The cold weather that comes with Canadian winters means that calf feeding programs need to be adjusted.

Maintenance requirements must be met for growth and development however ensuring strong growth has been linked to improved performance (earlier breeding and increased milk yield). In order to continue with setting a strong trend for growth, extra milk replacer needs to be fed during the winter. Wind, chill and wetness will demand more energy from the calf for maintenance.

Providing extra calories from protein, fat and lactose will ensure these energy needs are met. One school of thought is to provide extra energy through extra fat. Fat, however, must be digested and providing more means that the calf has to expend energy to digest a diet they may not be accustomed to. One of the studies conducted this year at the Grober Young Animal Development Center was to assess how calves performed when fed a regular (R) milk replacer (26/18) versus one with extra calories from fat (HF) (26/30). There was no difference between intakes of the milk replacer such that calves consuming the 26/18 drank on average 7.53 L/day and calves consuming the 26/30 drank on average 7.42 L/day. Grain intake was less throughout the trial for calves on the high fat milk replacer. Grain intake will play a large role in developing the rumen and ensuring the transition at weaning is less stressful.

Figure 1 Body weight differences in calves fed a regular milk replacer versus a high fat milk replacer.

Moreover, feed: gain (the measure of how much feed it takes to gain 1 kg of bodyweight) was less in calves consuming regular milk replacer (1.60 R; 1.71 HF). That means less R milk replacer was needed to gain the same amount of weight as the HF milk replacer. There was no difference in health events between the two groups. Adjusting a calf’s feeding program to compensate for changes in weather should be done gradually and carefully. Providing extra calories from one nutrient alone forces the calf to digest a new type of diet which can be challenging and upsetting to their digestive tract. It is also important to note that increasing a calf’s access to grain for extra calories will not be as efficient as milk replacer during this stage of growth where the digestibility of milk replacer is 97% or greater.

Providing extra calories through a balanced diet that they are already accustomed to drinking, remembering that calories come from protein and lactose as well, enables the calf to derive more energy from their feedstuffs without the upsetting change in feed.

Figure 2 Grain intake for calves on regular milk replacer versus the high fat milk replacer.

Steps to a successful winter feeding program:

1. Extra calories – provide extra calories through a balanced feed, one they are already accustomed.
2. Extra feeding – provide the extra calories in another meal to ensure smooth digestion.
3. Don’t just add grain – milk is much more digestible to a young calf then grain, provide extra calories through milk.

Kathleen Shore

Nutrition and QA Manager

Winter-feeding in cold climatic conditions requires additional attention to ensure that the young calf has been provided with sufficient nutrients for maintenance and for growth expectations.

The young calf has limited reserves of energy when exposed to temperatures below the lower critical temperature for extended periods of time.  These reserves are quickly depleted in approximately 18 hours for the newborn calf (Okamoto et al, 1986).

Research, under controlled dry conditions with adequate bedding, indicates that calves housed at -4^oC (24.8⁰F) require approximately 30% more calories for maintenance.  This number will increase as temperature goes down, humidity rises and calves are subject to wet bedding.  Adding extra bedding, straw in particular, will help raise the ambient temperature of the calf.  On average, when the calf can fully nest in the straw her surrounding temperature will rise by 4⁰C.

The effect of cold stress on potential gain per day for a 45kg (99 lb)calf when they are fed 12.5% DM or 125g (4.4 oz) of powder in a litre of water.

When a calf falls under negative energy balance, immune status can be easily compromised and the calf becomes susceptible to bacterial and viral infections.   To maintain the same amount of gain in colder environments increase the amount of powder fed to calves on average by 7.7g per °C below their critical temperature.

Fat and its source are important in milk replacers for young calves to ensure a high absorption and to best meet their energy needs especially in cold stress conditions.

Young animals require highly digestible fats and oils, with a correct fatty acid profile and saturation structure to provide a profile similar to milk fat.  This will help to maximize growth potential and avoid ‘fatty faeces’.  According to research done by Drackley (2000), protein requirement is a function of the energy allowable gain.

Correct mixing of the milk replacer and temperature of water used will provide a more uniform blend and low fat particle size (<1.5 microns). These factors encourage optimum absorption capacity by the young calf.

Effect of concentrate feeding:

Calves utilize energy less efficiently from starter feeds than milk replacer because carbohydrate and protein in the starter must be fermented in the developing rumen prior to digestion by the calf.

Feeding more of an appropriately balanced milk replacer diet to meet requirements for both energy and protein allowable gain appears to be the most systematic solution to cold stress challenge.  Feeding more starter will not help the young calf maintain a steady rate of gain during cold weather conditions.

