Management Tips
Management Tips for Optimum Calf Performance
Management plays a major role in the ultimate success of any calf program. It is important to consider basic management techniques that have been developed over the years and have proven to be sound practices. Keeping this in mind, it is also good to note that there could be a number of variations applied to a single sound principle, any of which may work for you on your operation, while still keeping the basic proven principle intact. The learning process is never ending and experience is invaluable.
The following are a few basic principles that have to date stood the test of time, calf physiology, economics and nutritional science, and have proven to be effective key management techniques used to optimize calf performance. Please discuss these in greater detail with your dairy herd consultant.
| 1.) Feeding Colostrum: Feed colostrum milk (102' F) for the
first three days. For best results, it is important to get colostrum into the calf as soon
as possible after birth (especially first milk colostrum). Calves should receive 1 quart
of colostrum within 30 minutes after birth and another 2 quarts within 6 hours thereafter.
Then feed 2 quarts of colostrum at 12 hour intervals. Colostrum quality can vary greatly
depending on the age, health, nutritional status, immune development and milk out period
(ex. 1st, 2nd or 3rd milking after freshening) of the cow. These directions are based on
optimum quality colostrum assuming the cow has been vaccinated and fed properly. 2.) Water mixing temperature: Water mixing temperature is very important to the over-all performance of any calf milk replacer. Most calf milk replacers contain emulsifying additives like lecithin to help disperse fat particles evenly throughout the milk replacer solution. Proper dispersion reduces clumping of fat particles. This is very important since smaller fat particles are more digestible. Warmer water temperatures enhance fat particle dispersion. Recommended water mixing temperatures of 120' - 140' F will work nicely. Some calf producers use even warmer water (up to 180' F) for mixing water temperature and have found benefits in increased rates of gain. Even though a calf milk replacer may mix well in cool water (less than 100' F) there are definite benefits to the calf when mixing with warmer water. 3.) Feeding temperature: The recommended final drinking temperature of a calf milk replacer solution is 102' F - 105' F. Drinking temperatures less than this can significantly affect how the calf milk replacer solution is routed through the calves digestion system and ultimately may reduce digestibility and calf performance. This is a very important management tool used by professional calf producers to improve calf performance and reduce mortality and morbidity. 4.) Feeding higher levels of calf milk replacer per day: It is important to note that when using a high quality Cold Processed calf milk replacer like CALFMILCO, it is possible to feed higher rates of calf milk replacer powder per calf per day, even when feeding only two times per day. It is important to follow proper management techniques like the ones described above. Follow the product tag directions closely when feeding higher levels of calf milk replacer and discuss other feeding and management techniques with your consultant to learn how to optimize this useful nutritional approach to calf feeding. These feeding rates can be very beneficial to calves in confinement, under stress or in cold weather conditions. 5.) For more management tips, visit with your dairy herd consultant.
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