Feeding concentrates before weaning is a practice that often divides opinion among farmers. Some say meals are vital for maintaining performance while others say good grass alone should suffice. I would side with the first opinion. Furthermore, feeding concentrates after weaning is again an issue that is debated by farmers. However, the number of farmers who don’t feed meal post-weaning is in the minority in this instance.

So, for those already feeding weanlings or thinking about doing so, here are some tips on what you should be looking for in a weanling ration:

First things first, you need to be practical. A weanling ration should always be very palatable, fresh-smelling and free from dust or soiling. Fresh-smelling is key here because weanlings are very curious and respond highly to smell. An enticing ration will help to get calves eating concentrates quickly.

In terms of nutritional values, a weanling ration should be high in protein and have a moderate energy value. Protein is a key nutrient to support growth. With that in mind, weanlings have a high protein requirement as they are still laying down significant amounts of frame. Energy is also an important nutrient for growth but more so for weight gain – hence the reason it is vital to have high energy in finishing diets.

In terms of a protein content, which is given as crude protein (CP), a weanling ration should have 12-20% CP. This range is included to factor in silage quality. For example, 12-14% CP ration will suffice on a high 14% CP silage. On a lower 10% CP silage, the ration should be 16-20% CP. If you don’t know the CP of your silage, a 16% CP ration is a safe bet. High-protein feed stuffs include soya bean meal (48% CP) and maize distillers (25% CP) so watch out for these ingredients in a ration.

A weanling ration should always be very palatable, fresh-smelling and free from dust or soiling.

In terms of energy, weanling rations should be no less than 0.94 UFL. UFLs are the units for measuring the energy content of feed and forages for growing, store and mature cattle. Be careful not to confuse with UFVs, the units for measuring energy for finishing cattle.

High-energy feed stuffs include barley (1 UFL), wheat (1 UFL) and maize grains (1.05 UFL) so watch out for these ingredients also. One point of caution on this, wheat is rapidly digestible, causing a high risk of acidosis or swelling. It is best to feed rolled wheat and limit inclusion to 2-3kg/head in a diet.

This year, as rations appear to be increasing in price, many farmers are looking at the option of feeding their own cereals, predominantly barley or wheat. This is an option but does have some limitations. Feeding anywhere from 1-3kg/head of rolled barley or rolled wheat will be sufficient if silage CP is 16% or higher. Where silage is below this, rolled barley or wheat should be complemented with an adequate level of protein – soya bean meal or maize distillers would be appropriate.

Finally, with all rations, the inclusion of minerals into weanling rations is very important.