A reader asked, “I’ve bought two-week-old beef calves. What feed can I give them?” Dr Dave Midgley gives advice.
Successful calf rearing is a process rather than a recipe. Under normal circumstances, a two-week-old calf should still be suckling from its mother, in other words, drinking mainly mother’s milk.
Dairy calves are, however, removed from their mothers because milk is too expensive to feed to calves, and farmers prefer to use or sell the milk themselves. Dairy calves, as well as calves whose mothers may have died at birth or shortly thereafter, are therefore in most cases hand-reared on milk replacers, of which there are various options on the market.
These milk powders each has its own mixing instructions and recommended guidelines on how it should be fed and how calves should be reared.
Also read: Cattle production: Why is it necessary to wean calves?
Colostrum First
Calves must receive colostrum (the first fluid secreted by the cow’s mammary glands after giving birth), to protect them against certain diseases. If calves are bought at an auction or directly from someone else, you do not always know whether they received sufficient, good-quality colostrum soon enough after birth.
Colostrum intake is about both the quantity and quality of colostrum that a calf must receive within the first 12 hours after birth, as colostrum is then absorbed directly through the intestinal tract and the antibodies it contains will protect calves against certain important diseases. Thereafter, calves need to be vaccinated against various diseases.
It is best to discuss this with your local veterinarian and draw up guidelines on what needs to be done, as well as how and when.
Also read: Optimum weaner weight for profit
Choose the Right Feed
Calves are ruminants, which means they are born with four separate stomach compartments that develop with age through the intake of specific types of feed.
During the first month or so, a ruminant is essentially a functional monogastric animal, with only the abomasum (true stomach) working effectively. If a two-week-old calf were to die and be examined post mortem, only milk would be found in the abomasum, while the three fore-stomachs would still be underdeveloped.
At about 10 to 14 days of age, calves and lambs (also ruminants) begin to nibble at grass. This solid feed then stimulates the rumen, reticulum and omasum to start developing.
In intensive rearing systems, scientists have developed various feeds to speed up and improve this process of rumen development. The aim is to wean calves off milk earlier so that they can eat grass and adult ruminant feed like mature animals.
Think of the process like raising a baby: You cannot give a two-week-old baby meat and potatoes. First comes milk, then finely textured baby food, followed by coarser foods. Only after several months is the baby weaned, meaning milk is withdrawn and solid food is given fully.
Calves therefore start on milk, after which a starter meal is introduced at 10 to 14 days. Once the calf reaches a certain weight (different breeds have different target weights) and consumes sufficient starter meal, it is switched to a grower ration. Feeding then becomes more specific – replacement animals (breeding stock) are fed differently from slaughter animals, and dairy cattle differently from beef cattle.
Also read: Ask the vet | Supplementing trace elements correctly
In Summary
Many books and theses have been written on this topic; there is no simple recipe for doing it properly. The principle, however, remains the same: Successful calf rearing is about how effectively a calf is transitioned from being a functional monogastric animal to becoming a successful ruminant.
Speak to your local veterinarian and to staff at your local cooperative who can supply milk replacer and the various feeds.
Best of luck. Calf rearing can be very rewarding, but it can also be accompanied by great heartache if one gets off to the wrong start and loses calves.
Also read: Protein supplements: A winter lifeline for livestock
