Grober Nutrition

Posts Tagged ‘calf milk powder’

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 that the young calf is provided with sufficient nutrients for maintenance and for growth expectations.

The young calf has limited reserves of energy when exposed to temperatures below the lower critical temperature for extended periods of time. These reserves are quickly depleted in approximately 18 hours for the newborn calf (Okamoto et al, 1986).

Research, under controlled conditions with adequate bedding and dry conditions, indicate that calves housed at -4oC require about 30% more calories for maintenance. This number will increase as temperature goes down, humidity rises and calves are subject to wet bedding.

The effect of cold stress on potential gain (g/d) for a 45kg calf when they are fed 12.5% DM or 125g of powder in a litre of water.

The effect of cold stress on potential gain (g/d) for a 45kg calf when they are fed 15% DM or 150g of powder in a litre of water.

When a calf falls under negative energy balance, immune status can be easily compromised and the calf becomes susceptible to bacterial and viral infections. To maintain the same amount of gain in colder environments increase the amount of powder

fed to calves on average by 7.7g per °C below their critical temperature.

Fat and its source are important in milk replacers for young calves to ensure a high absorption and to best meet their energy needs especially in cold stress conditions.

Young animals require highly digestible, human grade fats and oils, with a correct fatty acid profile and saturation structure to provide a profile similar to milk fat. This will help to maximize growth potential and avoid ‘fatty faeces’. According to research done by Drackley (2000), protein requirement is a function of the energy allowable gain.

Correct mixing of the milk replacer and temperature of water used will provide a more uniform blend and low fat particle size (<1.5 microns). These factors encourage optimum absorption capacity by the young calf.

Effect of concentrate feeding:

Calves utilize energy less efficiently from starter feeds than milk replacer because carbohydrate and protein in the starter must be fermented in the developing rumen prior to digestion by the calf.

Feeding more of an appropriately balanced milk replacer diet to meet requirements for both energy and protein allowable gain appears to be the most systematic solution to cold stress challenge.

Ways to help the young calf under conditions of cold stress:

• Ensure that the calf has access to dry, well-bedded shelter that provides protection from wind and is free from drafts.
• Provide extra energy through its feed by increasing the amount of milk replacer being fed.
• Observe the weather forecast so that changes can be introduced gradually so that stomach upset (bloating) can be avoided.

These values are approximate based on the information in NRC, 2001.

Feeding the extra milk replacer powder:

• The extra amount can and should be split into two or more meals
• It can be added on top of a milk meal

Kathleen Shore, MSC
Nutritionist
Grober Nutrition

inter-feeding in cold climatic conditions requires additional attention to ensure that the young calf is provided with sufficient nutrients for maintenance and for growth expectations.

The young calf has limited reserves of energy and when exposed to temperatures below the lower critical temperature for extended periods of time, these reserves are quickly depleted. For example a day old calf has about 500g of fat and 180g of glycogen that it can mobilize and metabolize for energy sources. These reserves of energy would be exhausted in approximately 18 hours (Okamoto et al, 1986).

Researchers (1985) have shown weight gains were highest for calves fed additional solids and were greater with more feedings per day. This was in comparison to adding a whey fat blend to the ration.

The table below illustrates the effect of reducing temperatures on energy retention by the young calf and the amount of Excel milk replacer (ME: 4.33 Mcal/kg DM) required to maintain energy balance.

(adapted from Schrama et al, 1993) *calculations based on extra heat production value of 2.15 kcal/kg0.75 per day per °C below critical temperature.

This clearly shows that the energy requirement of the young calf is dramatically increased when the environmental temperature falls below its critical temperature. If target growth rates are to be maintained then producers must feed their calves extra energy during winter months.

Ways to help the young calf under conditions of cold stress are:

• Ensure that the calf has access to dry, well-bedded shelter that provides protection from wind and is free from drafts.

• Provide extra energy through its feed by increasing the amount of milk or milk replacer being fed. (see related table for Excel/ High Performance and VG milk replacer)

• Observe the weather forecast so that changes can be introduced gradually.

• Calves with a negative energy balance will use brown fat stores available to generate heat to maintain core body temperature. This is not efficient and will affect the health status and immune function of the young calf.