Ways to help the young calf under conditions of cold stress:

• Ensure that the calf has access to dry, well-bedded shelter that provides protection from wind and is free from drafts.
• Provide extra energy through its feed by increasing the amount of milk replacer being fed.
• Observe the weather forecast so that changes can be introduced gradually avoiding stomach upset (bloating).

(These values are approximate based on the information in NRC, 2001.)

Feeding the extra milk replacer powder:

• The extra amount can and should be split into two or more meals
• It can be added on top of a milk meal

Kathleen Shore, M.Sc.

Nutrition and QA Manager

Grober Nutrition

Mark your calendars for November 3rd, 2011. The International Goat Symposium (www.goatsymposium.com) Speaker Program features a host of topics ranging from production to marketing.

This year, Grober Nutrition’s Kathleen Shore will present ‘New developments in kid feeding research’.

This research, from the Grober Young Animal Development Centre in Woodstock Ontario, will present practical information for producers as well as advancements in kid rearing. As the goat industry continues to build in Canada, young livestock nutrition is a critical area for development.

The trial at the Grober Centre focused on different feeding methods (mob vs automatic feeders), as well as looking at health and growth performance of the new Kid-Gro A+ (acidified milk replacer)

Grober Nutrition is dedicated to advancing young animal nutrition.

 The basis of the calf growth model

The calf’s digestive system is immature and requires milk ingredients as the primary source of nutrition. The first two months of a calf’s life are the greatest opportunity to optimize early and future growth.  Overwhelming evidence now proves there is a positive relationship between optimal (accelerated) feeding programs and first lactation milk output (2,3,5).  VanAmburgh’s research team (Cornell University) were able to determine that for every 1lb of average daily gain prior to weaning, heifers produced approximately 1,000lbs more milk throughout first lactation (6). To put this in economic terms; every extra dollar spend/calf on Grober Milk Replacer will yield a $6.00 increase in milk revenue from that animal in the first lactation alone (ROI=600%).  There are few investments that have this big of an impact on your bottom line.

While early nutrition is very important, over-conditioning (particularly between 3-15 months) can have detrimental effects on mammary gland development and thus future milk production.  The balance of nutrients provided in the milk phase is critical (Figure 1).  Providing excess calories primarily through fat can lead to fat deposition.  Dietary protein enables skeletal and muscular development while enhancing other cellular functions including the immune system. Feeding for higher gains in the milk phase (< 3 months; ≥ 900 g/d) may prevent heifers from over-conditioning, provided the correct protein level is included in your milk replacer. Furthermore, gains > 840g/day (between 12 and 65 days of age) have yielded a higher proportion of cows finishing 1^st lactation compared to calves gaining ≤ 741g/day (1).

Figure 1 Calf partitioning of fat and protein in the body

based on the level of crude protein in the milk replacer (4).

Grober Young Animal Development Centre Experience

The Grober Young Animal Development Centre in Woodstock, Ontario, examined the outcome of feeding 6 litres/day vs 9 L/d  of a higher protein milk replacer (Grober Excel 26% protein, 18% fat). Milk replacer was mixed at a rate of 150g/L. Calves fed 9 litres/day had significantly greater gains from week 2 to week 6 (Figure 2, p>0.05).

These higher body weights were attained even though calves drinking 6 L/day consumed more calf starter.  During the weaning phase (week 6-8) grain intakes in the higher milk group (9L/d) increased rapidly; calves fed 6 L/d continued to consume more grain.  However, this increased grain intake did not result in greater body weight gains.  Calves in the 9L/d group continued to outperform post weaning (Figure 2).

Figure 2 BW comparison between calves fed Grober Excel milk replacer at* 6L/day and 9L/day.

Actual Total Feed Cost to the Producer

When applying a tool developed by the University of Wisconsin, considerable cost benefit can be shown when feeding an optimal program.

http://www.uwex.edu/ces/dairymgt/tools/index.html

*Milk replacer costs for the conventional and optimal programs are based on Grober Excel and calf starter 22%, May 2010.

 Table 1 The cost benefits per calf of an optimal feeding program, using typical figures.

Table 1 highlights that an optimal milk feeding schedule reduces calving age by 1.2 months. This requires fewer replacement heifers for the same herd turnover. According to Dr. Corbett, (Corbett, OABP/OABA conf. April 2010)(7), this means 5 less heifers to feed annually for a 100 cow dairy.  Assuming a feed cost of $1800 per heifer, this translates into another $9000 in savings.

