Points to note while rearing calves immediately after birth and early stages
A clean, dry and well bedded calving area reduces the risk of infection for both the cow and calf. Remove the calf from the cow after the birth to a clean environment.
A number of option exists for feeding colostrum to newborn calves by allowing the calf to suckle the cow or feeding with a calf bottle. Calves that are allowed to suckle the cow normally do not obtain sufficient colostrum intake within the required time. The best approach is to milk the cow and measure the colostrum required by the calf and feeding with a calf bottle. This will increase the concentration of the antibodies in the colostrum and it raises the level of antibodies required by the calf. Note the intake of colostrum in the first time feeding which should be about 10% of body weight of the calf.
The absorption of antibodies diminishes within the first 12 hours of birth, the mother’s colostrums which is rich in energy and protein and the antibodies there helps to enhance the gut development and stops harmful scour causing bacteria from attaching to the gut wall. Milk alone do not provide enough water for the young calf and so you must provide access to clean water right from birth.
Cereals and digestible fiber helps in the rumen development, so it’s better to offer a calf starter feed, from day three. The calves prefer a larger 6 mm pellet rather than a smaller 3 mm pencil and it motivates higher intake from early stage. Kindly allow limited access to straw or hay in the early stages. Do not introduce straw or hay as a major content in the diet until it least reaches five weeks of age. Forages increase gut filling and reduces the potential for concentrate intake. Reduce milk feeding and start weaning when calve starts to consume at least 1 kg of concentrates for 2 days consecutively. This increases the dry feed intake in them. Do not change the calf starter feed until at least 7 days after weaning.
The first 12 weeks feeding period is very crucial in case of a calf.
Murali Krishnan
