The Milk Producer - May 2012 - (Page 43)

CALFHEALTH By Kathleen Shore Programmed feeding P Optimize early growth and grain feeding to move your calves toward a lifetime of productivity ut your calves on a programmed avoid overfeeding or underfeeding limited group were not significantly feeding schedule if you feed them to minimize digestive upset, we heavier and any difference was lost milk replacer with an automatlimited meal size for calves in the unafter weaning during week nine as ic feeding machine. They appear to limited group to a maximum three L shown in the table. grow optimally during the milk-fed per visit. Calves in the limited allowMoreover, grain intake was the stage and post-weaning when this apance group had access to nine L per same between groups until weaning proach is used. day and also allowed a maximum time. At weaning and beyond, the limMilk replacer is formulated to balmeal size of three L per visit. ited milk allowance group consumed ance the major nutrients—protein, fat Final data showed calves in the un16 per cent more during week nine and carbohydrates—with than the unlimited calves. optimal fortification of viBoth groups had the same Steps to a successful automatic tamins and minerals. Freehealth status. feeding milk replacer program: choice programs ensure Programming the feed1. Design a set program. High levels of milk promote growth but calves can determine their ing schedule allows gencan impede grain intake without a set program. Low grain intakes at appetite by accessing it at tler weaning to encourage weaning can add to stress and ultimately poor growth or weight loss. all times. grain intake. This is critical 2. Gradual programming. Work the calves up to high levels of In 2010, the Grober for rumen development, intake. Young Animal Developand maintains growth 3. Give them time to wean. Set the weaning time over seven to 10 ment Centre compiled data achieved while calves were days to allow for increased grain intake. The higher the level of milk on consumption for calves on milk replacer. they were on, the longer they should have to wean. offered a nine-litre-per-day The right feeding profeeding program. The avgram ensures calves are erage calf consumed up to fed enough milk to opseven L by two weeks of timize early growth and age and upward of nine L gentle weaning to reduce by four weeks. The average calf stress, increase grain was 8.6 L. intake and promote strong In 2011, we designed post-weaning growth. This a study to evaluate freehelps move them toward a choice milk replacer allowlifetime of strong producance when calves are fed tivity. by automatic feeder. One group had unlimited access and the other was limited Kathleen Shore, MSc, is nutrition and quality assurance to nine L per day. The trial manager at Grober Nutrilasted nine weeks, eight tion, and a project leader at weeks on milk replacer the Grober Young Animal and one post-weaning. Development Centre. Since it is important to Bodyweight of calves in both treatment groups and the difference between the groups (n=37). Start Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Unlimited milk (kg) 47.0 53.5 59.5 65.8 71.2 76.7 83.4 91.0 Limited milk (kg) 44.8 52.8 58.4 63.9 69.0 74.7 79.3 83.7 Difference (kg) 2.2 0.64 1.1 1.9 2.2 2.0 4.1 7.3 Week 8 91.4 89.5 1.9 Week 9 95.8 96.2 -0.39 MilkPRODUCER | May 2012 | 43

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Milk Producer - May 2012

The Milk Producer - May 2012
Contents
Editor's Notes
DFO Chair's Message
Dairy Update
Farm Finance
DFC Promotion
Cover Story
Research
Applied Science
Ruminations
Udder Health
Calf Health
Markets
New 'N' Noted
Back Forty

The Milk Producer - May 2012