Optimal feeding Right From the Start makes for healthier, stronger animals, with improved long term productivity and improves your bottom line.

References

1. Bach, A.  2010.  Associations between several aspects of heifer development and dairy cow longevity. (abst ADSA Denver)
2. Ballard, C. H. Wolford, T. Sato, K. Uchida, M. Suekawa, Y. Yabuuchi, and K. Kobayashi.  2005. The effect of feeding three milk replacer regimens preweaning on first lactation performance of Holstein cattle.  J. Dairy Sci. 88:22(abst).
3. Bar-Peled, U., B. Robinson, E. Maltz, H. Tagari, Y. Folman, I. Bruckental, H. Voet, H. Gacitua, and A.R. Lehrer.  1997.  Increased weight gain and effects on production parameters of Holstein heifers that were allowed to suckle.  J. Dairy Sci. 80:2523-2528.
4. Bartlett, K. S. 2001. Interactions of protein and energy supply from milk replacers on growth and body composition of dairy calves. M.S. Thesis, University of Illinois, Urbana.
5. Foldager, J. and C.C. Krohn.  1994.  Heifer calves reared on very high or normal levels of whole milk from birth to 6-8 weeks of age and their subsequent milk production. Proc. Soc. Nutr. Physiol.,3.
6. Van Amburgh, M.  2007.  Early Life Management and Long-Term productivity of Dairy Calves.  A review.
7. Corbett. 2010. OABP/OABA conf. April 2010, Guelph, Ontario

Colostrum is the first milk produced after a cow gives birth; it is a nutrient dense, immunoglobulin rich milk designed for the newborn calf.  Delivering that milk with care is the key to ensuring that a calf’s immune system (immature at birth) starts to develop.  Making certain that this first immunological base is provided to young calves in a timely fashion will have a critical impact on the defense against health challenges common to young animals..

During the past 2 years more than 300 calves have resided at the Grober Young Animal Development Center, located in Woodstock, Ontario.  This Center focuses on nutritional and management research for pre-ruminants, such as calves (for Gro Facts e-blast please insert pict of GYADC).  Each calf entering the facility was tested for total protein (a simple blood test).  Total protein is a strong indicator of the colostrum program.  Higher values indicate a calf received enough colostrum within a timely fashion to start building a strong immune system.  Factors that will affect colostrum absorption are the cleanliness of: (a) the calf’s environment, (b) the feeding utensils (tube, bottle, nipple …) and (c) the cow before she was milked or the quality of water used to mix the colostrum replacer.

Figure 1 Body weight differences in calves that were above 5.5 mg/dL (SPT) and those that were below (FPT).

Figure 2 Relationship between total protein values and the number of health events.

Results from the Grober center show a clear pattern of improved growth in those calves with total protein greater than 5.5 mg/dL.  This improved status remained long after active immunity had taken hold, to show a difference of   2.2 kg (4.8 lbs) by 10 weeks of age (Figure 1).  Furthermore, calves with total protein over 5.5 mg/dL were sick less often (Figure 2).  It is clear that calves with blood levels over 6.5 mg/dL show the least incidence of disease.  It is critical to note that 64% of the calves lost before weaning had total protein levels below 5.5 mg/dL and 79% below 6.5 mg/dL.

Taking care in delivering quality colostrum to the calf can go a long way in protecting them from disease and death.  While 5.5 mg/dL is used as a pass or fail line, the data from the Grober Young Animal Development Center demonstrated that values above 6.5 mg/dL will make a significant difference to a calf’s health.  Early health and nutrition are tied into growth. If a calf is using nutrients from feed to get well, they will not be able to maximize their growth and that may impact their production in first lactation.  Calves enter the world vulnerable to whatever the environment presents to them, influencing that environment to best meet their needs is setting them up for success.

Steps to a successful colostrum program:

1. Cleanliness – animals, environment and feeding utensils.
2. Delivery time – within 6 hours of birth for the first meal, another meal before 24 hours.
3. Quality of the colostrum – work with your vet and test your calves for total protein.  That will help ensure that the right program is in place for success.
4. 4. Consider a colostrum replacer guaranteed to have 100g IgG within a pouch, proven to deliver successful passive transfer. Furthermore, products such as Grober ® CCT has been carefully pasteurized to eradicate precursors to disease. (and INSERT PICT OF PRODUCT available through grober nutrition….)

