Calf – Winter Feeding
Understanding the basic concepts of growth helps improve calf and heifer management. Early postnatal growth is the most efficient time to develop skeletal growth, muscle growth, deposit protein and attain the highest feed efficiency. Mammary development can be enhanced by liquid (milk) feed intake prior to weaning (Brown et al, 2002). Calf raisers are advised to assess and adapt their feeding practices to ensure adequate growth while maximizing economic benefits.
Winter-feeding in cold climatic conditions requires additional attention to ensure… Continue reading
Optimizing your calf feeding program = Sound Economics
The terms accelerated and enhanced have been used over the past 15 years to describe an increased plane of nutrition in calves. However, calves require that increased nutrition in order to optimize growth. Moreover, production objectives such as decreasing age at first breeding, improving health status, and ultimately building a more efficient and productive dairy cow is now an expected outcome of a calf nutrition program.
The basis of the calf growth model
The calf’s digestive system is immature and… Continue reading
Optimizing your calf feeding program
The terms accelerated and enhanced have been used over the past 15 years to describe an increased plane of nutrition in calves.
However, calves require that increased nutrition in order to optimize growth.
Moreover, production objectives such as:
- decreasing age at first breeding,
- improving health status,
- and ultimately building a more efficient and productive dairy cow is now an expected outcome of a calf nutrition program.
The basis of the calf growth model
The calf’s digestive system is immature and… Continue reading
Water – an Essential Nutrient
Water accounts for 70-75% of young animal’s body weight and yet, is often overlooked as a necessary nutrient. Water is the nutrient required in greatest quantity by young animals.
What does the body need water for?
Basic metabolic functions need daily water intake to replace that which is continuously used or eliminated. I.e.: transporting nutrients (blood volume), excretion of waste products (urine and faeces), digestion of feed, maintenance of osmotic pressure, lubrication of joints and eyes, exchange of CO2 with… Continue reading
Program Summary Grober VG 21/19
Product Profile
A specifically formulated calf milk replacer for excellence in raising GRAIN VEAL CALVES.
The Need
Young Holstein bull calves require a quality milk replacer to ensure a healthy start. Young calves that have been transported are severally energy deficient and under stress. The best way to counteract these conditions is to provide a dry clean environment and offer a quality milk replacer that will provide the necessary protein and fat to allow the calf to establish itself and… Continue reading
Enhanced Feeding Producer Objectives
Why High Protein?
Capitalize on the rapid early growth potential of young calves. Meet the needs of the rapidly growing bone and muscle for protein. This encourages greater lean tissue deposition and thus stature without excess fattening.
Why Specific Protein:Fat Ratio?
Provide the correct protein to fat ratio at these higher feeding rates, to better promote muscle and skeletal growth so that increases in stature are attained. The high digestibility of lactose and the requirement for energy by the calf… Continue reading
Developmental Research – enhanced feeding programs
Numerous studies, back as far as 1968, have examined the effects of feeding increased rates of milk or milk replacer to young calves. Recent developments in this area of heifer rearing have led to enhanced feeding programs.
Conventional calf feeding offers milk replacer, of 18-22% protein and 15-22% fat, at approximately 500g/d. This can support approx. 400g/d live-weight gain (LWG). For dairy replacement heifers of high genetic potential, this is not sufficient to meet optimum growth potential. Recent studies have… Continue reading
Program Summary Grober Excel
Product Profile
A specifically formulated high protein milk replacer for excellence in raising heifer calves.
The Need
Intensive feeding programs have been a major topic for discussion and presentation over the last year. Their aim has been to maximize genetic growth potential, get heifers to breeding weight sooner and also maximize lean tissue growth (height and weight).
A young animal can not be limit fed protein and energy and be successful or efficient in depositing protein as lean tissue growth.… Continue reading
Calf Starter for VG Program
The calf starter ration, to compliment grain veal program, needs to be highly palatable and of excellent quality. When a high protein milk replacer (21%) is being fed, the calf starter should be at least 18-20% protein to maintain optimal growth.
It is critical that protein needs must be met to help maintain early growth rate advantage.
In raising calves, the major goals of feeding before weaning are to:
- Feed for optimum health and strong immunity
- Have good skeletal development… Continue reading
Calf Starter for Excel Program
The calf starter ration, to compliment an intensive calf management program, needs to be highly palatable and of excellent quality. When a high protein milk replacer (26%) is being fed, the calf starter should be at least 22% protein to maintain optimal growth.
It is critical that protein needs must be met to help maintain early growth rate advantage and prevent development of fatty udders.
In raising dairy heifers, the major goals of feeding before weaning are to:
- Feed for… Continue reading