How long calf on milk

But, there is a delicate balance. Keeping calf starter and water fresh and readily available is vital to maintain optimal calf growth. When should you begin giving starter to your calves? Find out: First two weeks of life Within the first two weeks of life, calves typically consume little calf starter and are more dependent upon liquid nutrition.

During this phase, replace calf starter every day and discard old feed. Stale calf starter may look ok to eat but may not be palatable. Your chosen milk replacer should come with clear instructions on how much to feed your calf. Make sure to follow these instructions as the amount of milk replacer to use per feeding may vary from brand to brand. Thoroughly wash your hands and gather your clean, sanitised and dry tools.

Add half of the total amount of cleanwater to the mixing bucket or container, making sure that the temperature is between 40 to 50 degrees Celsius.

Weigh out the proper amount of calf milk replacer powder and add to the mixing container. Stir for 1 to 3 minutes until the mixture is properly combined. Add the remaining clean water and mix again. The final temperature should be around 40 to 42 degrees Celsius when fed to the calf. Transfer the made-up liquid milk to the bottle and snap on the nipple.

Feed the calf! Young calves may instinctually try to head-butt your hand or the bottle, so be sure to hold the bottle steady while feeding.

Once the calf is done feeding, thoroughly clean, sanitise and air-dry all of your feeding tools. Store them in a clean and convenient location to facilitate the next feeding. Milk replacer generally contains between 20 and 28 percent crude protein, with 20 to 22 percent crude protein being most common.

Crude fat levels range from 10 to 28 percent, and 20 percent is the most common. It is important that major minerals including calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium , trace elements, and vitamins A, D, and E are balanced as well. Many companies also offer high protein, low fat milk replacers protein greater than 24 percent and fat less than 20 percent that provide a more optimum ratio of protein to energy for efficient growth. It is important to pay close attention to the feeding instructions for these milk replacers.

Calves must be fed more than in conventional programs and the amount fed to each calf may need to be adjusted as the calf grows. Instructions for feeding are detailed on the milk replacer feed tag. Calves also must be managed more carefully when feeding for higher rates of gain as they may be more susceptible to nutritional scours, especially when milk replacer is fed at greater than Grain intake often is reduced in early life, thereby limiting rumen development.

Research and on-farm experience have shown that this can result in restricted growth after weaning and produce calves that are similar in size to conventionally fed calves by 4 to 6 months of age. Follow the manufacturer's instructions for powder and water amounts, water temperature, and mix order; these instructions typically are printed on the label.

Mixing is difficult at lower temperatures, and higher temperatures can cause the fat to separate. It is important to measure dried milk replacer and water accurately to be sure the amount of solids fed is correct.

For the most consistent mixing, use a scale to weigh both the powder and the water and a thermometer to check water temperature. Alternatively, use the cup provided in the bag to measure powder and measure the water by volume. Mix milk replacer using slow, circular motion. Whipping, mixing too fast, and mixing too long can cause foaming or separation of fat into a greasy surface layer.

Good milk replacer will go into solution easily and leave no clumps of powder. In reality, milk replacer is not a true solution, but rather a suspension, so most milk replacer will settle if left standing more than 10 to 15 minutes.

If milk replacer must stand before feeding, give it a quick stir before feeding each calf. Before the mids, whole milk was the primary liquid feed for calves. It is an excellent feed for calves, but its use was discouraged for over 50 years because milk replacer was usually a cheaper feed source. However, since the mids milk replacer prices have risen quite a bit due to the increasing use and value of whey protein.

When evaluating your options for liquid feed, calculate the actual costs rather than making assumptions based on tradition. As market conditions change, there may be times when whole milk from the bulk tank is a very viable option.

In addition to cost, disease transmission is a potential problem when feeding whole milk, so consider pasteurizing whole milk before feeding. Be sure to consider the storage and handling changes that would need to occur if switching from a milk replacer program to a whole milk system.

A calf should be fed whole milk at a rate of approximately 10 to 12 percent of its body weight per day. Feeding much below this amount causes poor growth due to lack of necessary nutrients. Feeding higher levels of whole milk can result in more rapid growth rates, but it is not recommended due to decreases in grain consumption and prolonged weaning time and slowed rumen development.

Waste milk can support weight gains similar to whole milk without increasing scours or illness. However, feeding waste milk increases risks of pathogen exposure, antibiotic residues, and antibiotic resistance. In addition, day-to-day variability of waste milk may contribute to scours and poor growth in young calves, especially on very small farms. Calves raised for bob or heavy veal should not be fed milk from cows treated with antibiotics. These compounds leave residues in the veal calf.

