5 steps to optimising calf growth in the rearing phase
Growing a healthy animal that produces high yields should be the goal of every calf rearer. Their growth in the first 6-8 weeks (pre-weaning) plays a big role in shaping their potential.
Scientists at Trouw Nutrition have proven that that strong early growth leads to higher lifetime production.
Here are five simple steps that will help you to optimise growth in your calves pre-weaning:
1. Feed colostrum
The most valuable nutrient for the newborn calf, colostrum contains high energy levels, growth promoters, vitamins and immunoglobulin, vital for protection against disease.
Timing is also critical for the viability and health of the calf – colostrum must be fed within six hours of birth. Any later and the colostrum can no longer be absorbed into the blood stream, reducing the immunity of the calf.
3. Encourage early rumen development
The rumen is small at birth. Your aim is to convert a calf from purely milk fed to functional ruminant as quickly as possible.
The early milk feeding period is the most vulnerable period for the calf from both a nutritional and disease challenge point of view.
Note that milk causes no rumen development at all as it by-passes the rumen and goes straight to the abomasum. So, you want to encourage the calf to consume alternatives to milk, like grain and water as soon as possible.
To optimise rumen development and accelerate growth rates to achieve early weaning, calves need to have a palatable grain based ration and ad-lib water on offer as soon as possible.
This is where a good quality whey calf milk replacer compliments the ideal feeding system for young calves - because it’s quickly digested, the animals will seek out more sustenance.
Calves fed on milk and grass only will eventually develop a functional rumen, but the process will take much longer.
The 5 requirements for healthy rumen development:
Establishment of bacteria
Liquid (free water not milk)
Outflow of material (muscular action)
Absorptive ability of tissues
Substrates to allow bacterial growth
The importance of water
Water is an essential and often overlooked nutrient in the development of young animals.
Water intake from milk is not enough to meet a young animal’s needs; drinking water is imperative for good rumen development and will improve feed intake and weight gain.
- Provide ad-lib access to water always.
- Make sure the water is clean and a reasonable temperature.
5. Housing should be dry and draft-free
There should be enough barn space to be able to house at least 50% of calves born on farm. Best practice is to have multiple barns, so that young calves can be isolated from older or sick calves.
Barns should be open on one side and divided into group pens, holding no more than 20 calves (10 is ideal).
Calves should be placed in their allocated pens and stay there for the entire indoor rearing period.
Each calf should be placed in a clean group pen that has not been previously used by other calves.
Calf barns should be located well away from the cow shed and feeding pads (to prevent the spread of disease).
Disinfect the barn, feeding utensils and trailer with a good quality, safe virucidal product twice a week.
Control rodents, birds and dogs.
Bedding should be soft (shavings, straw) and at least 100mm deep – replace daily or use see Stalosan F – a powerful drying agent which will absorb ammonia and prevent the proliferation of bacteria for several days.
Focusing on these five key areas should enable good growth rates and the development of healthy calves. For more information, or to have the AgriVantage team visit you on farm, please get in touch.
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