Grober Nutrition

Posts Tagged ‘calf starter’

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 optimum health and strong immunity
• Encourage the intake of starter
• Have good skeletal development
• Develop rumen activity
• Prepare the calf for weaning

Extending the liquid feeding period to 7-8 weeks can achieve higher gains prior to weaning and a continued benefit post weaning. The ability of the calf or the desire by calves to consume dry feed (starter) is in direct proportion to the volume of liquid feed being offered.

To help prevent the weaning stall out, reduce the volume of liquid being fed to achieve a starter intake of 900 grams per calf per day, for 3 consecutive days prior to weaning.

A calf should not be weaned until its rumen is functional and capable of supporting all of its nutritional needs. Normal and early development of the rumen requires:

• 1. Bacteria
• 2. Liquid in the rumen
• 3. Absorptive ability of rumen wall tissue

Bacteria

Bacteria begin to grow in the rumen as soon as the calf begins to eat. The types of bacteria that develop are dependent on the type of feed that the calf eats. Milk supports aerobic bacteria development, while dry feed supports anaerobic bacteria. It is anaerobic bacteria that are necessary for proper rumen development and function.

Liquid in the Rumen

Bacteria in the rumen can only survive in a water environment. Most of the water that enters the rumen is from free water intake. Milk or milk replacer does not constitute free water. They bypass the rumen due to the oesphageal groove that is active until 12 weeks of age. The intake of water stimulates dry feed intake, thus the availability of clean fresh water is critical to dry matter intake and overall calf health and performance.

Kertz, A.F. 1984 J.D.S. 67: 2964-2969

Absorptive Ability of Rumen Wall Tissue

The absorption of end products of fermentation is a very important part of rumen development.

The energy requirements of the new-born calf are met from absorption of glucose from the abomasum.

There is little or no absorption or metabolism of volatile fatty acids (VFA) in neonatal calves.

The rumen must develop this ability prior to weaning.

The rumen consists of two layers, the epithelial layer and the muscular layer. The muscle layer is responsible for rumen contractions and gives support to the epithelial layer.

The epithelial layer of the rumen wall is the absorptive layer.

End products (VFA) of ruminal fermentation, particularly propionate and butyrate, provide the stimulus needed for epithelial development.

Calves denied access to dry feed will not develop a functional rumen.

It is grain intake rather than hay/straw intake that is important to ensure rapid rumen development and a smooth transition at weaning time.

Calf time line and rumen development

*Primary organ, ** Primary nutrient weaning

General Guidelines

• A good quality palatable starter (min 22% protein) should be on offer from day 5.
• Feed to appetite, with frequent fresh ‘top ups’, is preferable to ad lib feeding.
• Calves prefer to have calf starter in a shallow bowl, one in which they can scrape their tongues under the grain. They consume more starter when they are able to reach the bottom of the container. Deep containers are less attractive to calves as accumulated feed becomes spoiled with saliva and calves find it physically more challenging to get at the feed.
• All buckets and containers should be emptied and cleaned daily.
• Calves should not be weaned until they are eating 900 grams of starter per day for 3 consecutive days.
• Calf starter with considerable molasses may freeze in winter into frozen lumps and may clump in the hot humid summer months.
• Calf starter with excessive molasses may attract flies in the summer.
• Pelleted calf starter may crumble. Fines from old pelleted calf starter are especially unpalatable for calves. Pelleted calf starters are excellent feeds, but it becomes very important for daily replenishment.
• Ensure adequate fresh, clean water is available.

Andre Roy MSc.
Sally Charlton BSc. (Hons)
April 2003

There are many different methods of rearing calves, however, the most frequently used systems are:

• Pail/nipple rearing, feeding on a twice or three times per day basis
• Ad-lib feeding through a machine.

Pail Rearing

Pail feeding systems require a period of training to ensure the calf drinks well. Individually penning the calves for four to six days is the best way to ensure this happens.

Calves should be ‘observed’ at times additional to feeding times to check for signs of ill health.

