From the first feed to weaning
supplemented with good quality concentrates needs to be fed.
This should be feed over two feeds, three litres in the morning and three litres in the evening. Don’t move to once a day feeding until the calf is at least four weeks old.
The three-litre mix should be 2,625ml of water and 375g of milk replacer to give a 12.5pcsolids mix.
Protein levels in the milk replacer should be 23-26pc and consist predominantly of milk proteins.
Be consistent when feeding calves, feed at the same times each day, at the same rate at the same temperature of 37–39°C. Cleanliness and hygiene are critical.
WATER
Clean fresh water should be available at all times. Check troughs daily to ensure that there is no dirt or faeces in it. It is important to remember that milk is a food and not a drink so water is essential to the young calf. For every one kg of meal that a calf will eat they will drink four to five litres of water.
Early concentrate intake is stimulated by water intakes. Insufficient water will slow rumen development and reduce feed conversion rates.
CONCENTRATES AND ROUGHAGE
Feed a good quality 18-20pc crude protein palatable calf starter from day three. This should be replaced daily to keep it fresh
Concentrates are essential for early rumen development and to achieve 0.7kg of average daily gain.
From two to three weeks old, intakes will gradually increase. By six to eight weeks calves should be eating 0.7 to 1kg of calf starter per day.
Do not feed hay, the young calf cannot digest it.
Feed good quality, clean, dust free straw in racks, do not expect calves to eat it from their bed.
WEANING
At weaning your calf should be 90kg and ideally closer to 100kg.Ensure that calves are eating at least 1.5 to 2kg of concentrates per day at weaning.
Gradually wean calves over a number of days and do not plan activities such as dehorning, changing social groups etc round this time as you need to keep stress to a minimum.