Photo courtesy of Boehringer Ingelheim
DULUTH, Ga. — Beef-on-dairy calves often change locations multiple times before they’re 6 months old, facing new environments, nutrition and herd mates at every stop — all of which can stack up the stress and risk of bovine respiratory disease (BRD).
According to Curt Vlietstra, DVM, Boehringer Ingelheim, the frequent transitions beef-on-dairy calves experience in early life make it more important than ever to minimize stress where you can, and be ready to respond quickly when BRD issues arise.
Plan ahead for predictable stress
When beef-on-dairy calves are coming off a recent move, whether that’s at the calf ranch, at the feedlot or a pen move — it can take time for them to adjust and get back on track.
“Beef-on-dairy calves get a lot of attention at birth, and usually receive high-quality colostrum early on,” said Dr. Vlietstra. “But they just aren’t as hardy as native beef calves. Those dairy-influenced genetics make them a little more susceptible to illness, especially when it comes to respiratory disease.”1
While management of beef-on-dairy calves is typically similar to that of native beef or dairy calves, taking extra care to limit transitional stress is important.
Working with your veterinarian is a good place to start. Together, you can review transition points, implement protocols to reduce risk of BRD, and make treatment plans when needed. Weaning, shipping and commingling are the easiest stress events to see coming, and are the main transition points to plan around.
“It’s easy to say, ‘There’s nothing we can do about stress,’ but that’s not true,” asserted Dr. Vlietstra. “If we know stress is coming, we can make a plan to help beef-on-dairy calves handle and recover from the transition better.”
Support at all stages of growth
While facilities and labor all play a role in how transitions are managed, every operation can take steps to reduce stress and support calf health. Calves may pass through multiple environments on their journey — starting on a dairy, moving to a calf ranch, and eventually entering backgrounding or feedyard systems. With each stop comes a chance to position calves for success during the next move.
“Do what you can at the stage you have that calf,” Dr. Vlietstra advised. “Even if you didn’t raise the calf from birth, there’s always something you can do to prepare it for the next step.”
Dr. Vlietstra recommends giving calves time to build immunity before those events by timing vaccinations at least two weeks in advance. Focusing on hydration, steady feed and low-stress handling can also make a big difference in how well calves adapt during transition.
Tracking calf health and performance through each move can also pay off over time. Keeping simple records, such as when calves are weaned, shipped and treated, helps identify patterns and make smarter management adjustments. Clear communication between the operations calves travel to and from also ensures key health and disease-prevention steps are consistently followed.
It’s a shared responsibility across every location to provide calves with the best care, and ultimately raise a high-quality product for the end consumer. As an industry, maintaining Beef Quality Assurance principles is a collective effort that supports both animal well-being and long-term consumer trust.
Manage environment and nutrition for the season
Transitions on their own are stressful for beef-on-dairy calves, but add on weather stress, and the risks of BRD can skyrocket.
“When the weather turns cold, it takes calories for calves to stay warm, grow and keep their immune system working,” Dr. Vlietstra said. “So, when we want all those things to stay strong before and after transitions, it takes more nutrition.”
He notes that energy is a limited resource for calves under cold stress.
Adjusting rations to include higher-energy feeds or ensuring consistent intake can make a noticeable difference in how calves handle winter conditions and fight off disease pressure.
Environment is also a critical factor in maintaining calf health. In cold weather, air quality and humidity should be monitored just as closely as temperature, as warm indoor spaces can trap moisture and create ideal conditions for respiratory pathogens. Focusing on ventilation, dry bedding and consistent access to fresh water helps calves settle in more smoothly, and reduces the risk of respiratory disease taking hold.
“We can’t control the weather, but we can control how we prepare for it,” stated Dr. Vlietstra. “Good air, dry bedding and steady nutrition all matter.”
Catch BRD early and treat swiftly
Even with strong management, some calves will still get sick. The key is spotting those animals early and acting fast. If not identified and treated quickly, sick calves will be less likely to respond to antibiotic treatment, and will be at greater risk for relapse or mortality.2
“Cattle are a prey species, and they’ll do everything in their power to hide illness from us as caregivers,” explained Dr. Vlietstra. “By the time a calf looks really sick, it’s most likely been fighting that battle for a while.”
Training employees to recognize healthy calves and to identify changes in calf behavior can make all the difference in catching BRD early, and ensuring that only animals that truly need treatment receive it.
Droopy ears, lack of appetite and isolation from the group can all be early signs of illness. Routine pen checks and team communication help ensure sick calves are identified quickly. When treatment is necessary, it’s important to act swiftly and use the right product.
“When we’re talking about beef-on-dairy calves, research has shown that compared to other drugs, ZACTRAN® (gamithromycin) has a performance advantage,” shared Dr. Vlietstra. “It’s a fantastic option that goes to work quickly as a first-line treatment, but also lasts long enough that it can be used as a convenient, single-dose treatment. It also offers broad-spectrum coverage, targeting the four major pathogens associated with BRD.” 3,4
Every transition matters
Beef-on-dairy calves may face more challenges early in life, but with a thoughtful plan, a strong partnership with your veterinarian, and a quick response when health challenges arise, you can make every transition a little easier and keep calves on the right track toward steady growth and fewer setbacks from BRD.
ZACTRAN IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: For use in cattle only. Do not treat cattle within 35 days of slaughter. Because a discard time in milk has not been established, do not use in female dairy cattle 20 months of age or older, or in calves to be processed for veal. The effects of ZACTRAN on bovine reproductive performance, pregnancy and lactation have not been determined. Subcutaneous injection may cause a transient local tissue reaction in some cattle that may result in trim loss of edible tissues at slaughter. NOT FOR USE IN HUMANS. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN.
