Calf Rearing Distance Education course | Calf Rearing online course

Raising Calves can be a profitable sideline; or a fundamental enterprise for a farm.

Breeding calves is only the start of an involved process that farmers follow in raising a calf. This course provides a very good foundation for understanding that whole process.

Comments from ACS students:

"I would recommend this course to anyone who wants to raise calves!!" R. Beitlich, Aust, Calf Rearing

"Been working in the livestock (Dairy Cattle) industry for years and thought I knew it all. Calf rearing was one area I had limited knowledge of, and due to a new work role, I needed to know more... QUICKLY!!!

This course allowed me the freedom to work within the industry & learn at the same time. I learnt a lot of new and diverse calf rearing options that have now better prepared me for the 'real world' of calf rearing and my new role within the dairy industry. A great 'grounding' course, even for those who are hands on in raising claves. I have recommended this course to a few calf rearers already! I'd be happy to highly recommend the course to anyone with an interest in raising the next quality batch of calf replacements on their farm". Tiffany Gordon, Aust, Calf Rearing course.

Lesson Structure

There are 7 lessons in this course:

Calving and Culling
- Introduction to Calf Rearing
- Year-round and Seasonal Calving Systems
- Calf Mortality
- Principles of Good Calf Rearing
- Pre-Calving Management
- Managing the Cow for a Healthy Calf
- Body Condition Score
- Feeding a Cow Pre-Calving
- Supplemental Feeding Tips
- Colostrum Management
- Calf Selection
- Estimated Breeding Value
- Culling
- Assessing Calves for Suitability in a Rearing System
Calving Management
- The Birth of a Calf
- Signs that the Birth is Close
- Stages of Normal Birth
- Calving Problems
- Abnormal Presentations
- The Calf at Birth
- Colostrum
- Stress and Pathogen Exposure
- Managing Stress
- Managing Pathogen Exposure
- The Calf Digestive Tract
- Rumen Development
Calf Health Management
- Common Calf Diseases
- Scours
- Roundworm Scours
- Lungworm
- Coccidiosis
- Calf Diphtheria
- Pneumonia
- Clostridial Diseases
- Salmonella
- Navel ill or Joint ill
- Stress and the Young Calf
- Transport Stress
- Feeding Stress
- Stress from Heat or Cold
Calf Rearing Systems
- Natural Systems of Calf Rearing
- Single Suckling
- Multiple Suckling
- Foster Suckling
- Race Suckling
- Early Weaning
- Artificial Systems of Calf Rearing
- Teaching the Calf to Drink
- A Basic Feeding Program
- Milk Substitute Feeding
- Common Calf Rearing Systems
- Rearing Calves at Grass
- Five and a Half Day System
- Once a Day System
- Cold Milk System
- Acidified Milk Replacers
- Milk-fed Veal Production
- Housing and Management Practices
Calf Housing
- Ventilation
- Isolation
- Comfort
- Economy
- Calf Pens
- Raised Pens
- The Calf Hutch
- Housing Setup and Accessories
- Feed and Water
- Bedding
- Cleaning and Disinfection
Weaning
- Weaning
- Stress at Weaning
- General Weaning Transition Advice
- Weaning at Eight and Twelve Weeks
- Weaning at Five Weeks
- Weaning at Four Weeks
- Providing Water
Post-weaning
- Nutrition and First Mating
- Calf Husbandry Practices
- Reducing Surgical Stress
- Cattle Identification
- Castration
- Bloodless Castration
- Surgical Castration
- Dehorning
- When to Dehorn
- Dehorning Instruments and Equipment
- Choosing the Right Dehorning Instrument
- Successful Horn Removal
- Tetanus

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Aims

Understand management processes and issues associated with calving and the successful rearing of calves.
Understand the issues involved in management of calving operations on a farm.
Explain the diagnosis and management of common health problems in calves.
Explain different systems of calf rearing.
Explain the housing requirements of calves in an animal production situation.
Explain the procedures for weaning calves in a commercial situation.
Explain the post-weaning requirements of calves in a commercial situation.

What You Will Do

Explore feed qualities and nutritional values, both theoretically and practically through interacting with industry professionals.
Understand the ins-and-outs of breeding and selection processed relevant to your area.
Gain knowledge about and practical exposure to calving and calving difficulties.
Watch documentaries on calf digestion development and function.
Listen to podcasts on calf rearing to compliment the course.
Become familiar with agricultural supply outlets and their products.
Communicate with different subject specialists, including expert tutors, dairy authorities, farmers and more!

Managing the Cow for a Healthy Calf

The several weeks leading up to calving are essential to a successful parturition. Often, birthing outcomes can be related back to decisions made by managing parties throughout the weeks immediately preceding calving. Many birthing circumstances, including likelihood of difficulties, can relate to this period, and especially to the nutritional status of the dam.

