardizing protocols slashes deaths 30
% at five -year calf. If this episode lit up
your barn lights, do us a solid. Hit subscribe
and share it with one dairy colleague who needs
these stats. We want to hear your implementation
wins. Tag us at The Bullvine on social at The
Bullvine. Next week, we're exposing the methane
math behind carbon credits. Can you really net
$225 per cow while cutting emissions? The numbers
will shock you. Until then, keep milking the
data, not just the cows. Thank you for joining
us with The Bullvine Podcast, where tomorrow's
dairy gets built today.