Feeding and Nutrition of dairy calves

Question 1

What is the main difference btw beef and dairy calves:

Answer 1

BEEF: the calf is left with the mother– the main product is the offspring

DAIRY: the calf is removed from the mother and fed milk replacers– MOTHERs MILK is the main product

Question 2

Timeline: ages, weights and ruminoreticulum to abomasum ratio (9)

Answer 2

• Day 0: 40-50kg
• 1 wk
• 3 wks
• 1 mnth: 0.5
• 2 mnths: 1.5
• 70 days
• 3 mnths: 80-110 kg
• 4 mnths: 4-5
• 6 mnths: 180-200kg

Question 3

Timeline: ages and feeding (5)

Answer 3

• 0-1wk: 8-10L a day of colostrum
• 1wk-3wks: 6L/day
• 3wks-2mnths: 8L/day
• 2 mnths-70 days: 7L—3L/day
• 70 days-6mnths: >1.5kg of dry feed per day

Question 4

Which is the most important stomach in calves

Answer 4

The abomasum in the most NB in young calves, it decr in size with age

Question 5

3 areas to mention about the calves digestive physio and development

Answer 5

Development of the rumen

Development of enzymes

Esophageal groove reflex

Question 6

Development of the rumen: (3)

Answer 6

1. Incr in the number of VFA’s- these incr the size of the rumen
2. Must establish a microbiome- so introduce solid feeds e.g hay and pellets from wk2
3. Development of papillae- incr the surface area and are triggered by hay fibres

Question 7

Development of enzyme function (4)

Answer 7

1. Pro-renin— renin: for casein ferm
2. Lipase: to digest milk fat
3. Lactase: Milk sugar (lactose) digestion
4. Maltase and saccharase- develop after 3-4wks

Question 8

Esophageal groove reflex

Answer 8

a “tube” allowing food to go straight from the mouth to the abomasum

For it to work with milk replacers must be at body temp of 37-38 degrees BUT can be altered by other factors

• Type of liquid intake
• Age
• Temp
• Chemicals e.g copper sulphate

Question 9

Composition of colostrum vs milk

Answer 9

Ig’s: 6 vs 0.09

Mg %: 0.04 vs 0.01

Vits: higher vs lower

Question 10

Calf training and feeding programmes

Answer 10

1. Traditional– beef
2. Liquid/artificial system: dairy

Question 11

Calf training and feeding programmes : wk 1 (4)

Answer 11

• The same for beef and dairy
• First 2 hrs of life: 4L of colostrum
• Day 1+2: 8-10L of colostrum spread into 4 meals each day
• Total for the week: 35L

Question 12

Calf training and feeding programmes: wk 2

Answer 12

• Traditional
  
  • Direct suckling
  • Disadvantages: waste of milk that could be sold
  • Unbalanced nutrient supply to the calves
• Liquid/artificial
  
  • better milk prod by cow
  • Whole milk and milk fat can be removed for Hu
  • Early weaning of calves

Question 13

Calf training and feeding programmes: systems used (6)

Answer 13

• The liquid is at 38-40degrees
• Whole milk and whole milk powder
• Skim milk/skim milk powder + fat supplement + water
• Protein supplement (soybean) + fat supplement
• Milk replacers: Skim milk powder + whey +soybean+ fat
• Acidified milk replacers are the same as above but with formic acid for converting pro-renin to renin

Question 14

Calf training and feeding programmes: how much at the different ages (3)

Answer 14

• 10-21 days: 6L per day
• 22-56 days: 8L per day
• 57-70 days: 7—-5L per day

(in the last week give 2x 1.5L per day)

Question 15

4 other stages of calf nutrition

Answer 15

1. Transition to fermentable feeds
2. Water requirement
3. Weaning
4. Postrearing

Question 16

Transition to fermentable feeds

Answer 16

As you decr the amnt of milk replacer, the amnt of solid feed begins to incr

From wk 2:

• Calf starter pellets: high conc and CP of 18-19%
• High quality meadow hay: high CP of 16%, low in CF 20%

Question 17

Water requirement:

Answer 17

Mnth 1: 8-10L per day

Mnth 2: 10-15L per day

Question 18

Weaning: (4)

Answer 18

• Usually takes place at aound 80-90 days
• Most NB is dry feed consumption- solid feed intake of the calf should be measured to determine an appropriate weaning time
• This time is usually when the calf eats 1.5kg a day of dry feed- consusts of 0.5-0.6kg of hay+0.8-1.2kg of conc
• From this point on the quality of conc is NB

Question 19

Conc and hay intake at the different ages

Answer 19

Conc vs hay (both in kg)

• 30 days: 0.15-1.2 vs 0.1-0.15
• 60 days: 0.6-0.8 vs 0.3-0.4
• 90 days: 1.5-1.8 vs 0.8-1

Question 20

Postrearing (3)

Answer 20

• Per day: 2-2.5kg of conc + roughages ad lib
• Goal: 800g daily gain
• 1 wk post weaning: change diet from starter to grower