Calf nutrition for dairy and suckler calves

Calf nutrition

In the first few weeks of life, the only source of nutrition a calf has is milk. Dairy calves are traditionally reared on 10% of their body weight of milk. This will meet the calves’ requirement for maintenance and growth, but only just. To achieve good growth rates in later life, calves should be fed 13-15% of their bodyweight in milk for the first three to four weeks of life. Suckler calves can drink up to 20% of their body weight per day in milk (40kg suckler calf can consume 8litres/day, gaining 1kg LW/day).

There are a number of different feeding options available to farmers. Most dairy farmers still feed whole milk. However, farmers should take care as there may be disease implications to this. Unpasteurised whole milk can lead to the spread of Johne’s disease to calves. In addition, milk from high cell count cows should not be fed as there are higher levels of pathogens present as cows are suffering from some form of infection. Farmers should not feed antibiotic milk as this may lead to bacteria in then animal becoming resistant which can lead to future problems.

Good practice should be to feed pasteurised milk or milk repalcers. Where these are not available whole milk that is fit for sale is the next best option. If milk replacer is used, look at the quality of the product you are buying. Crude protein levels of milk replacer should be about 25% and the protein source should be milk derived, at recommended feeding levels this will allow for adequate nutrition to support growth and development.

Once or twice a day feeding – Young calves under three weeks of age have a small rumen and are not physically able for large volume feeds. Calves under three weeks should be fed twice per day and older calves can be fed once per day to save labour. However, some farmers find it easier to feed twice daily as it is a good method of checking calf health. When milk is drank from a bucket, it finds its way straight into the calf’s rumen. This is not ideal. A calf that suckles will divert milk straight to the abomasum via the oesophageal groove where it is utilised more effectively. Using teat feeders may not ensure that all milk is diverted to the abomasum, but it does satisfy the calf’s natural urge to suckle. Farmers should be wary not to leave teat feeders with calves during the day as there is the possibility of the calf inhaling damp air or air with bugs that could cause respiratory infections or coughs.

Concentrate feeding

Rumen development is critical for early weaning of the calf. For this reason, fresh concentrates should be offered to calves as early as possible in order to encourage intake. It is not until week three onwards that the calf’s rumen is sufficiently developed in order to ensure a sizeable intake of concentrates. Coarse rations should be preferred over pelleted rations as intakes generally tend to be higher and they stimulate more rumen development. Roughage such as hay or straw should be offered to calves to encourage rumen development. However, hay and milk alone is not sufficient to encourage rumen development as shown from a study from Pensylvania university. If too much roughage is ingested, calves may get pot bellies.

Water

Even though calves are being fed milk, they also require free access to clean drinking water. Milk if suckled will enter the abomasums and not the rumen, so the water portion of milk is not utilisable in the rumen. Water is essential for the development of bacteria in the rumen which help rumination.

Weaning

The advice on the day was that farmers should not wean calves until they are eating about 1kg of concentrates per day. If there are calves in the group that are underweight or weak, do not wean until they are strong enough. Weaning should not be abrupt but should take place gradually.

Key points