At birth, kid-goats are not yet functioning ruminants – the rumen develops over time.  The newborn kid-goat has an omasum and abomasum that comprises 70% of their digestive system compared to the adult goat where the rumen and reticulum make up 70% of their digestive system (Figure 1).  At birth, they have difficulty digesting sugars/starches until the rumen develops. They do have the digestive enzymes to break down lactose, the naturally occurring sugar in milk.

The esophageal groove is a reflexive tube that runs from the esophagus into the abomasum.  This reflex is stimulated by sucking enabling the animal to drink milk or milk replacer, and have it pass directly to the abomasum for digestion.  Nipple feeding further encourages this reflex to remain in place.  If milk by-passes to the rumen, it will ferment causing digestive upset in the animal. Repeated tube feedings will disrupt this reflex causing milk to pour into the rumen. This is not uncommon and can be characterized by unexplained pasty diarrhea.

Through the addition of forage and grain, a bacterial population will start to develop in the rumen.  The bacteria break down fibrous materials making the nutrients from these feedstuffs available to the animal.  Encouraging rumen development will allow kids to wean with ease and continue to grow well after milk has been removed.

Developing your feeding program

goat stomach

Kids need colostrum (first milk).  The timing, quality and source are important to ensuring that an immune response occurs protecting them against early environmental diseases.  Kids should receive 150-200 mL of colostrum within 90 minutes of birth.  Kids weighing 3-3.5 kg at birth should have a total colostrum intake of 600 mL over 24 hrs.  A typical rule of thumb is to ensure that kids get 4 g of IgG/kg of bodyweight.  IgG (immunoglobulin) is one of the proteins found in colostrum necessary for generating successful passive immunity transfer.  Sheep colostrum has been found in several studies to be a poor choice for colostrum; cow colostrum is more recommended however the risk of disease transfer is high.  Colostrum replacer is a good option for kids, the pasteurization process allows for a break in disease transfer (eg CAEV and Johnes).  Headstart    HiCal ® Kid colostrum replacer available through Grober, is specifically formulated for immunity, energy and mineral profile for kid goats.

A high quality milk replacer is an important kid rearing tool for raising orphan kids, multiple kids, to prevent the spread of disease and to ensure the milk is consistent at each meal.  Milk ingredients provide the most digestible food source to kids.  The key to using a milk replacer successfully is ensuring that it is thoroughly mixed.  Leaving undissolved clumps can cause digestive upset and deter kids from wanting to drink.  When properly mixed, milk replacers enable the kid to receive a consistent amount of calories and nutrients.  Most importantly, using a milk replacer allows for a break in disease such as Caprine Arthritic Encephalitis virus (CAEV) and Johne’s Disease which can be spread by infected colostrum and milk.

Bloat in kids

Bloat is a common problem in young pre-ruminants.  Bloat is an overproduction of gas caused by organisms (not necessarily pathogenic) in the rumen or abomasum. This can be caused by non-feed material in the abomasum and poor rumen development leading to quick growth of microbes that produce excessive gas.  Bloat can occur at any age under the right conditions such as irregular feeding times, too much time between feedings, and inconsistent mixing of milk replacer.

Too much time between feedings generates low pH in the true stomach for long periods of time.  The pH remains steadier when animals have access to milk more often.  Bloat can also be caused by certain bacteria, which are able to multiply rapidly under the right set of conditions.  One of the factors that allow for these bacteria to grow is a low pH (2-3).  This pH range is common in animals that have not eaten in a long while or are fed less frequently.  This type of bloat has a quick onset and a quick death and is most common in animals less than 2 months.

Feeding Management Tips

1.       Milk Replacer intake

a.       Up to 1 Litre/day the first week mixing at a rate of 150g/L.

b.      1.0-1.5 Litres/day thereafter aiming for an average daily gain of 140-250 g/d.

2.       Kids will eat starter/creep feeds by about 1 week old and begin ruminating around 2 weeks old.  Kids should be offered roughage (creep feed and/or hay) and unlimited water.

Cold milk feeding: this practice allows for kids to drink smaller meals frequently when the milk is fed at 20°C.  By spreading their feeding over a longer period of time this gives young kids time to digest.  This is not recommended for newly born kids.

Automatic feeding machines: allows for small amounts of warm milk to be made and available to kids at all times.  Regular maintenance is required, including cleaning and calibrating.

Acidified milk feeding: Some on-farm work has shown that the addition of organic acid, primarily formic acid, helps reduce the bacterial load in the milk when left available to allow for free-access feeding.  Care must be taken not to over acidify the milk; too much acid may also cause digestive upset.  The careful handling of acid is always recommended to avoid injuries to people or other animals.

