The birth of a calf is an important event in the farm. Not only his mother - a cow, but also a person should take care of the newborn. In order for the animal to grow strong and healthy, it is important to provide it with proper nutrition in the first days, weeks and months of life.
Rules for feeding calves from birth
The farmer should be aware of the following feeding features:
- A newborn calf should gain access to the udder within the first 60 minutes after birth - this will reduce the likelihood of illness by 70%.
- The first serving of food should not exceed 6% of the weight of the newborn.
- If the cow does not have enough colostrum, you can feed the calf with semolina. For its preparation, take 4 tablespoons of semolina per 3 liters of milk.
- The daily diet on the first day of life should be no more than 20% of the calf’s weight. Subsequently, the norm is increased to 24%.
- In the early days, the newborn eats 6 times a day, no less.
- On the 6th day, the baby is given 1 liter of warm water - 2 hours after a meal. From the third week they provide unlimited access to water - it is poured into drinking bowls. Water can be replaced with coniferous or hay infusion.
- Accustoming to hay begins on the 6-7th day. To do this, use only fresh grass. Forbs should not be coarse and dry particles. A bunch of grass is tied to a stall - at a distance of 10 cm above the back of the calf, or simply put in a trough. Hay feeding is increased gradually - by three months the animal should receive a portion weighing 1.5 kg.
- By the time the calf is two weeks old, the number of feeds should be gradually reduced to three.
- The introduction of other feeds is carried out according to the following schedule:
- carrots - on the 15-17th day;
- concentrates and compound feed - from 14 days;
- boiled potatoes / apples - for 20-21 days;
- salt and chalk - from 21 days;
- fodder beets - from 30 days.
- Violation of dietary rules or sudden changes in the diet lead to diseases, developmental delay.
- The diet changes as the calf grows older.
Feeding Methods
For feeding newborn calves, you can use any of two methods of feeding:
- Poilkovy. This method is commonly used by livestock farms during the first 3 weeks of a calf's life. To implement the method, special drinkers with nipples filled with colostrum are needed. Food for babies is heated to 37 ° C.
- Sucking. This option is direct feeding from the udder. Advantages of the suction method:
- calves grow healthy;
- food is already "ready", it does not need to be heated, poured into a drinking bowl, perform other manipulations;
- food is produced in small portions - food is better absorbed;
- young growth is 30% more intense.
When suckling, the udder of the cow needs to be washed - the infection should not get into the calf's body.
Stages of feeding newborn calves
Feeding young animals is conditionally divided into three stages:
- Colostrum - from the moment of birth to 10-15 days.
- Dairy - from 2 weeks to 4-6 months.
- Post-milk - from 4-5 months to the age of 16-18 months.
Colostrum
Calf weight at birth is 30-40 kg. The calf's first meal is colostrum. The mother cow provides them with a newborn in the early days of life. The composition of this product is very different from ordinary cow's milk. Features and benefits of colostrum:
- the amount of highly assimilable protein is 6-7 times more than in milk;
- supplies the body of calves with protective antibodies that "build" the animal's immunity, prevent infection;
- 2-3 times fatter than milk;
- several times more vitamins and minerals, such as magnesium, which prevents intestinal problems.
The colostrum given by the cow within 5-7 days after the birth of the calf is almost identical in composition to milk.
In the early days, the calf eats about 1.5-2 liters of colostrum per feeding. Weakened individuals get 0.75-1 liters. It is desirable that the calf feed on colostrum precisely from its mother. Overeating should not be allowed - a digestive upset may occur. The daily norm of a calf when eating colostrum is about 8 liters. If the cow does not have enough colostrum, farmers often prepare top dressing. In a clean bowl, mix:
- cow's milk - 1 l;
- chicken eggs - 4 pieces;
- table salt - 3-4 g.
- fish oil - 15 g.
The calf is given 1 l of this mixture at intervals of 3-5 hours.
Milk period
After the completion of colostrum feeding, the milky period begins. The calf receives milk or a substitute for whole milk (milk replacer). In order for the animal to develop correctly, it is necessary:
- choose the right milk replacer;
- comply with the norms and intervals of feeding;
- provide free access to hay and water.
The milk replacer used in the initial period of milking provides the calf with a whole complex of nutrients. There are three groups of WMS:
- Top quality. They are based on skim milk (at least 50% of the substitute volume).
- Medium quality. Based on whey powder.
- Low quality. Based on whey and vegetable proteins.
When preparing a milk drink, it is important to maintain the proportions indicated by the manufacturer of the substitute.
The use of zero substitutes leads to low weight gain and can even cause diarrhea in calves, as their digestive system is not yet adapted to digest non-dairy proteins.
The nutritional requirements of the substitutes are given in table 1.
