Veal calf feeding and pre-feed checking
This information is inteneded for those raising veal calves, housed individually.
- Calves should be fed twice everyday.
- Missed feeding means missed growth.
- Calves should be fed as close to 9-12 hours apart as possible for optimum appetite and digestion. These times should remain as constant as possible as calves are creatures of habit. Irregular feeding times will result in more refusals, especially with older calves.
- Two hours after feeding give water to all calves that didn’t drink half or more of… Continue reading
Posted in Management | 
appetite, bloat, creatures of habit, general health, hydration, label changes, manure, raising calves, sick calves, veal calvesGrain-Fed Veal – Producer Objectives
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… Continue reading
Developmental Research – Grain-fed Veal Programs
Ontario and Quebec dairy herds produce approximately 400,000 male calves annually. These calves are destined for several hundred veal producers.The goal of grain fed veal producers is to achieve the desired finish at the desired weight and age. The market-ready calf is typically 250-295kg at an age of 25-30 weeks. Finished average daily gains should be 1.13kg or better and feed conversion should be 3.5-4.0 kg per kg of live-weight gain.
The Holstein calf has an ability to grow rapidly… 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
Typical Grain Veal Growth
The aim of beef production is to produce a high quality product with maximum efficiency.
Factors that affect the carcass composition and carcass yield are:
- Weight and age
- Genotype
- Gender
- Growth rate and nutrition
- Conformation
A typical growth curve involves a self-accelerating phase of weight increase from birth to puberty of the animal. During this phase, growth hormones are mainly responsible for the growth process. The second phase of growth (puberty to adulthood) has lower rates of weight increase and… Continue reading
Growing Suggestions for veal calves
Water Supply
Before starting calves, take a water sample to your local lab and have it checked for bacteria, nitrates, iron sodium and ph.
Water left in a storage tank between calf crops can become a prim source for bacteria that cause scouring. This is a prime place for bacteria to grow and cause scouring.
Feeding temperature should not be lowered during the summer months, instead provide cool water 2 hours after feeding.
Scour problems
A scouring calf should be… Continue reading
Posted in Management | cool water, maximum growth, milk replacer, ph water, prime place, veal calves, water mix