Weaning: Weight at weaning is more important than age, it is also important that the kid is consuming solid feed regularly.  Weaning may be initiated when the kid has reached 2.5 times their birth weight and is eating 250 g of solid feed/day.

• Always feed colostrum, the more the calf gets before 6 hours of birth the better

o   Aim for 4 litres within 6 hours and then another 2 litres before 24 hours

o  Colostrum can be fed for several days and there is some evidence that colostrum after 24 hours still has some immune benefits

o  Consider colostrum replacer, such as Calf’s Choice Total, as a part of a strong calf program

• Transitions are always difficult but can be dangerous in smaller calves

o  When moving from colostrum to milk replacer, start milk replacer offerings slow – the calf must adjust to the new feed

o  Liquid manure is common throughout the entire milk feeding period, just watch for watery manure and signs of illness such as lack of energy, dull appearance, coughing etc…

• Sanitation is critical to a good calf management program

o  Wash feeding utensils daily (optimally after each feeding) with warm soapy water

o  All utensils should be left to dry in an area that isn’t near animals

o  Bedding should be dry and changed

o  People handling calves should wash hands or use gloves – especially if having handled cows

• Jersey calves are smaller

o  Smaller stomachs require frequent feedings to allow a calf to properly digest its feed

o  Nutrients are energetically expensive for the calf to digest (it takes a lot of their energy to break nutrients down and absorb)

§ If too many nutrients are provided at once, the calf’s stomach will become overwhelmed and milk will either travel back to the rumen and cause bloating or it will pass right through the calf and cause nutritional scours

o  Without nutrients a calf will not grow and develop, so it is best to design the feeding schedule to MAXIMIZE nutrient uptake

§  Smaller meals frequently keeps the calf well fed and allows for nutrients to be broken down and absorbed

The recommended feeding schedule below is  based on 150g/L of Grober High Performance milk replacer.

This feeding schedule was developed through NRC, 2001 based on the energy requirements of a typical Jersey calf.  Intakes should be adjusted to meet individual calf needs

More milk can be offered to Jersey calves starting week 2 then the feeding schedule above permits as long as multiple meals per day are also offered.  Automatic calf feeding machines are a good option for allowing the calf many meals in one day.

However, calves require that increased nutrition in order to optimize growth.

Moreover, production objectives such as:

• decreasing age at first breeding,
• improving health status,
• and ultimately building a more efficient and productive dairy cow is now an expected outcome of a calf nutrition program.

The basis of the calf growth model

The calf’s digestive system is immature and requires milk or milk replacer as the primary source of nutrition. The first two months of calf growth are the greatest opportunity to optimize early growth. There has been some evidence showing a positive relationship between accelerated feeding programs and first lactation milk output (2,3,5). VanAmburgh’s research team (Cornell University) were able to determine that for every 1lb of average daily gain prior to weaning, heifers produced approximately 1,000lbs more milk throughout first lactation (6). The implications are clear that proper nutrition right from the start will have long-lasting economic benefits. Energy intake is the main driver of bodyweight gain (BWG) however protein intake can influence both BWG and body composition. Protein can be utilized efficiently during the first two months, especially when protein comes from highly digestible milk products.

While early nutrition is very important, over-conditioning (particularly between 3-15 months) can have detrimental effects on mammary gland development and thus future milk production. Feeding for higher gains in the milk phase (< 3 months; ≥ 900 g/d) may prevent heifers from over-conditioning. Furthermore, gains >840g/day (between 12 and 65 days of age) have yielded a higher proportion of cows finishing 1st lactation compared to calves gaining ≤741g/day (1). The balance of nutrients provided in the milk phase is critical (Figure 1). Providing extra calories primarily through fat can lead to fat deposition. Energy from protein enables skeletal and muscular development while enhancing other cellular functions including the immune system. The milk phase offers the best opportunity for setting your heifer up for optimal growth and future production. A milk replacer balanced correctly for protein and fat is a farmer’s best tool for producing optimal heifers.

Figure 1 Calf partitioning of fat and protein in the body based on the level of crude protein in the milk replacer (4).

Grober Young Animal Development Centre Experience

The Grober Young Animal Development Centre in Woodstock, Ontario, examined the outcome of feeding 6 litres/day vs 9 L/d  of a higher protein milk replacer (Grober Excel 26% protein, 18% fat). Milk replacer was mixed at a rate of 150g/L. Calves fed 9 litres/day had significantly greater gains from week 2 to week 6 (Figure 2, p>0.05).

