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Calf Rearing
- Fed Calf 3-4L of quality colostrum within first few hours, 2L a additional 6 hrs later and when possible 1-2L 12 hrs after birth
- 3L-4L milk twice a day at a consistent time during the day
- Don’t use waste milk on calves
- Access to fed from 3 days
- Fed Calf Starter until 10-12 weeks and then wean onto Calf Weaner
Calving Pens
- Calves should be born in a clean and dry environment
- Calving pens should have both free draining and appropriate bedding
- Ideally, pens should be cleaned and disinfected after every calving
Calf Pens
- Pens should be thoroughly cleaned before new calves are placed
- Calves should have thick, comfortable, hygienic bedding
- As warm, damp environments encourage the rapid spread of pathogens, pens should always be dry and comfortable with good ventilation, be draft-free, and have plenty of space
Importance of Colostrum
- As noted in our look at “Critical Control Point 1: Colostrum,” calves are born without immunity to help fight diseases. As such, they are left vulnerable to common on-farm microorganisms such as bacteria that cause E.coli and Salmonella, and viruses and parasites that cause illnesses such as scours and pneumonia. Excellent colostrum management is essential to boost calf immunity while their own immune systems develop during the first critical weeks of life. However, keeping the calf environment clean is also vital to reduce the risk of infection.
General feeding advice
- Keeping fed fresh, store in a cool dry place preferably in a bulk bin
- Feed at the same times consistently preferably twice a day
- Discard stale meal or silage and keep water fresh
- Feed the right meal, animals thrive on the right meal thus increasing yield or reducing days to slaughter. (buying cheaper meal can mean feeding more)
- If animals aren’t thriving don’t hesitate to contact us for guidance