Milk from treated cows should only be fed to calves kept as herd replacements or kept for at least eight weeks after the last feeding of treated milk. Waste milk contains more microbial life than other liquid feeds.

This dictates extra care in storing and handling this milk. Storage at room temperature for even a short period of time will allow rapid growth of bacteria. Mastitic milk should not be fed to group-housed calves that come into direct contact with other calves. Calves that suck each other immediately after drinking mastitic milk may actually inoculate the immature teats and eventually cause heifer mastitis.

Mastitis-causing organisms can be passed only through direct contact; they cannot be passed from the gut to the udder. Waste milk from cows with known infections of Johne's, E. Pooling milk from several cows is a common, but very risky, practice. The high number of bacteria in waste milk greatly increases the chance of spreading disease, and a single infected cow could pass disease to many calves.

So while pooling waste milk may dilute microbial numbers, it is not recommended unless milk is pasteurized before feeding.

When waste milk is fed regularly, pasteurization should be considered. Both batch vat and continuous flow high temperature, short time or HTST methods can effectively reduce the bacteria in waste milk.

Batch methods should include agitation to ensure even distribution of heat throughout the milk. Regular monitoring of the time required to achieve the target temperature, the holding time, and temperatures throughout the pasteurization and cleaning cycles are recommended for best results. Keep in mind that some bacteria may survive pasteurization; it is not sterilization. In addition, proper cleaning and sanitation of equipment and proper handling of pasteurized milk are still required to prevent excessive bacterial growth.

Milk not fed within 24 hours should be pasteurized again before feeding. Lower quality colostrum should not be fed to newborns, but can be fed after their initial colostrum feeding is complete. After the first milking, milk composition progressively becomes closer to normal milk. During this transition period, milk must be withheld from the bulk tank.

Rather than pour it down the drain, many producers feed transition milk to calves. Excess colostrum and transition milk provide a high quality, economical liquid diet; however, nutrient content may vary considerably from day to day and may contribute to scouring and poor growth.

This is especially true when milk is collected from a small number of cows. Variability in nutrient content is reduced when milk from a larger number of cows is pooled; however the risk of disease transfer increases with pooled milk.

To minimize disease risk, pooled milk can be pasteurized or calves can be fed milk from a single cow. For many years, liquid feeding programs were designed to limit the amount of liquid feed and encourage early intake of dry feeds. While these programs do not support maximal weight gains before weaning, they do promote rumen development and early weaning.

Early weaning systems encourage rumen development and continued growth after weaning. Interest in feeding larger amounts of liquid feeds has increased, and with higher feeding rates and proper care calves can grow faster without increased rates of nutritional scours.

In most cases, differences in calf growth due to preweaning feeding rate disappear by the time calves reach 4 to 6 months of age. A wide range of growth can be achieved by selecting a feeding program that matches your goals for calf growth. When evaluating different feeding programs, weigh the increased cost of feed against increased weight gain using cost per pound of gain.

In addition, evaluate the long-term impact of higher rates of gain from an economic standpoint. Weight advantages at weaning must translate into reduced age at first calving, increased milk production, or improved health if they are to be cost effective for the majority of U.

Since age at calving is more impacted by management and older heifer feeding programs and since growth rates prior to weaning have been shown to minimally influence milk production levels, improvements in calf health are required to justify increased costs of liquid feeds. A general recommendation is to feed milk at 10 percent of birth weight or milk replacer at 12 percent of birth weight. As an example, feeding at 12 percent of birth weight, a pound calf would need 12 pounds of milk replacer per day.

This amount is typically divided into two feedings of 6 pounds. One pint of liquid milk or milk replacer weighs about 1 pound, so this would be 3 quarts at each feeding.

At 10 percent of bodyweight, a calf weighing 80 pounds would receive 8 pounds, fed in two feedings of 2 quarts each. Faster growth rates can be achieved at higher feeding rates, but be sure to gradually increase the amount you are feeding to allow calves to adjust and to limit scouring.

Growth rates over 1. Remember, if all calves are fed the same amount regardless of body weight, some will be underfed and some will be overfed. The amount fed must be adjusted during periods of stress, particularly for calves under 3 weeks of age. Consistency in calf feeding is commonly recommended, but there is not much research on the effect of consistent or inconsistent feeding programs on calf performance. One study included two experiments using milk and milk replacer to investigate the effects of inconsistent nutrient intake.