These higher body weights were attained even though calves drinking 6 L/day consumed more calf starter (Table 1).  During the weaning phase (week 6-8) grain intakes in the higher milk group (9L/d) increased rapidly; calves fed 6 L/d continued to consume more grain.  However, this increased grain intake did not result in greater body weight gains.  Calves in the 9L/d group continued to outperform post weaning (Figure 2).

Figure 2 Body weight comparison between calves fed higher protein milk replacer at* 6L/day and 9L/day.

Table 1 Calf starter intake (kg/day) of calves fed 6L/day of high protein milk replacer compared to calves fed 9L/day of high protein milk replacer. (^a,b columns with different superscripts are significantly different at p<0.05; weeks 1-3 all calves consumed <150g/day.)

What it means to the producer

In raising heifers, the largest cost inputs are feed and days of growth needed to achieve productive status. Optimum heifer growth is a function of the time to reach first calving with the correct bodyweight, height, age and development to express full lactation potential. Maximizing the potential production and minimizing days to first calving can help in overall farm economics.

When applying a tool developed by the University of Wisconsin, considerable cost benefit can be shown when feeding an optimal program and calving at 22.8 months.

Table 2 The cost benefits per calf of an optimal feeding program, using typical figures.

Using University of Wisconsin – management tool http://www.uwex.edu/ces/dairymgt/tools/index.html

*Milk replacer costs for the conventional and optimal programs are based on Grober Excel and calf starter 22%, May 2010.

Summary – Benefits and Opportunities of Optimal Feeding Programs

Cost benefit at weaning

• Improved growth rate - calves on optimal milk replacer programs have higher weight gain.  This improved growth continues beyond weaning.
• Improved health – strong, well nourished calves have an enhanced immune system and improved response to disease challenge.

Cost benefit at calving

• Reduced heifer replacement costs – decreased time to breeding and first calving
• Improved milk production ability – High early gains (pre-3 months) allows for energy at a time when growth and development of the mammary glands are not adversely affected.

References

1. Bach, A.  2010.  Associations between several aspects of heifer development and dairy cow longevity. (abst ADSA Denver)
2. Ballard, C. H. Wolford, T. Sato, K. Uchida, M. Suekawa, Y. Yabuuchi, and K. Kobayashi.  2005. The effect of feeding three milk replacer regimens preweaning on first lactation performance of Holstein cattle.  J. Dairy Sci. 88:22(abst).
3. Bar-Peled, U., B. Robinson, E. Maltz, H. Tagari, Y. Folman, I. Bruckental, H. Voet, H. Gacitua, and A.R. Lehrer.  1997.  Increased weight gain and effects on production parameters of Holstein heifers that were allowed to suckle.  J. Dairy Sci. 80:2523-2528.
4. Bartlett, K. S. 2001. Interactions of protein and energy supply from milk replacers on growth and body composition of dairy calves. M.S. Thesis, University of Illinois, Urbana.
5. Foldager, J. and C.C. Krohn.  1994.  Heifer calves reared on very high or normal levels of whole milk from birth to 6-8 weeks of age and their subsequent milk production. Proc. Soc. Nutr. Physiol.,3.
6. Van Amburgh, M.  2007.  Early Life Management and Long-Term productivity of Dairy Calves.  A review.

Newborn animals are vulnerable to infection and disease. Immunoglobulins (Ig’s) are the first defence against disease and necessary for stimulation of the immune system.

Young ruminants (calves, lambs, kids) are born with negligible circulating concentrations of immunoglobulins (antibodies). Ig’s do not pass across the placenta prior to birth. Since there is no maternal sharing, ensuring that calves receive these Ig’s at birth is the only way to protect a newborn from environmental and disease challenges. Colostrum must be fed as soon as possible (within the first hour, preferably within 30 minutes of birth). Ig’s are absorbed intact into the newborn’s blood stream within a 6 hour window.

Young animal diseases often affect the gastrointestinal tract where they cause damage and symptoms of disease – diarrhea and dehydration. The intestines of young animals are not fully developed for several months. Ig cells help protect the gastrointestinal tract from pathogens. Colostrum also has a laxative effect and stimulates the normal function of the digestive tract.

Most importantly perhaps, Ig’s from colostrum stimulate the immune system. By building this “memory bank”, young animals now have the tools to mount a defense against disease.

