Neonatal Ruminant Nutrition

Question 1

describe separation and weaning for dairy cattle (4)

Answer 1

1. removed from dam within the first day
2. fed colostrum by bottle or esophageal feeder to quickly provide known high quality colostrum
3. fed milk 8-12 weeks, along with introduction/availability of calf starter
4. weaned from milk onto calf starter when rumen is ready

Question 2

why are dairy cows separated from their dams within the first day? (3)

Answer 2

1. calves left to suckle are at 2.5x higher risk for failure of passive transfer
2. protect calves from pathogens in adult environment
3. increased stress behavior if separated later

Question 3

how are beef calves raised/weaned? (4)

Answer 3

1. traditionally reared on pasture with dam, who produces milk and raises the calf
2. calf drinks and begins to graze forage after a few months
3. calf may be feed supplemental feed with use of a creep feeder
4. calf is eventually separated from dam (weaned off milk) around 6-8 months of age

Question 4

what are the 5 Cs of calf care?

Answer 4

1. colostrum
2. calories
3. comfort
4. cleanliness
5. consistency of care

Question 5

what does colostrum provide to a calf? (4)

Answer 5

1. IgG
2. energy: fat, protein, lactose
3. vitamins, minerals
4. immune modulators: cells and soluble factors

Question 6

what are the 5 Qs of colostrum?

Answer 6

1. Quality
2. Quantity
3. Quickness
4. sQueaky clean
5. Quantifying passive transfer

Question 7

what marks quality colostrum? how is this measured?

Answer 7

1. IgG content >50g/dL, Brix 22%
2. visual inspection for color and cleanliness, can use a colostrometer to check density, or a Brix refractometer

Question 8

describe common practices of colostrum feeding (2)

Answer 8

1. most farms feed 2-4 quarts in first 24 hours, or 10% of birth weight in 1-2 meals
2. if greater than or equal to 4 quarts, use bottle or esophageal tube, if less than 4 quarts, a bottle is preferred

Question 9

describe colostrum quantity and quickness

Answer 9

1. quantity depends on quality and timing
2. efficiency of absorption depends on timing: gut is fully closed at 24 hours but it begins closing at birth, so the sooner good quality colostrum can be provided, the better

Question 10

what contributes to sQueaky cleanliness of colostrum? (3)

Answer 10

1. sanitation: in collection practices
2. contamination: reduce during storage and feeding
3. incubation: temperature control is key

Question 11

what are 4 methods of meeting the caloric needs of neonatal calves?

Answer 11

1. whole milk: as fed is 3.1% protein and 3.6% fat, dry matter is 25% protein and 29% fat
2. non-saleable milk: similar to whole, but may have daily variation based on who is contributing, prefer to feed to older, more established calves
3. milk replacer: commonly 20:20 DM protein to fat
4. starter feed is needed to gain weight, fight cold, and support the immune system!

Question 12

sum up neonatal calf nutrition (5)

Answer 12

1. start with high quality colostrum QUICKLY, of a known quality in the right quantity with a low bacteria count
2. provide enough milk or milk replacer to meet needs for maintenance, growth, and the immune system
3. always offer fresh clean water
4. offer small amounts of calf starter feed in first week of life, then increase to ad libitum
5. no hay or straw before weaning: pre-ruminants are similar to monogastrics and cannot really digest fiber yet

Question 13

describe weaning of dairy calves (2)

Answer 13

1. traditionally around 8-12 weeks of age because liquid feeding is expensive and labor intensive
2. once the rumen is ready (as evidenced by eating enough starter or measuring butyrate in the blood, indicating a working rumen), in terms of rumen flora, absorptive capacity, and muscular capacity, transition from milk to complete calf starter feed

Question 14

what is the major difference in effect on the rumen between milk fed versus grain fed calves? why is this?

Answer 14

milk-fed only calves have a much flatter rumen, with poorly developed papilla; grain fed calves have increased papilla which increase surface area for VFA absorption once they start eating fiber;

feeding of carbohydrates leads to VFA production which stimulates rumen papilla growth which increases the ability to absorb VFAs and rely solely on dry feed

Question 15

describe post-weaning group pens

Answer 15

post-weaning calves need more easily fermentable carbs than hay and also need more protein to build their bodies, so are fed separately