In the first trial all calves were fed about one pound of dry matter each day and received one gallon of liquid feed. Calves were weaned at 42 days. Milk-fed calves received more energy and protein, but preweaning average daily gain, starter intake, and feed efficiency were higher in calves fed milk replacer. In the second trial two milk replacers were fed at either a variable or fixed rate each day to provide 1. Total amount fed per week was similar, and calves were weaned at 28 days.

Calves fed the fixed rate of milk replacer had greater average daily gain, starter intake, and feed efficiency before weaning than those fed a variable rate. In both experiments, calves fed a consistent diet grew faster and more efficiently than those fed an inconsistent diet. Effects of variation in nutrient intake were seen in these trials, even though the average or total nutrient intake was similar.

In real world conditions, neither total nor average intake is controlled. This suggests that the actual impact of inconsistencies in mixing and feeding milk and milk replacer might be even greater on farms. Newborn calves are sometimes too weak to suckle or nurse from a pail or bottle. The esophageal feeder is an excellent device for force-feeding colostrum to these calves or for feeding electrolytes to sick calves.

This inexpensive piece of equipment can save the life of a sick or weak calf. The esophageal feeder consists of an esophageal probe, tube, clamp, and fluid container. The probe is a rigid or semiflexible tube made of plastic or stainless steel. It has a tear-shaped end designed to be easily inserted into the esophagus but not into the trachea windpipe. The esophageal feeder should be thoroughly cleaned to prevent bacterial growth, especially after it has been used for colostrum.

The first step in using an esophageal feeder is to determine the length of tube to be inserted. Measure from the tip of the calf's nose to the point of its elbow, which is the approximate location of the diaphragm.

This distance is about 20 inches in most Holstein calves Figure The spot can be marked on the tube with a piece of tape. In young calves, only about 20 inches of the tube should be passed into the mouth and down the esophagus. If the weather is cold, the tube can be placed in warm water to make it more pliable. The tube should first be lubricated by dipping it in the colostrum or milk. A calf will likely suck the end of the tube into its mouth, which makes the tube easier to pass.

Open the calf's mouth by applying pressure to the corner of the mouth or by grabbing over the bridge of the nose and applying pressure to the upper palate or gums.

Once the mouth is open, pass the tube slowly along the tongue to the back of the mouth. When the tube is over the back of the tongue, the calf starts chewing and swallowing.

The tube should then be passed down the esophagus. A correctly passed tube can be felt in the esophagus; the ball on the end of the tube can be felt quite easily. If possible, the calf should be standing before feeding so fluids are less likely to back up and enter its lungs. Calves that are too weak to stand, however, may be fed lying down.

The esophageal feeder is easier to use when calves are properly restrained. Young calves can be backed into a corner for better head control. After the tube is passed and before any liquids are given, the tube should be checked for proper positioning in the esophagus Figure If it is properly positioned, the rings of the trachea and the rigid enlarged esophagus can be felt easily. Check the exposed end of the tube for spurts of air, which indicate that the tube is in the trachea.

Next, unclip the tube to allow the liquid to drain out of the bag. Hold the bag above the calf or hang it on a nail; it will take several minutes to drain. Liquids should be at body temperature to prevent temperature shock to an already weak calf. When feeding is over, slowly remove the tube. Clean and sanitize the feeder, and then allow it to drain and dry. Figure Hyperextension of a calf's neck and points for estimating length of esophageal tube.

Electrolyte supplements are often needed for calves with moderate to severe scours. Treatment should be aimed at replacing lost fluids, restoring acid-base balance, and furnishing nutrients and energy to the calf.

An electrolyte formula should be administered according to its label or a veterinarian's recommendation. The esophageal feeder is helpful in feeding these supplements. A pound calf can lose up to 10 percent of its body weight in one day. This calf needs an extra 3 to 5 quarts of fluid per day to correct dehydration; that is in addition to the 4 quarts the calf would normally consume.

Electrolytes do not supply enough energy to be the sole source of nutrients. Therefore, milk should be given in addition to the electrolytes. A pound calf needs approximately 3, kilocalories to gain 1.