Observations from the Grober Young Animal Development Centre (GYADC)

Further to disease prevention, early ingestion of good quality colostrum supports better gains in calves. During 2009 at the Grober Young Animal Development Centre, all calves entering the facility were tested for total proteins using blood serum. Calves were classified as failure of passive transfer (FPT) for total protein values <5.5mg/dL and successful passive transfer (SPT) for value above 5.6 mg/dL. All calves had received dam’s colostrum on their home farm according to a standard protocol.

During two separate trials at the Centre, calf growth was plotted and graphed according to total protein results (FPT or SPT).

In trial one, growth was plotted over a 10 week period. By the 5th week, SPT calves out-weighed FPT calves by 1.6kg (3.5lb) and by week 10 by 2.2kg (4.8lb). All calves were fed the same volume of Grober Excel milk replacer (6L/day).

In a second feeding trial, calves were fed an accelerated amount of Grober Excel (9L/day). By 10 weeks SPT calves outweighed FPT calves by 5.4kg (11.9lb) (see Figure 1). Even by 10 weeks of age, the gap in body weights between the two groups did not narrow. For every gram of milk replacer fed, the calves with SPT utilized these nutrients with greater efficiency. This data supports the vital concept that the first meal (colostrum) provides rich nutrients and antibodies with long term benefits.

Figure 1 Body weight comparison between calves with successful passive transfer and failure passive transfer.

What is Colostrum?

Colostrum is the thick, creamy, yellow secretion provided from the mammary gland for the first 24 hours after birth.

Colostrum provides a source of immunoglobulins (Ig’s) and other nutrients (protein, energy, vitamins and minerals, gut growth factors) vital for the newborn.

Immunoglobulins (antibodies) help to prevent infections by identifying and destroying pathogens. There are three main Ig’s identified in cow’s milk: IgG, IgA and IgM. The antibodies that the dam passes on depends on the diseases she has been exposed to throughout her life. First lactation animals, for this reason, will often secrete a more limited range of antibodies.

Newborns are born with very low energy stores and generally poor insulative protection, especially during the first few hours after birth. Energy from colostrum (through fat and lactose) supplies calories to help with thermoregulation. Heat production is important for survival and in particular, for animals born into cold environments in helping to prevent hypothermia. Proteins in colostrum are utilized for protein synthesis in addition to the absorption of Ig’s.

Vitamins A, D and E do not cross the placenta in significant amounts, so the newborn must rely on oral ingestion for these vitamins. Levels in colostrum are significantly higher than milk, but will depend on maternal nutrition prior to birth. These vitamins are important to the animal for the resistance of disease.

Growth factors are thought to promote gut growth and development, especially during the first 24-48 hours after birth.

Collection, Feeding, Handling & Storage

Please visit the University of Wisconsin, School of Veterinary Medicine web site for colostrum handling protocol.

http://www.vetmed.wisc.edu/dms/fapm/fapmtools/8calf/colosprot.pdf

http://www.vetmed.wisc.edu/dms/fapm/fapmtools/calves.htm

Calf’s Choice Total

A quality commercial colostrum replacer product is a safe and effective alternative to dam’s colostrum. Colostrum replacers provide consistent, disease free, and guaranteed levels of Ig’s. Along with the protective immunity, certain colostrum replacers offer rich nutrition needed by young animals. Colostrum replacers are of particular importance when high quality colostrum is not available or during a Johne’s eradication program.

Commercial products must provide sufficient biologically active IgG’s. Calf’s Choice Total is a supplement product that guarantees 100g of IgG per package (470g). Typically this is enough to have successful passive transfer. This product is Canadian sourced colostrum and tested with selection for antibodies toward specific diseases such as E. coli, Bovine Rotavirus and Bovine Coronavirus. All products are tested to ensure that it is free of Johne’s bacterium, free of Salmonella and free of E. coli.

Calf’s Choice Total was compared to other colostrum replacer products on the market (see Figure 2). Through both feeding approaches (1 bag or 2), calves fed Calf’s Choice Total not only met minimum SPT levels but surpassed those levels; the competitor product in both cases did not achieve minimum threshold.

*Attention to detail is required in storage and mixing instructions (i.e. use clean vessels for mixing and feeding, clean water to rehydrate colostrum supplements or replacers, etc.). Store product in a cool dry place and once mixed, use immediately.

Kathleen Shore, MSc.
Nutritionist
Grober Nutrition
(800) 265-7863 ex.201
kshore@grober.com

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Introduction

Producers have traditionally raised calves in individual pens or hutches. This rearing system has had advantages of individual feeding, observation and reduced risk of cross-contamination. It is however, still labour intensive. Dairy cattle are naturally group-living animals. Group-housed calves can enjoy an early social interaction and learn to understand group behaviour. Research is now proving that well-managed group housed calf rearing systems can provide advantages for both calves and producers.