Table 1
Nutrition,% in 1 kg of milk replacer | Trace elements and vitamins in 1 kg | ||
Crude protein | from 20 | Copper | 4-5 mg |
Crude fat | 15-20 | Iron | from 30 mg |
Lysine | from 1.45 | Vitamin A | from 12000 IU |
Crude fiber | until 3 | Vitamin D | from 15000 IU |
Calcium | from 0.9 | Vitamin E | from 20 mg |
Phosphorus | from 0,65 | ||
Crude ash | from 10 |
In the dairy period, the calf is accustomed to different types of food. In the diet of the animal must be present:
- Hay.
- Dairy food.
- Top dressing from concentrates.
Only fresh products are used for feeding, and the remnants of food must be removed from the feeder - stale food can lead to digestive problems. Hay and vegetables are the basis of the diet, but they still cannot completely replace milk. In addition to them, you can prepare milk top dressing. The recipe for its preparation, see table 2.
table 2
The product's name | Weight g |
Milk | 1000 |
Meat and bone meal | 10 |
Salt | 10 |
a piece of chalk | 10 |
The above composition makes up for the lack of vitamins, phosphorus and calcium. It is also recommended to give the calf a return of 4-6 liters per day. The diet and feeding standards of the calf from two weeks of age to 6 months are shown in table 3.
Table 3
Calf age | Average weight, kg | Daily rate, kg | |||
Whole milk | Concentrated feed | Juicy food | Hay meadow | ||
3 week | 40-45 | 6 | — | — | — |
4 week | 50-55 | 6 | — | — | — |
1 decade | 7 | — | — | — | |
2 | 7 | — | — | — | |
3 | 6 | 0,1 | — | 0,1 | |
Total 1st month | 59 | 200 | 1 | — | 1 |
4 | 4 | 0,2 | 0,1 | 0,1 | |
5 | 1 | 0,5 | 0,3 | 0,2 | |
6 | — | 0,8 | 0,5 | 0,2 | |
Total 2nd month | 81 | 50 | 15 | 9 | 5 |
7 | — | 0,6 | 0,5 | 0,5 | |
8 | — | 0,6 | 0,5 | 0,5 | |
9 | — | 0,6 | 1 | 0,5 | |
Total 3rd month | 103 | — | 18 | 20 | 15 |
10 | — | 0,6 | 1 | 0,8 | |
11 | — | 0,6 | 2 | 0,8 | |
12 | — | 0,6 | 2 | 1 | |
Total 4 month | 126 | — | 18 | 50 | 26 |
13 | — | 1,3 | 3 | 1 | |
14 | — | 1,3 | 3 | 1 | |
15 | — | 1,3 | 3 | 1 | |
Total 5th month | 148 | — | 39 | 90 | 30 |
16 | — | 1,5 | 3 | 1,5 | |
17 | — | 1,5 | 4 | 1,5 | |
18 | — | 2 | 4 | 2 | |
Total 6th month | 170 | — | 50 | 110 | 50 |
As can be seen from table 3, from 2 months in the diet of the animal increase the proportion of concentrated feed. The calf can be given:
- wheat
- oats;
- barley;
- cake;
- bran.
It is advisable to soak hay in salt water before serving - this will minimize the likelihood of developing parasites in the intestines of the animal.
The weight gain increases if mixed feed is given, and they also continue to give reverse. As a juicy feed, you can use carrots or beets. In addition to milk, calves in the first month of life can be given jelly from oatmeal. The order of its preparation:
- Take 80 g of oatmeal and 1 liter of water.
- Boil the flakes with boiling water, cover the pan with a lid. Insist mixture for 15 minutes.
Oat kissel feeding rates are presented in table 4.
Table 4
Age of calves, days | The average daily rate, g |
10-16 | 200 |
16-19 | 400 |
19-21 | 600 |
21-25 | 700 |
25-30 | 900 |
30-32 | 1200 |
32-36 | 1800 |
36-60 | 2400 |
When the animals reach two months, oatmeal is replaced with concentrated feed.
The specialist tells how to prepare a full-fledged milk substitute for calves:
Post-dairy period
In the post-dairy period - from the 6th to 16-18 months, the diet of the calves is selected in accordance with their physiological needs, and taking into account the intended purpose of the cattle. If the calf is fattening for meat, its daily diet consists of:
- chopped vegetables and root crops - 8 kg;
- hay - 3 kg;
- compound feed - 5 kg;
- fresh grass - plenty.
Above are nutritional standards for a six-month-old calf. These nutritional standards increase gradually. Table 5 presents the diets for heifers.
