Feeding dairy calves calls for special care
UNIVERSITY PARK - Feeding
the young dairy calf is an im
portant and critical aspect to
raising replacements animals.
During the first two months of
life, the dairy calf functions
primarily as a monogastic
(simple-stomached) animal. After
about two months of age, the calf
functions as a full fledged
ruminant.
During these first few weeks of
life the rumen, reticulum and
omasum of the calf are relatively
small in size and are quite inactive
compared to the abomasum or
“true stomach.” For this reason,
the young dairy calf has very
special requirements for protein,
energy and vitamins.
The newborn calf cannot utilize
vegetable protein due to its limited
digestive enzymes before its
rumen is functional. Therefore it is
very important that following
colostrum feeding, whole milk,
fermented colostrum or milk
replacers containing milk protein
or specially processed soy con
centrates be used. By the time
calves are weaned, they can utilize
most vegetable proteins ef
ficiently.
Young calves cannot digest
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starch or some sugars such as
sucrose (table sugar), again
because certain digestive enzymes
are not present. The calf also is
limited on the type of fat that they
can utilize. Calves can digest
saturated fats such as milk fat,
coconut fat, lard and tallow, they
are limited in their ability to digest
unsaturated fats such as corn oil
and soybean oil.
The major sources of energy for
the newborn should be derived
primarily from lactose (milk
sugars) and milk fat. It is very
important that the calf has
adequate energy as their
metabolic rate (rate at which
energy is used) is greatest during
the first two weeks of life.
Within two weeks the calf
develops the ability to digest
starch and shortly thereafter
developes the ability to digest
complex carbohydrates. The rate
of rumen development dictates
how rapidly the young calf is able
to digest complex starches and
carbohydrates.
The calf requires many of the
same vitamins as do
monogastrics. They require the
water soluble B vitamins
thiamine, riboflavin, niacin,
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choline, biotin, pyriodozine, folic
acid, Bj2 and panothenic acid -
which are found in colostrum,
fermented colostrum, whole milk
or good milk replacers. Rumen
microorganisms are able to
produce these when the calves
rumen begins to function.
The calf has a requirement for
the fat soluble vitamins A, D & E.
These are in short supply at birth
but are found in colostrum. Whole
milk, fermented colostrum or milk
replacers plus some sunshine will
normally supply an adequate
amount of these vitamins to the
young growing calf.
Dairy calves require the same
minerals for growth as do other
animals. Milk, fermented
colostrum and milk replacers
generally supply adequate
amounts of minerals necessary
during the first few weeks of life.
An important point to remember
is that colostrum and milk may be
low or deficient in certain minerals
depending on the mineral status of
the diet of the animals producing
the milk or colostrum. An excellent
example of a mineral that may be
reduced in the milk because of a
dietary' deficiency is selenium.
Therefore it is often recommended
to supplement certain minerals for
the young calf.
Keep in mind that the newborn
calf is the only simple-stomached
animal on many dairy farms and
must receive special con
siderations.
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Check concentrate
UNIVERSITY PARK -
Dairymen must consider many
factors when deciding how much
concentrate to feed dairy cows.
The bottom line is response of the
cows. Does the extra milk
produced more than pay for the
extra feed consumed?
Generally, it appears that
dairymen tend to overfeed con
centrates. The average DHI herd
in Pennsylvania produces 15,410
pounds of milk and probably is
overfed grain by about 1300 pounds
per cow yearly. The average herd
in Pennsylvania ships about 12,434
pounds of nulk/cowvand each cow
receives 1,800 pounds of con
centrate more than should be
needed to attain such production.
Ration balance is more im
portant in determining cow
response than level of concentrate
itself. Does the ration contain the
proper levels of protem, minerals
and vitamins? Is the particle-size
of the silage and haylage
adequate? Has the gram in the
concentrate portion been properly
prepared? Is it fine enough for
good digestibility of the total ration
dry matter?
Like underfeeding, excessive
concentrate intake may result in
larger than normal drops in milk
production from one month to the
next. It may reduce milk
production by 1,000 pounds or more
per cow and result in more in
fertility and milk fat test
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levels for cows
depression problems.
Most cows should not be fed
concentrate at a level which ex
ceeds 2.5 percent of bodyweight on
an air-dried basis. Cows with
extremely good at least equals that
from concentrate for an extended
period. Concentrate may furnish
55-60 percent of the total ration dry
matter for periods not to exceed 90
to 120 days.
At any level of milk production,
milking heifers need extra con
centrate for growth. First-calf
heifers should be fed two to three
pounds more per head daily and
second-calf animals need one to
two pounds extra concentrate
daily.
As a guide most large breed
cows may need concentrate at a
rate of one pound per three pounds
of milk produced; while small
breed cows may need a ratio of 1:2
1/2 - 2 3/4. Often appreciably wider
ratios may be used for cows that
have been fresh for over tour to
five months. To avoid sharp drops
in milk production, concentrate
intakes should be reduced
gradually over a period of two to
three weeks.
Dairymen should test forages
and obtain professional help with
feeding programs. Such assistance
is available at Penn State as well
as other sources. Savings from
reduced concentrate feeding could
amount to nearly $lOO per cow on
many farms.
RETAIL
.—a
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