An electrolyte with 70 grams of dextrose meets only 42 percent of the calf's energy requirements. Calves that do not receive enough energy when scouring will begin to break down muscle protein and will lose weight quickly. Continue to feed the normal amount of milk or milk replacer in addition to the electrolyte product. An electrolyte supplement should contain sodium, alkalizing agents bicarbonate, sodium citrate, sodium acetate, or a combination , potassium, chloride, glycine, and dextrose or glucose.

Electrolytes containing bicarbonate or citrate should not be fed to calves until 15 to 20 minutes after they have consumed their milk. These two alkalizing agents prevent rennin and casein from clotting in the calf's stomach, causing rapid passage of nutrients through the small intestine. Most milk replacers do not contain casein, so alkalizing agents won't interfere with them.

However, electrolyte solutions should not be mixed with milk replacer instead of water. This upsets the balance of electrolytes and ruins the product's ability to rehydrate the calf. The preweaned calf requires both liquid and dry feeds and should be offered a dry grain mix by 3 days of age.

During the first week of life, calves eat very little grain. By the second week, however, they should be eating noticeable amounts. Adequate, early intake of dry feed is important because dry grain stimulates rumen development. Dry feed increases the number and variety of rumen bacteria and protozoa.

These microorganisms grow rapidly on grain carbohydrates and produce the volatile fatty acids butyrate and propionate.

These acids provide nutrients for the calf and stimulate rumen development. In early weaning systems calves need to begin eating some grain by 2 weeks of age to allow enough rumen development to occur before weaning at 5 or 6 weeks of age.

If we do a good job of managing grain intake, it is possible to wean calves at 6 weeks, even when milk feeding rates are high. It is important to remember that deciding to wean calves at a later age or bigger body weight does not remove the rumen development requirement. If calves are drinking a lot of milk, they usually will not eat much grain. Trying to wean calves that have not been eating grain is setting them up for a rough transition. Ease weaning stress by ensuring calves eat at least half a pound of grain per day for 4 weeks or a pound per day for 2 weeks and that they reach 2 pounds per day for 3 consecutive days before weaning.

Backing off milk feeding gradually before full weaning can be a helpful strategy for increasing grain intakes, but keep in mind the time required for rumen development 21 days from the time grain is first introduced.

Assuming that calves are eating some grain when you start the weaning process, successful step down programs require a minimum of 12 to 14 days to prepare the rumen properly. Research shows this level of protein is adequate to support growth in young calves, including calves on enhanced feeding programs. Calf starter must be palatable to encourage intake. A textured grain with coarsely processed corn, small grains, and pellets fortified with protein, minerals, and vitamins is recommended Table 9.

Whether textured or pelleted, calf starter should not be dry, dusty, moldy, or have an "off" flavor. Very fine-textured feed tends to cake together when wet, resulting in low intake. Including yeast culture in starter often improves grain intake and average daily gain. Whole corn, as well as whole oats and barley, can be completely digested by the young calf before weaning.

Whole or lightly rolled corn is very palatable, with less dustiness than ground or steam-flaked corn. High-moisture grains are not recommended for young calves, since they heat quickly and mold in feed buckets or mangers.

To use them successfully, grain buckets need to be emptied and refilled one or two times each day, especially during hot weather. The growth rate of young calves depends heavily on grain intake. Unpalatable or poor-quality starter grains inhibit intake, thereby retarding rumen development and decreasing growth. Starter intake also is influenced by milk feeding and water availability. High rates of milk or milk replacer feeding and high levels of fat in milk replacer depress starter intake. On the other hand, availability of fresh, clean water promotes starter intake.

Freshness of starter is important as well. Offer only small handfuls at each feeding until calves begin to eat starter. Within the first hour of birth, a calf needs five to six pints of high-quality colostrum, and then again within the next twelve hours. Within six hours after birth, the stomach can only absorb two thirds of the available antibodies. By 24 hours, the absorption capacity is reduced to 11 percent. Also, at 24 hours of age, digestive enzymes break down and digest all of the antibodies.

Day two and thereafter, calves can be fed twice a day with a calf bottle and calf nipple. Milk replacer powders are reconstituted with warm water and make an excellent and oftentimes economical liquid feed for baby calves. During the first three weeks of life, calves should be fed a milk replacer that contains all milk proteins made from dried skim milk or whey products. Milk replacers should contain 18 — 22 percent crude protein, 10 — 22 percent crude fat, and 0.

For the first part of life, all calves function as a simple-stomached or monogastric animals. However, within four days, a calf can be introduced to calf starter and fresh clean drinking water; this introduction will allow the rumen to begin development.