Feeding the calf to weaning Flashcards
1
Q
What are different contraints on calf growth?
A
- Disease - neonatal calf scours, pneumonia
- Sub-optimal nutrition
- Sub-optimal environment
2
Q
What are the benefits of group housing calves?
A
*Better growth
*Welfare = social interaction
*Less labour cost
*Increase disease risk
3
Q
What should be considered considering environment with calves?
A
*Temperature - less than 15oC = calf uses energy to stay warm
*Humidity
4
Q
When should you wean dairy calves?
A
*When eating at least 1.5kg daily for 2-3days
*When at least 8 weeks old
*Weighing at least 65kg
5
Q
How can you wean dairy calves?
A
- Dilute milk replacer - keep same volume but fewer calories
or - Reduce volume of milk but keep same concentration
*Wean over at least 1 week
6
Q
How can you feed more milk replacer to calves?
A
- Increase milk replacer concentration
- Increase volume per feed = 3.5L
- Feed 3x daily
- Ad-lib feeding
7
Q
How can you monitor calf/heifer growth?
A
*Weight
*Withers height
8
Q
What is important for rumen development?
A
*Grain feed = starch
