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Section 6 36
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Calf
Nutrition
by Mark McGee, Siobhan Kavanagh, Emer Kennedy

Introduction
Whether from the suckler herd, or the dairy herd, a good start
is essential for calves.

1 What are the nutritional needs of the suckler calf from birth to weaning?
2 What are the key issues in feeding artificially reared dairy-bred calves?

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36 Nutrition

1 What are the nutritional needs of the • Under the “Animal welfare, recording and breeding
suckler calf from birth to weaning? scheme for suckler herds” (Suckler Welfare Scheme),
supplementary concentrate feeding for four weeks
• As soon as possible after birth the calf must receive pre-weaning is compulsory.
colostrum or first milk, which supplies the nutrients
needed for survival. As well as being a source of nutrients • Male calves are heavier at birth and grow faster
colostrum contains immunoglobulins or antibodies, which pre-weaning (~+0.1 kg/day) than females.
are essential to the survival and health of the calf.
• The limited capacity of the suckler calf to compensate
• Milk yield of the cow is the primary nutrient source for the post-weaning for growth setbacks experienced
suckled calf during the first few months of life. Milk yield pre-weaning due to insufficient milk, means that live
is higher for beef x dairy breed cows than beef x beef weight differences at weaning are largely retained
breed cows. Due to their origins some beef breeds, such until slaughter.
as Simmental, have a relatively high milk yield, but there
“
is large variation in milk production within all breeds. Young
cows, particularly first-calvers, generally have lower milk
Key fact
The suckled calf receives nearly all its
“
yield than mature cows. Lactation curves of suckler cows
nutrition from the cow for the first three
are relatively flat – their milk yield is relatively constant.
months of life.
• Calves suckling cows with higher milk yield grow faster
than those suckling cows with lower milk yield. The lower Key targets
the milk supply from the cow, the higher the intake of
grass by the calf, but the increase in grass consumption Pre-weaning daily live weight gain (not including creep
usually cannot compensate fully for a restriction in milk feeding). Calves from:
supply and therefore, calf growth rate is lower.
Beef x Dairy cows:
• As calves grow, and their dam’s milk yield is static or starts
• Males = ~1.15-1.30+ kg; Females = ~1.05+ kg
to decline, they eat more grass.
Beef x Beef cows:
• In order to meet calf growth potential and weaning weight
targets, “creep feeding” meal and/or “creep grazing” the • Males = ~1.05-1.20+ kg; Females = ~0.95+ kg
calf can be used to compensate for a lack of milk
produced by the cow and/or deficiencies in grass supply 2 What are the key issues in feeding
or quality. artificially reared dairy-bred calves?
• Creep feeding results in an increase in dry
matter/nutrient intake despite a decrease in grass
Key Target
intake, and consequently, increases in growth rate. Target live weight gain pre-weaning of
Calf growth response to creep feeding is higher when 0.5-0.6 kg / day
cow milk yield is lower, when grass supply is inadequate
and when grass quality is poor. How to
• Similarly, calf growth response to creep grazing is a Decide how much liquid feed the calf
function of cow milk yield, and grass supply and quality should be offered
where the cows are grazing.
• The calf should receive at least 13-15% of the calf birth
weight in whole milk or good quality milk replacer mixed at
125 grams / litre of water.

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• Calves should get liquid feed twice a day until they are at • To promote growth aim for a crude protein level of
least three weeks of age. 22-25%.
• Nipple feeding is more natural and tends to satisfy the • Fat sources should be highly digestible and preserved
suckling urge but feeding method does not have a major with an antioxidant.
effect on weight gain.
• Crude fibre levels above 0.15% can be indicative of
Examples of Feeding Rates for Different Breeds plant proteins. Avoid high crude fibre levels.
Breed Holstein, Friesian, HF x Jersey • Target ash content of 6.5-7.5%
HF x Norwegian Jersey Cross
Red Cross
Average birth 37-40 kg 32 kg 28 kg How to
weight
Decide how much concentrate to feed
Minimum 5 litres 4.5 litres 4.0 litres
Volumes fed / Intake of concentrates is the single most important factor in
day up to day 5
the development of the calf’s stomach
Minimum 6.0 litres 5.0 litres 4.5 litres
Volumes fed / • Use a high specification calf ration. Target energy density
day after day 5
= 0.95 UFL, crude protein content = 18%, balanced
for minerals.
Key risk
! • A coarse ration will stimulate rumen development
• Whole milk is the natural follow-on from colostrum but and calves will start to ‘chew the cud’. Avoid finely
ground feeds
• Milk from cows that are under antibiotic treatment
(including for mastitis) should not be fed to calves. • Additives are no substitute for good feeding management.
Calves should have access to clean, palatable starter
• Milk with a high bacterial contamination, e.g. high SCC, concentrates from 4-7 days old. Only offer small
risk of Johne’s disease, salmonella and E. coli, should quantities of fresh feed every day, as this will reduce waste
only be fed to calves after pasteurisation
• Calves fed coarse starter concentrates eat more and have
• Ideally milk from the first eight milkings should be higher weight gains than calves fed pelleted starters
pasteurised and chilled before feeding to calves
• After a few weeks pelleted starters can be gradually
Milk from cows treated with antibiotics, and still within the introduced.
withdrawal period, should never be fed to calves as it can
affect the taste of the milk leading to calves not drinking as
Alternatives
much milk, with resultant lower weight gains. But, more
importantly bacteria that are resistant to these antibiotics can Roughage
develop and if animals need to be treated with these
• The concentrate feed is significantly more important
antibiotics they may not work as effectively.
than the roughage to develop the calf’s stomach.
Checklist • Calves need small quantities of roughage – hay or straw.
Milk replacer? This is more important if feeding a pelleted ration.

• There is significant variation in quality of milk replacers. • Avoid feeding too much. It can result in a pot belly.
You generally get what you pay for. There is a greater risk of this with overeating of hay.

• A good quality milk replacer should preferably contain only • Where pot bellies (or hay bellies) are observed it indicates
milk derived protein sources. that the rumen is packed with hay which can not be
digested properly

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Key Question
Is water important?
? • Calves that have access to concentrates from the second
week of life and are offered the minimal required volumes
of milk will usually eat 1 kg of starter concentrates from
approximately 8 weeks of age.
• Water is important for rumen development. Clean water
should be offered at all times. Milk is not a substitute for • If calves that are offered near ad libitum milk, gradual
free access to water. weaning should not begin before week 12.
• A clean, fresh supply of water should be offered from • In weaning, gradually reduce the volume fed over a period
3-4 days of age of 7-10 days. Calves fed twice a day should be reduced to
once-a-day before weaning.
How to
• When weaning calves aim for a uniform group as it makes
wean calves. post-weaning management easier. Age should not be an
• Wean calves at least 80 kg live weight when the calf important factor at weaning.
is consuming at least 1 kg of concentrates per day.
• Increasing the weaning weight as the season progresses
can help avoid having a group of small calves in addition
to the larger earlier-weaned calves.

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