Calf & Heifer Nutrition

Question 1

Which stomach is the largest stomach as a calf?

Answer 1

Abomasum

Question 2

What is unique about the Abomasum?

Answer 2

“True” Stomach, Most like humans

Question 3

Which is the largest stomach as a mature cow?

Answer 3

Rumen

Question 4

Besides the Rumen & Abomasum, what are the other 2 stomachs and what are they known for doing?

Answer 4

Reticulum (“hardware Stomach)
- Collects smaller feed particles and moves them into the Omasum
- Traps and collects heavy objects eaten

Omasum
- long folds like a book
Absorption of water, electrolytes, some volatile fatty acids, minerals

Question 5

What is it about colostrum that calves need for their immunity until they build up their own?

Answer 5

• Contains immunoglobulins (Ig) which are essential
  proteins necessary to protect calf from disease

Question 6

Ideally, how much colostrum should be fed to a calf in her first day of life?

Answer 6

• Feed 5 to 6 % of calf body weight as colostrum
  within 1 hour of birth
• 4 to 5 L for a Holstein calf
• Earlier the better
• Another 5 6 % of body weight within next 8 hours

Question 7

What is the ideal timeline for feeding colostrum?

Answer 7

• Earlier the better
• 5 to 6% of calf body weight as colostrum within 1 hour of birth
  -Another 5 to 6% after 8hrs of birth
• By 24 hours old, the calf’s intestine becomes much
  less permeable to large proteins such as
  immunoglobulins in colostrum (can’t absorb them).

Question 8

How many liters of milk can/should you feed a calf per day?

Answer 8

Calves on milk: 6
12 liters (most around 8 L)

Question 9

What factor(s) determine how much she should get?

Question 10

What is ‘waste’ or non-saleable milk?

Question 11

What are concerns about feeding waste milk?

Question 12

What can be done to avoid these risks?

Question 13

What are the benefits of feeding waste milk?

Question 14

If a milk replacer is 26-24-17, what do these numbers mean?

Answer 14

protein% - 100% milk protein - fat%
26% protein, 24% milk protein, 17% fat

Question 15

What are the equivalent specs for our milk replacer?

Question 16

What are the benefits of feeding milk replacer?

Question 17

What are ideal diet characteristics for young heifers after weaning?

Answer 17

• Dry diets for young heifers (3 6 months)
• Introduce ensiled forages around 6 months
• Depends on weaning age, rumen development, size
• Generally total mixed ration (TMR) for older heifers, or round bale

Question 18

What age is it okay to start feeding silages to heifers?

Answer 18

6 to 9 months

Question 19

How much grain do we typically feed breeding age heifers?

Question 20

How much grain do we typically feed pregnant heifers?

Answer 20

up to 5lbs

Question 21

What is mature body weight and when does a dairy cow reach this?

Answer 21

Holstein - 1600lbs to 1800lbs
Jersey - 1000lbs to 1200lbs

Question 22

What % of mature body weight do we want to breed heifers?

Question 23

What age is a dairy cow at “Mature Body Weight”?

Answer 23

3rd Lactation
4 years old

Question 24

What % of mature body weight do we want heifers to calve?

Answer 24

82% (1310lbs)

Question 25

If a farm’s goal is to have heifers calve at 21 months, how will this change how we feed them?

Question 26

A farm’s average age at first calving is 23 months. The farm thinks their heifers are milking well for being in their 1st lactation. The average production for the herd is 1.5 kg fat/cow. They want your opinion, and if you think there is room for improvement in their heifer raising program, or if they are doing everything just right and getting good results. What questions might you ask, or things might you look at, to help them?