Automatic feeding systems for group housing

Group housing often requires intensive management. In non-automated group housing individual intake is difficult to monitor. Moreover, sub-clinical or ill calves may be challenging to identify and therefore treat appropriately.

The new generation of automatic feeding systems (like the Förster-Technik model sold through DeLaval, Lely and Westfalia/GEA) can be easily programmed to effectively feed and monitor calves on an individual basis. There is software available to accumulate a significant amount of information and provide detailed data analysis of individual calves and/or the group for high management control with low labour requirements. An example of data collected includes daily milk replacer intake and number of visits to the feeder. Alarms will be triggered when deviations occur. Individual medication, electrolyte/additive administration programs are also available options.

Feeding management

In conventional feeding by pail, calves are fed limited amounts of milk replacer (i.e.) 2-3 litres of milk replacer twice a day, the equivalent of 500-900g of solids. For optimal heifer growth and development calf feeding recommendations have increased to 8-10 liters/day, the equivalent of 1200-1500g of solids, sometimes even more.

The advantages of feeding calves more milk are widely published. Areas studied include calf growth, height, starter consumption, medication use/costs, time management, and the increased output of milk during the first lactation (references available upon request). These published advantages examine the economic impacts of feeding more milk replacer.

Grober Nutrition, based in Cambridge, Ontario is working in partnership with Förster-Technik, a world leader in automatic calf feeding, to establish further on-farm practice and benefits. The concept of smaller meals being offered more frequently could lead to improved digestion and may also aid in the prevention of severe scouring.

Group feeding experience

Grober Nutrition has been evaluating group housing systems for over 20 years and have more recently collated data from CY Heifer Farms (Elba, N.Y.) and the Grober Young Animal Development Centre (GYADC) (Woodstock, Ont.). The trials were set up to examine and quantify the growth, development, medication usage rate and economics of feeding the same amount of milk to group fed calves compared with individually fed calves. The first data set from CY Farms was evaluated based on 582 calves and concluded no significant difference in live weight and growth rate between the two feeding practices. Group fed calves, however, showed a significantly lower medication cost(P<0.05) during the CY Farms trial period compared to individually fed calves. Computer data analysis allowed for earlier detection of illness and labour was reduced by 52%.

The Grober Young Animal Development Centre in Woodstock, Ontario, enables Grober to compare both individual and group housing methods under one roof. This means that nutrition programs, calf-rearing technologies and other calf products can be examined simultaneously under both management systems.

Recent data from the Grober Centre shows that calves in groups exceeded average daily gains compared to individually housed calves starting week 5 and continuing past weaning (see Table 1).

Table 1. Average Daily Gain (ADG) of calves receiving 6L/day of milk replacer as compared between groups and individual pens. (All values reported in kg/day).

blue, red columns with different superscripts are significantly different at p<0.05

While ADG often fluctuates due to environmental and health influences there was no significant difference in average body weight until weaning (week 7). Throughout weaning and post-weaning, calves in group housing achieved a significantly higher average body weight (see Figure 1.

Improved gains may be attributed to the significant increase (P< 0.05) in starter intake from automatic grain feeders prior to weaning for the group fed calves. However, during weaning, calves in individual pens achieved similar calf starter intake compared to group housed calves.

Group Housing & Health

There are perceived health concerns when calves have nose-to-tail contact. Automatic calf feeding machines are a tool for early detection of illness.

Grober Nutrition assessed the cost of medication to evaluate whether group housed calves are more likely to require therapeutic intervention (see Figure 2).

The data illustrates that individual calves suffered significantly more illness early on (i.e. scours).

During week 4, a significant difference in cost was associated with group calves (respiratory illness). Overall, group fed calves showed a significantly lower medication cost compared to individually fed calves. Age, body weight and a higher plane of nutrition may have accounted for more moderate medication use and cost.

Group Housing Considerations

Selecting calves for group housing with automation requires a thrifty calf with a strong suckling reflex. The calf manager should group calves of similar age and body weight. Group housing of calves has many time and labour saving advantages. It provides improved access to space, allowing for more vigorous activity, and with automation, improves feed consistency and number of feeds.

Group housing can facilitate earlier socialization. Moreover, there may be minimization of stress associated with changes in feed and environment post-weaning for calves.

For more details please contact Grober Nutrition at www.grobernutrition.com  or toll free 1-800-265-7863

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