An ‘enhanced fed’ calf may require as much as 40kg of powder.

Machine Feeding

Machine feeding has the advantage of labour saving over the pail system, because no mixing and carrying is required. However, a high level of stockmanship is vital for this system, because calves are not always seen at drinking time. Detailed observation of their behavior at other times is required to monitor their condition.

Group housing is the most suitable for this system. A machine can feed up to 30 calves per station. Follow machine guidelines as machines and management systems will vary.

• Pens should also have a self-filling water bowl or water bucket.
• Concentrates should be available from the beginning of the rearing period.
• As with all ad-lib systems, a generous pen area with plenty of bedding helps to counteract the high urine output and keeps calves clean. A minimum recommended space per calf should be 20sq.ft.
• Routine care of the machine, including at least a daily clean of the mixing vessel and pipelines is essential. Preparations for a prolonged failure of either electricity or water supply need to be made.
• The machine must be set-up carefully and correctly to dispense the correct concentration of milk replacer: water ratio as recommended by the milk replacer manufacturer.

Raising Calves in calf hutches

Calves can be successfully raised in outdoor hutches under Canadian weather conditions. Hutch management of calves can be the best way of preventing calf disease.
There are guidelines for optimum results:

Type of Hutch

All types of hutches whether wood or plastic compositions are effective provided:

• the hutches can be easily moved and cleaned between calves.
• the hutches are designed to control ventilation in winter and especially in summer.

Location of Hutches
Locate away from farm buildings to avoid abnormal wind flow patterns. (Unfortunately what is best for the calves is not optimum for the calf feeder!).

Place calves in a well-drained location;

• Best approach is to prepare a site by putting a minimum of 0.8 metre (3 feet) of crushed stone under the hutch. The crushed stone will allow for drainage and dramatically reduce the amount of bedding required in the hutch. Hutches only work well for the raising of calves if they are clean and dry at all times.

Bedding of Hutches
The best bedding pack is a base of shaving with a straw cover.

• Replenish bedding of hutches every 5-7 days (more frequently when weather is very damp).
• Hutches are harmful to the calf’s health when the bedding under the calf is allowed to be damp. Do the kneel test inside the hutch from time to time; if your knees are soiled, bedding is insufficient. Wet bedding is a heat sink and calves will expend excessive calories just to maintain core body temperature. If a calf has a negative balance (because of damp bedding), its immune system is compromised and calf becomes susceptible to disease and will not gain weight. Move the hutches to a new site prior to introduction of new calves.

Feeding in Hutches

• Water:

• Calves require supplemental fresh water especially in summer.

• Unless conditions are freezing, water is best provided on an ongoing basis. Calves that have water available from birth do not abuse the consumption.

• Calves that do have water easily available get onto calf starter sooner and wean more quickly!

• Calves that have water available on a constant basis are more likely to survive a serious bout of diarrhea.

• Best to provide water free choice but when this is not possible, it is very useful in the hot summer months to provide a noon hour water feeding.

• Milk and Milk Replacer

• Never dilute either milk or milk replacer with water (causes indigestions which in turn can lead to serious diarrhea).

• Diluted milk may jeopardize the calf’s energy balance especially in winter.

• Feed milk at body temperature for best results. (38°C or 101°F). (Cold milk can also cause indigestions and be the beginning of serous diarrhea problems).

• Feeding milk to calves at body temperatures in hutches can be a challenge!

• Hay

• Calves do not necessarily need hay in hutches. Before 35 days of age, calves will simply pull it onto the hutch floor and ingest very little.

• There is some evidence that calves that are provided little hay are more adapted to be weaned earlier and once weaned rapidly become able to utilize hay.

• Weaning

• Calves can remain in hutches for up to 4 months but are also to be weaned as early as 6-7 weeks of age and transferred to a group facility.

• If calves are consuming 900 g of calf starter per day for 3 consecutive days, they can be weaned.

Andre Roy MSc.
Sally Charlton BSc. (Hons)
April 2003