Grober Nutrition

Posts Tagged ‘feeding a calf’

Principles and Experience

Introduction

Producers have traditionally raised calves in individual pens or hutches. This rearing system has had advantages of individual feeding, observation and reduced risk of cross-contamination. It is however, still labour intensive. Dairy cattle are naturally group-living animals. Group-housed calves can enjoy an early social interaction and learn to understand group behaviour. Research is now proving that well-managed group housed calf rearing systems can provide advantages for both calves and producers.

Automatic feeding systems for group housing

Group housing often requires intensive management. In non-automated group housing individual intake is difficult to monitor. Moreover, sub-clinical or ill calves may be challenging to identify and therefore treat appropriately.

The new generation of automatic feeding systems (like the Förster-Technik model sold through DeLaval, Lely and Westfalia/GEA) can be easily programmed to effectively feed and monitor calves on an individual basis. There is software available to accumulate a significant amount of information and provide detailed data analysis of individual calves and/or the group for high management control with low labour requirements. An example of data collected includes daily milk replacer intake and number of visits to the feeder. Alarms will be triggered when deviations occur. Individual medication, electrolyte/additive administration programs are also available options.

Feeding management

In conventional feeding by pail, calves are fed limited amounts of milk replacer (i.e.) 2-3 litres of milk replacer twice a day, the equivalent of 500-900g of solids. For optimal heifer growth and development calf feeding recommendations have increased to 8-10 liters/day, the equivalent of 1200-1500g of solids, sometimes even more.

The advantages of feeding calves more milk are widely published. Areas studied include calf growth, height, starter consumption, medication use/costs, time management, and the increased output of milk during the first lactation (references available upon request). These published advantages examine the economic impacts of feeding more milk replacer.

Grober Nutrition, based in Cambridge, Ontario is working in partnership with Förster-Technik, a world leader in automatic calf feeding, to establish further on-farm practice and benefits. The concept of smaller meals being offered more frequently could lead to improved digestion and may also aid in the prevention of severe scouring.

Group feeding experience

Grober Nutrition has been evaluating group housing systems for over 20 years and have more recently collated data from CY Heifer Farms (Elba, N.Y.) and the Grober Young Animal Development Centre (GYADC) (Woodstock, Ont.). The trials were set up to examine and quantify the growth, development, medication usage rate and economics of feeding the same amount of milk to group fed calves compared with individually fed calves. The first data set from CY Farms was evaluated based on 582 calves and concluded no significant difference in live weight and growth rate between the two feeding practices. Group fed calves, however, showed a significantly lower medication cost(P<0.05) during the CY Farms trial period compared to individually fed calves. Computer data analysis allowed for earlier detection of illness and labour was reduced by 52%.

The Grober Young Animal Development Centre in Woodstock, Ontario, enables Grober to compare both individual and group housing methods under one roof. This means that nutrition programs, calf-rearing technologies and other calf products can be examined simultaneously under both management systems.

Recent data from the Grober Centre shows that calves in groups exceeded average daily gains compared to individually housed calves starting week 5 and continuing past weaning (see Table 1).

Table 1. Average Daily Gain (ADG) of calves receiving 6L/day of milk replacer as compared between groups and individual pens. (All values reported in kg/day).

blue, red columns with different superscripts are significantly different at p<0.05

While ADG often fluctuates due to environmental and health influences there was no significant difference in average body weight until weaning (week 7). Throughout weaning and post-weaning, calves in group housing achieved a significantly higher average body weight (see Figure 1.

Improved gains may be attributed to the significant increase (P< 0.05) in starter intake from automatic grain feeders prior to weaning for the group fed calves. However, during weaning, calves in individual pens achieved similar calf starter intake compared to group housed calves.

Group Housing & Health

There are perceived health concerns when calves have nose-to-tail contact. Automatic calf feeding machines are a tool for early detection of illness.

Grober Nutrition assessed the cost of medication to evaluate whether group housed calves are more likely to require therapeutic intervention (see Figure 2).

The data illustrates that individual calves suffered significantly more illness early on (i.e. scours).

During week 4, a significant difference in cost was associated with group calves (respiratory illness). Overall, group fed calves showed a significantly lower medication cost compared to individually fed calves. Age, body weight and a higher plane of nutrition may have accounted for more moderate medication use and cost.

Group Housing Considerations

Selecting calves for group housing with automation requires a thrifty calf with a strong suckling reflex. The calf manager should group calves of similar age and body weight. Group housing of calves has many time and labour saving advantages. It provides improved access to space, allowing for more vigorous activity, and with automation, improves feed consistency and number of feeds.

Group housing can facilitate earlier socialization. Moreover, there may be minimization of stress associated with changes in feed and environment post-weaning for calves.

For more details please contact Grober Nutrition at www.grobernutrition.com  or toll free 1-800-265-7863

request more info about this by email

pdf version of this article 

Grober Contacts

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

Why Higher 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 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 must be balanced for fat and protein.

Why Higher Feeding Rate?

Feeding rate determines energy intake, which sets limits on the growth potential.
Grober VG is fed at a higher concentration (125g/l) than conventional milk replacers to meet growth demands of a healthy feeding program.

Milk Replacer Comparison

*ref: NRC 2001 for 50kg calf.

Calf Growth: What do you want?

• Transition to functioning ruminant
• Rapid growth of frame (skeleton and muscle)
• Optimal fat deposition
• High health status.

Rate of gain should not be the sole means of assessing the efficiency of a nutrition program for milk replacer fed grain veal calves.

Potential Advantages

• Improved health and immune system when calves are gaining at higher levels. (IGF-1 important regulator of cells of the immune system, IGF’s correlated to growth rates- Drackley)
• Improved feed efficiency and returns on feed investment. Feed efficiency is an important measure of how an animal utilizes the nutrients it eats and converts them into products, e.g. muscle, fat, structural growth. Ration, management and environmental factors may affect feed efficiency.

Potential Disadvantages

• Increased investment of money during milk feeding period.
• Attention to management required for success – to avoid digestive upsets, maintain high levels of sanitation, providing adequate, clean water at all times. Starter intake of 900grams per day for 3 consecutive days must be achieved before weaning can occur.

Calf Rearing Objectives

Optimum calf growth is a function of the time necessary to achieve market weight.

In raising Holstein grain veal calves, the largest cost input are calves and feed. By feeding for the highest gains possible in the liquid feeding period, you will get the greatest value for the cost of milk replacer and starter.
The calf’s genetic potential to grow is imprinted at birth. The ability to utilize the nutrients in milk replacer and more so the ability to consume ever increasing amounts of liquid feed is in direct relation to the volume of feed the calf feeder offers the calf.

Underfeeding a calf will not only impact its growth potential but also its health and ability to overcome stress challenges.

A properly designed milk replacer and feeding program should allow you to have gains approaching 500 g/d, given proper health, sanitation and management.

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