It is important to ensure that milking of a dam is discontinued to allow a dry period of 45 – 65 days prior to calving. Not meeting or increasing this dry period can lead to a depression in milk production in the coming lactation. The actual period of drying off will decrease the older and more gestationally experienced the cow becomes, i.e., first time mothers will require the full 65-day dry period.

It is important that a dry period precede calving for three main reasons:

To allow cows to build up stores for the next lactation and replenish reserves.
To restore and renew mammary tissues.
To promote and utilise the benefits of hormonal adjustments which occur throughout gestation and coming into parturition.

Cows should receive dry cow mineral supplementation to maintain the required vitamin and mineral levels of both cow and developing calf. Particular attention should be paid to the calcium, selenium, iodine and vitamin E levels of dry cows. Supplementation requirements will vary relative to vitamin and mineral status of the farm, i.e., nutritive levels and qualities of grasses and other feeds that dams have access to. Consult a local veterinarian where deficiencies are suspected.

Many farmers will also use the dry period as an opportunity to vaccinate cows against some of the agents which cause calf scours (e.g., Rotavirus or Escherichia coli). The derived immunity is passed on to the unborn calf. Where Rotavirus or E. coli have been diagnosed as a persistent problem, vaccination is recommended. However, veterinary consultant prior to implementation of such a vaccination program is also recommended.

While drying off period recommendations reach a maximum at 65 days, nutritional considerations should be emphasised from 90 days prior to parturition. This does not mean that feeding and nutrition can be neglected preceding this time; it means to stress the critical nature of providing appropriate nutrition throughout this end period. The majority of foetal growth for a cow, occurs within the 90 day which lead into calving. Feeding and management of the dam throughout the pre-calving period will ultimately impact outcomes of:

Calf survivability,
Calf health; short and long-term,
Overall calf production value,
Dam birthing difficulties or success, and
Future reproductive abilities of dams.

Why Study this Course?

Interested in learning the ins-and-outs of rearing calves? This course provides an excellent foundation for successful calf rearing and management.

This course is suited to:

Anyone new to calving or rearing calves.
Those with limited understanding or experience in calving or rearing calves.
Anyone passionate about calf rearing and care.
Those looking to work on a dairy, cattle breeding or beef facility.
Anyone looking to work as a farmer or farm manager.
Those looking to improve their practical understanding of calving and rearing.
Farmers looking to improve or refresh their calving and calf rearing knowledge.
Agricultural veterinarian assistants.
Aspiring agricultural students and workers.

This course provides an opportunity to acquire knowledge, as well as develop a deeper awareness of the industry and interact with experts on a different level to what one may have previously experienced (through interactions with expert tutors and beyond).

This course will enhance your practical and theoretical knowledge of calving and rearing calves. You will gain knowledge, insight and a new confidence for the topic as you progress through this informative, relevant course!

What Next?

ENROL or Use our FREE Course Advice Service to Connect with a Tutor

Member of Study Gold Coast Education Network.

ACS Global Partner - Affiliated with colleges in seven countries around the world.

Since 1999 ACS has been a recognised member of IARC (International Approval and Registration Centre). A non-profit quality management organisation servicing education.

ACS is an organisational member of the Future Farmers Network.

UK Register of Learning Providers, UK PRN10000112

How can I start this course?

You can enrol at anytime and start the course when you are ready. Enrolments are accepted all year - students can commence study at any time. All study is self paced and ACS does not set assignment deadlines.

Please note that if a student is being assisted by someone else (e.g. an employer or government subsidy), the body offering the assistance may set deadlines. Students in such situations are advised to check with their sponsor prior to enrolling. The nominal duration of a course is approximately how long a course takes to complete. A course with a nominal duration of 100 hours is expected to take roughly 100 hours of study time to complete. However, this will vary from student to student. Short courses (eg. 100 hrs duration) should be completed within 12 months of enrolment. Certificates, Advanced Certificates and Awards (eg. over 500 hours duration) would normally be completed within 3 -5 years of enrolment. Additional fees may apply if a student requires an extended period to complete.
If a student cannot submit their assignments for 6 months to ACS, they should advise the school to avoid cancellation of their student
registration. Recommencement fees may apply.

Simply click on the ENROL OPTIONS button at the top of this screen and follow the prompts.

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What do I need to know before I enrol?

There are no entry requirements that you need to meet to enrol in our courses, our courses are for everyone.
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We aim to teach you the essentials without you having to purchase any specific computer program.
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You sure can. We are here to help you learn whatever your abilities.

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This is possible, it depends on the institution. We recommend that if you would like to use our courses that you contact the institution first. Our Course Handbook is a good resource for this.

Our courses are written in English and we only have English speaking academic staff. If you can read and complete your assignments in English, our courses are ideal for you.

Our courses are designed to build knowledge, hands on skills and industry connections to help prepare you to work in the area, running your own business, professional development or as a base for further study.

