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How are your calves performing?
On 6 Oct, 2016 By NPVC
"Is it possible for calves to actually double their birth weight by weaning?" was a question posed during a regular herd check. Well of course, that's the goal in all the magazine articles you read....right? But when I slowed down to think about it I couldn't think of a single farm that had actually weighed their calves until this one. So, we had our summer veterinary student, Sarah Finney, do a project weighing calves. This was by no means a controlled scientific experiment, but one just to give us a general idea on growth rates and weaning weights. Calves were weighed that were less than a week old and also any calves around 8 weeks old. The weights were then adjusted using their average daily gain to give their adjusted birth and weaning weights. Calf raising practices were also recorded for each farm to help evaluate the effects of varying management practices.
Goals: (From University of Minnesota)
Holsteins - 94# birth weight
185# weaning weight
1.5#/day average daily gain
Jerseys - 55# birth weight
115# weaning weight
1.1#/day average daily gain
Adjusted birth weight Adjusted weaning weight ADG
Farm #1 84.9 lbs 154.4 lbs 1.24#/day
Farm #2 84.1 lbs 182.8 lbs 1.76#/day
Farm #3 82.4 lbs 154.1 lbs 1.30#/day
Farm #4 84.6 lbs 145.8 lbs 1.09#/day
Farm #5 82.2 lbs 145.6 lbs 1.15#/day
Farm #6 87.3 lbs 173.7 lbs 1.57#/day
Farm #7 84.8 lbs 151.6 lbs 1.20#/day
Farm #8 83.8 lbs 133.5 lbs 0.90#/day
Farm #9 56.3 lbs 124.6 lbs 1.24#/day
Farm #10 57 lbs* 100 lbs* 0.76#/day
Farm #11 59.5 lbs 113.5 lbs 0.96#/day
Farm #12 55 lbs** 125 lbs 1.25#/day
* Actual days old not available
** No newborns available, used average Jersey birth weight
Holsteins
Farm #1 - 27:20 milk replacer, 20% starter
Feed twice a day - 2 qts first week, 3 qts second week, 4 qts from third week on
Blend in waste milk starting at 4 weeks old - 2/3 replacer, 1/3 milk
Wean at 8 weeks old, reduce to once/day feeding at 7 weeks old
Farm #2 - Pasteurized waste milk, 22% starter
Feed twice a day - 3 qt bottle, 4 qts as soon as on bucket
Wean at 8 weeks old, reduce to 3 qts twice/day at 6 weeks, 3 qts once/day at 7 weeks
Farm #3 - 22:20 milk replacer, 18% starter
Feed twice a day - 2qts for first 12 days, 3 qts until 3 weeks old, 4 qts until 6 weeks old
Wean at 6 weeks by decreasing to once/day feeding
Farm #4 - 22:20 milk replacer, 22% starter
Feed twice a day - 2 quarts
Wean by decreasing frequency to once/day for a few days
Farm #5 - Pasteurized waste milk, automated calf feeder, 22% starter
Start at 4 Liters/day and work up to 6 Liters/day
Wean by decreasing milk allowance starting at 45 days old
Farm #6 - Pasteurized waste milk, 18% starter
Feed twice a day - 2 qts for 3-4 weeks, 3 qts until 7-8 weeks old
Wean around 9-10 weeks old by decreasing to 3 qts once/day for 2 weeks
Farm #7 - Pasteurized waste milk, 18% starter
Feed twice a day - 2 quarts
Wean at 7 weeks old, decrease to once/day feeding at 6 weeks
Farm #8 - Pasteurized waste milk, automated calf feeder
4 Liters/day for 7 days, increase over next week to 6.4 Liters/day
Wean by 62 days old by decreasing daily allowance by 0.4L/day starting at 50 days old
Jerseys
Farm #9 - Ad lib acidified milk replacer
Starter and water available free choice
Farm #10 - Pasteurized waste milk, starter available
Feed three times a day - 2 quarts
Housed in pairs
Farm #11 - Pasteurized waste milk, 17% starter
Feed twice a day - 2 quarts
Wean at 45-50 days, decrease to once/day feeding for 5 days
Farm #12 - Waste milk fed in mob feeders, 22% starter, housed in small groups
Feed twice a day - 1 gallon/calf by 3-4 days old
Wean at 60-65 days old, step down 1 week prior
