Development of an early weaning program for dairy calves
Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports
A.D. Dayton 0
A.J. Zmolek 0
0 program for dairy calves," Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: Vol. 0: Iss. 2 , USA
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Authors
J.L. Morrill, A.D. Dayton, A.J. Zmolek, and M.A. Vitcenda
This research report is available in Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports: https://newprairiepress.org/kaesrr/vol0/iss2/173
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PH.OGRAM FOil DAIRY CALVES
l
J. L. Vlorrill, A. D. Dayton 2, A. J. Zmolek 3,
and 'VI. ~. Vitcenda 3
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WE~NING
Summary
Introduction
After preliminary experiments, four trials were conducted to develop and te~t
a new feeding pt'ogt'am for calves. The progra,n involves the use of a special feed
(a prestarter) to encourage calves to eat dry feed and to provide high quality
nutrients during the time of initial rumen development. Using this plan, calves were
weaned at 2 weeks of age with good results.
After calves are weaned, there is a reduction in labor required, less
expensive feeds are needed, and ttle incidence of scour., usually decreases.
Previous ('esearch has indicated that calves could be weaned as early as 3 wk of
age with good results. In spite of this, most dairy calves in the United States are
weaned at 6 to 12 wk of age. Since the main factor that determines when calves
can be successfully weaned is the amount of dry feed consumed, anything that
would increase dry feed consumption would help in an early weaning progra1n. We
conducted a series of experiments to evaluate the use of a special feed (a
prestarter) to stirn ula te intake and we developed a program for the use of this
prestarter.
Experimental Procedure
Preliminary observations indicated that a prestarter composed of milk solids,
supplementary fat, and additives (Table 1) increased dry feed consumption if mixed
with a calf starter. In Trial 1, 21 bull calves were purchased from local dairy
producers and assigned to one of three treatments. Each calf was fed colostrum
until 3 days of age, then mil k at 8% of birth weight daily, and either prestarter,
starter (Table 2), or an equal mixture of the two. Daily feed intake and weekly
calf weights were recorded and the health of each calf was monitered. The cal yes
were weaned at 2 wk of age, if consuming 1 pound of dry feed daily.
The results of Trial 1 suggested tlJa t a feeding schedule invol ving the use of
changing ratios of prestarter and starter would be advantageol.1'). Three subsequent
trials were conducted to evaluate different feeding schedules and methods. In
each, bull calves were fed milk or milk replacer' and prestarter or starter
according to the schedule being evaluated. Feed consumption, weight gains, fecal
scores, and other observations of health were recorded.
Ipartial financial support provided by Mert'ick Foods, Union Center, WI•
2Department of Statistics
3Merrick Foods.
Results and Discussion
In Trial 1, calves that were fed prestarter as the only dry feed consumed the
most and gained the most during tile first part of the trial, those fed a mixture of
prestarter and starter consumed most and gained fastest during wk 4 and 5, and
calves fed only starter performed best during wk 6 (Table 3). This suggested that a
program providing prestarter as the only dry feed at first, then a mixture of
starter and prestarter, and finally starter alone would give good results.
During the next three trials we tested various schemes and developed the
following program which ga ve good results when cal ves were weaned at 2 wk of
age.
1.
2.
3.
Ensure adequate consumption of colostrum soon after birth and during the
first 3 days of life.
Provide adequate individual 11Ousing.
Feed milk or diluted colostrum at 8% of birth weight daily, 15ing an open
pail.
Stim ulate calves to eat dry feed by putting a small amount of prestarter in
the milk.
Provide prestarter (Table 1) ad libitum.
Add palatable, fibrous starter when consumption of prestarter is t pound
daily, first in small amounts, then increasing to appetite of calf.
Wean at 2 wk of age, if calf is healthy and eating dry feed well. (...truncated)