This course has been designed to cover the fundamentals of the topic. It will take around 100 hours to complete, which includes your course reading, assignment work, research, practical tasks, watching videos and anything else that is contained in the course. Our short courses are a great way to do some professional development or to learn a new skill.

It’s up to you. The study hours listed in the course are a rough guide, however if you were to study a short course (100 hours) at 10 hours per week, you could finish the course in 10 weeks (just an example). Our courses are self-paced, so you can work through the courses in your own time. We recommend that you wait for your tutor to mark and return your assignment before your start your next one, so you get the benefits of their feedback.

The course consists of course notes, videos, set tasks for your practical work, online quizzes, an assignment for each lesson (that you receive feedback from your tutor from) and ends in an exam (which is optional, if would like to receive the formal award at the end), using our custom built Learning Management System - Login.Training.

Our courses are designed for adults to gain professional development and skills to further their careers and start businesses.

Our custom online learning portal allows you to conduct your learning online. There may be practical tasks that you can do offline. You have the option of downloading your course notes or print them to read later.

There is also the option to pay an additional fee for printed course notes and or USB (availability limited to location and deliverability).

Yes, if you don’t have access to the internet, you can receive the course as paper notes or on a USB stick for an additional fee. We can also make alternative arrangements for you to send your assignments to us.

We offer printed notes for an additional fee. Also, you can request your course notes on a USB stick for an additional fee.

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We are more learning focussed, rather than assessment focussed. You have online quizzes to test your learning, written assignments and can complete an exam at the end of the course (if you want to receive your certificate). You will not receive a pass/ fail on your course work. If you need to add more details on your assignment, we will ask you to resubmit and direct you where you need to focus. If you need help, you can ask your tutor for advice in the student room.

Each module (short course) is completed with one exam.

Exams are optional, however you must sit an exam if you would like to receive a formal award. You will need to find someone who can supervise that you are sitting the exams under exams conditions. There is an additional cost of $60 incl. GST for each exam.
More information is here

There are practical components built into the course that have been designed to be achieved by anyone, anywhere. If you are unable to complete a task for any reason, you can ask your tutor for an alternative.

When you complete the course work and the exam and you will be able receive your course certificate- a Statement of Attainment. Otherwise, you can receive a Letter of Completion.

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Who are ACS Distance Education?

ACS Distance Education have been educating people for over 40 years.

We are established and safe- we have been in education for over 40 years.
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Our courses are not accredited by the Australian Government. However many of our courses are recognised and held in high regard by many industry bodies.

Our courses are written by our staff, who all have many years experience and have qualifications in their speciality area. We have lots of academic staff who write and update our courses regularly.

How do I enrol my staff/ sponsored students?

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We can prepare an invoice, quote or proforma invoice. Simply complete your details on our Invoice Request form

We can arrange bulk discounts for your course enrolment, please get in touch with us to discuss your needs.

Yes, we have many students who are in locked facilities, such as prisons or hospitals. We can cater by also offering paper notes at an additional cost.

What if I have any more questions or need more information?

We can assist you to find the right course for your needs. Get in touch with us via email (admin@acs.edu.au) call on +61 7 5562 1088 or complete our course advice form.

Take a look at their testimonials here.

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Please get in touch with studentservices@acs.edu.au if you would like to be removed from our mail list.

If you would like ACS Distance Education to delete your information at any time (whether you are a customer or a prospective customer), please contact our privacy officer and we will process this ( admin@acs.edu.au ).

If students require a reproduction of their certificate, an electronic copy can be provided at a cost of AUD$35 incl GST. Printed copies are not available.

Course Contributors

The following academics were involved in the development and/or updating of this course.

Alison Pearce

University Lecturer, Quality Assurance Manager, Writer and Research Technician. Alison originally graduated with an honors degree in science from university and beyond that has completed post graduate qualifications in education and eco-tourism. She has managed veterinary operating theatre, responsible for animal anesthesia, instrument preparation, and assistance with surgical techniques and procedures.

Marius Erasmus

Subsequent to completing a BSc (Agric) degree in animal science, Marius completed an honours degree in wildlife management, and a masters degree in production animal physiology. Following the Masters degree, he has worked for 9 years in the UK, and South Africa in wildlife management, dairy, beef and poultry farming.

Dr. Gareth Pearce

Veterinary scientist and surgeon with expertise in agriculture and environmental science, with over 25 years of experience in teaching and research in agriculture, veterinary medicine, wildlife ecology and conservation in the UK, Australia and New Zealand. Post-graduate qualifications in Education, Wildlife Conservation Medicine, Aquatic Veterinary Studies and Wildlife Biology & Conservation.
Gareth has a B.Sc.(Hons), B.V.Sc., M.A., M.Vet.S,. PhD, Grad. Cert. Ed.(HE), Post-Grad.Cert. Aq.Vet.Sc., Post-Grad. Cert. WLBio&Cons., Dipl. ECPHM, MRCVS.

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