Dairy and beef producers concerned about calf health can now ask their vet for a detailed, score-based audit of their youngstock rearing system.

A new checklist tool helps practitioner and farmer work closely together to draw up a workable action plan to improve calf health.

The comprehensive and interactive checklist has been developed by MSD Animal Health in conjunction with vets and nutritionists experienced in investigating youngstock management problems.

MSD Animal Health ruminant veterinary adviser Kat Baxter said: "This new checklist-based tool explores, records and scores calf health performance across five core areas to identify the strengths and weaknesses of any rearing unit’s environment and processes.

“Working through a series of ten questions within each core area – designed to tease out where a rearing unit is in terms of accepted best management practice – allows vet and farmer to quickly pinpoint any areas needing attention. What’s more, repeating the checklist every six or 12 months is a great way to keep things on track, allowing both parties to monitor progress against agreed targets."

The five suggested steps to better calf health are:

1 Set goals and measure

2 Implement good colostrum management and feeding protocols

3 Feed calves correctly

4 Maintain low infection pressure and vaccinate

5 Ensure a healthy rearing environment

Farmers interested in how they can use the new checklist to improve their youngstock rearing efficiency can contact their vet for further information.