While the initial days/weeks of calf rearing may appear to be the most labour-intensive stage for farmers, the first season at grass can prove a more difficult phase for them to manage.

Nutritionally, success is measured by developing the calf as best as possible prior to introducing grazed grass. Given that newborn calves are born with undeveloped rumens, the initial objective is to assist such rumen development prior to being weaned off milk. This enables them to become cost-effective forage consumers.

Rumen development begins within the first few days of life and is advanced by exposure to healthy bacteria from the environment and the consumption of solid feeds. Introducing a palatable calf-starter ration/nut from 3 days of ages (18% Crude Protein) is important, along with access to fresh, clean water and high-quality clean straw ad-libitum (no haylage/silage).

Weaning on a weight basis alone can create a false sense of security in terms of how ready calves are for the next stage of nutrition. Weaning shouldn’t be considered until calves are intaking a minimum of 1.5kg concentrate/day in grouped pens – which indicates that the calf’s dry matter intakes can cope with the transition to a 100% solid diet.

Year-on-year, cases of calves suffering from setbacks following their introduction to grass can also prove a major influencing factor.

Nutritionally, spring grass can be high in oils like conjugated linoleic acid, sugars and potentially nitrogen, which young, underdeveloped rumens can find it hard to adjust to. Low covers of grass also have very little fibre, which is a key substrate for good rumen health.

Calves aren’t fully functioning ruminants, which is why additional care and attention is required at so critical a phase in their development.

Greater rumen development in early life can help combat such issues, alongside the following: offering concentrates post-turnout, grazing slightly heavier covers until calves having adapted to grazing, offering a fibre source to ease the transition and/or strip grazing calves to ensure stem content is also being grazed.

For more information and calf rearing advice, contact your local Agritech Sales Advisor here.

Newborn calves are born with undeveloped rumens, yet they will spend more of their lives as fully functioning ruminants. The main objective is to assist the transition from pre-ruminant to ruminant by developing the rumen as much as possible before they are weaned off milk, so that they grow to be cost-effective forage consumers that are efficient at converting feed to milk or meat.

Rumen development begins within the first few days after birth and is advanced by exposure to healthy bacteria from the environment and the consumption of solid feeds – concentrates and straw (preferable to hay). Concentrates should be introduced from three days of age (an 18% crude protein calf starter ration/nut ideally) alongside free access to fresh clean water and high-quality clean straw ad-libitum (no haylage or silage).

Source: Penn State Extension

Considering Weaning 

Weaning on weight basis alone can leave a false sense of security with how ready calves are for the next stage of life/nutrition. The success of the weaning process and the weeks thereafter will hinge on how the rumen has developed over the first weeks of the calf-rearing period. Weaning should never be considered until calves are consuming at least 1.5kg of concentrates/hd/day in grouped pens – signalling that the calves dry matter intake can cope with the transition to a 100% solid feed diet.

Concentrates should be offered ad-lib while on milk but tracked closer to weaning to ensure the group is consuming adequate levels to allow weaning to commence.

Calf Rearing Advice: 

For further advice on calf rearing and calf milk replacer, contact your local Agritech Sales Advisor.

Newborn calves are key to future farm profitability, therefore it is critical to optimise performance from the earliest stages. In addition to providing a clean, dry and warm environment, an early feeding strategy geared towards rumen development is key to successful calf rearing.

As all farmers know, feeding adequate amounts of colostrum to the new-born calf in a timely manner is crucial. The use of milk acidifiers is now a well-established practice on Irish farms as they promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria, while restricting cultures that may cause nutritional issues. However, they are not as effective when it comes to encouraging the development of a large healthy rumen.

Managing digestive changes

To achieve optimum rumen development, it is important to introduce a high energy/protein calf starter ration from approximately 5 days of age, with free access to fresh clean water and high-quality straw. This will ensure good calf growth rates and a healthy well-developed rumen for future life. Bear in mind that once the rumen development process begins at two weeks of age, the subsequent change in digestion and gut function can make the animal highly susceptible to digestive upsets and pathogen challenges. This is where a product like as VITAMEG has many benefits.    

Vitameg is an advanced feeding supplement for young calves. It contains botanical extracts which enhances digestion and stimulates feed intake by optimising the growth of gut microbial flora to outcompete pathogens. Vitameg also contains prebiotic and yeast cell walls, commonly referred to as MOS, which helps fight against bacteria such as E-coli and salmonella. It also has added omega-3 which has shown to improve immunity and disease resistance, thereby preventing infection and stress.

Developing a large healthy rumen at this early stage will encourage the calf to consume large amounts of high-quality forage, i.e., grazed grass and silage.

Through on farm nutritional support, Agritech are available to support farmers throughout the calving season and beyond. To find out more about Vitameg, contact your local Agritech distributor or click here.