Table 5
Feed kg | Age months | Heifers 6-9 months old | |||||
6-9 | 10-12 | 13-15 | 16-18 | 19-21 | 22-24 | ||
The average daily gain, g | |||||||
550-600 | 450-500 | ||||||
hay | 2,5 | 2,5 | 2,5 | 2,5 | 3 | 3 | 3,5 |
silage | 6 | 6,5 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
haylage | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
straw | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
concentrates | 1,1 | 1,1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1,1 | 1,5 |
Table 6 presents the diet of calves fed for meat using different types of feeding:
- haylage;
- silage-silage;
- combined.
Table 6
Stern | Live weight kg | ||||||||||||||||
380 | 450 | 500 | |||||||||||||||
Age months | |||||||||||||||||
6-12 | 12-16 | 6-12 | 12-16 | 6-12 | 12-16 | ||||||||||||
The average daily gain, g | |||||||||||||||||
750 | 750 | 900 | 900 | 950 | 1000 | ||||||||||||
Silage feeding type | |||||||||||||||||
Hay, kg | 1,5 | 2 | 1,5 | 2 | 1,5 | 2 | |||||||||||
Haylage, kg | 8 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 15 | |||||||||||
Concentrates, kg | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2,5 | 2,5 | 3 | |||||||||||
Feed phosphate, g | 40 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 60 | |||||||||||
Table salt, g | 30 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 50 | |||||||||||
Silage-silage type of feeding | |||||||||||||||||
Hay, kg | 2 | 2 | 2,5 | 3 | 2,5 | 3 | |||||||||||
Silo, kg | 10 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | |||||||||||
Haylage kg | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | |||||||||||
Concentrates, kg | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2,5 | 2,5 | 3 | |||||||||||
Feed phosphate, g | 40 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 60 | |||||||||||
Table salt, g | 30 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 50 | |||||||||||
Combined type of feeding | |||||||||||||||||
Hay, kg | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2,5 | 4 | |||||||||||
Haylage, kg | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | |||||||||||
Silo, kg | 8 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | |||||||||||
Root crops, kg | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 | |||||||||||
Concentrates, kg | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2,5 | 2,5 | 3 | |||||||||||
Feed phosphate, g | 40 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 60 | |||||||||||
Table salt, g | 30 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 50 |
How to solder a calf?
Calves can be drunk with the following drinks:
- Sweet milk or milk drink. He is fed portionwise, not acidified. Temperature - 38-39 ° С.
- Warm sour milk or a sour-milk drink. It differs from sweet in mild acid - up to a pH of 5-5.5. Thanks to acidification, coagulability of milk in an abomasum improves.
- Cold sour milk or a sour-milk drink. Formic acid is commonly used for acidification. The pH level is from 4.2 to 4.6. Temperature - 15-18 ° С.
Tanks with sour milk must be securely closed - so that the drink is not saturated with the smells of the barn and is not contaminated.
Benefits of fermented milk drinks for drinking:
- pathogenic bacteria do not develop so actively in fermented milk drinks;
- casein is better coagulated - milk protein in the abomasum;
- due to the sour taste of the drink, calves drink it in small portions;
- The quality of nutrient digestion is improved.
Vitamin top dressing
Most vitamins must enter the calf along with food. But not always due to feed it is possible to fill all the needs. If some vitamin is not enough, the animal will weaken and become ill. This is especially true for the winter season. It is recommended to supplement the diet of calves with vitamin complexes, for example:
- "Trivitamin." 4-5 drops are added to the feed. Dosage depending on age - indicated in the instructions.
- "Eleovit."
- "Biovit-80."
These supplements are recommended to be fed into the feed from the third week of life. There are also drugs administered intramuscularly - for example, Nucleopeptide or Gavryusha. Before using the complexes, you need to consult a veterinarian.
Folk recipe for replenishing vitamins:
- In a deep pan lay the needles of spruce or pine - 1 kg.
- Pour needles with hot water - 5 liters. Boil for half an hour.
- When the composition has cooled, the needles are removed, the juice is squeezed into a saucepan - through gauze.
It turns out vitamin binge, which is given to calves from two weeks of age. Give it warm by adding a little salt. A calf is given 50 g of infusion per day. Gradually increasing the rate, in 2 months they reach 1 liter.
What is strictly forbidden to feed?
All feed given to calves must be of the highest quality. When feeding, you need to observe cleanliness - wash the udder of the cow, keep clean the dishes from which the calf eats and drinks. It is only necessary to feed the calves with those products that are included in their diet, there should be nothing superfluous. In particular, it is forbidden to give:
- Poor hay with signs of spoilage and mold.
- Bakery products.
- There should be no poisonous plants on the pasture - bleached, dope, buttercups.
- A mixture of potatoes with beets - can provoke bloating.
A balanced diet is not only a guarantee of high gain in calves, but also a guarantee of their health in the future. A proper diet will allow calves to avoid illness and death, and their owners-losses.
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