Management Of Dairy Calf During Winter
DR. MANOJ SINGH TANWAR
Calves are the future of the dairy farm, and it is essential for future success to provide adequate and consistent care for each and every calf. There are several feeding and housing strategies to consider when raising pre-wean calves during winter season Look at each calf on an individual basis – what signs do you see that something is not quite right with that calf? Depending on age, calves experience cold stress at different temperatures. The critical temperature for newborn calves is 48°F versus 32°F for older calves. When cold stress takes effect on calves, there is an increase in the calf’s energy requirement for maintenance.
Cold stress causes calves to divert energy away from growth and immune function to fight the effects of being cold. Additional energy must be added to the ration as well as housing strategies must be used to help combat the effects of cold stress and as a result maintain a calf’s desired growth rate of 1.5 pounds per day.
Housing Strategies
Dry, Clean, Draft free Housing
Calf housing has to be clean, dry and free of draft. Proper bedding increases insulation from the earth or concrete underneath the calf. Bedding when added to a hutch or pen has to be clean—free of soil, pathogens and mold. This easily can be assessed visually. Bedding materials which include sand, straw, corn stalks, paper, wood shavings and sawdust have to be dry. Once the bedding is already placed in the hutch or pen, use the “knee-drop” to test for dampness. You should be able to remain on your knees for 15 seconds or longer without having damp knees. Calves can lose heat rapidly if bedding is wet. Don’t forget, as more energy is used for maintenance, less will be available for growth and immune functions. Provide calves a place to lie down away from drafts. Dry plentiful bedding provides an insulating stable air environment and will encourage calves to lie down decreasing body heat loss.
Birth: All year round, following the appropriate calving protocols is essential for the health of both the cow and calf. More specifically to winter, calves should be kept clean, dry and warm in the first two hours after birth and then moved to a calf hutch or cold housing. Calf jackets are also helpful to keep calves warm during winter. Calf jackets should be laundered regularly especially between calves.
Bedding: Calves should be provided a clean and dry place to live, which is deep and allows calves to nestle down into bedding to reduce body heat loss. A suggestion is to take some time to observe the living conditions of your calves for yourself. If you can’t kneel in a calf’s pen for 15 seconds without having damp knees, additional cleaning or bedding is necessary.
Ventilation: Provide appropriate, draft-free ventilation.
Calf Coats
In colder winters, waterproof calf coats can also help decrease cold weather stress. Calf coats should be dry and cleaned regularly. Don’t forget that a calf’s coat should be dry and clean as it is its barrier to the environment and insulation. Newborn calves should have ample time to dry before being moved in a hutch and these have to be located in dry areas.
Feeding strategies :
Ø Consistency, consistency, consistency: Calves expect consistency when it comes to feeding. Calves should be fed the same volume, the same amount of solids, the same time of day and at the same temperature at every feeding.
Ø Fat content: Due to the fact that calves are born with very little fat on their bodies, calves should receive a ration containing at least 20% fat.
Ø Feeding times: In order to increase the feed intake of calves, the number of times fed or the amount fed may need to be adjusted. For example, increase the number of feedings per day from two to three while keeping the amount fed per calf the same. Or continue feeding the calves twice per day; however, increase the amount fed from 2 to 3 quarts per feeding.
Ø Starter: Always have high quality, free choice starter available for calves to utilize for additional energy and to aid in rumen development. Starter provides another source of energy for calves. Begin offering starter at two-three days of age. Calves should begin eating some starter by five to seven days of age. By the second week, calves should be consuming ¼ to ½ pounds per day. If your calf has not begun eating starter by this time, something is wrong. You will need to troubleshoot your starter quality, calf health, and feeding practices. Make sure buckets are at the correct height to facilitate easy access.
Ø Feed quality milk replacer. Read the tag carefully to make sure you are choosing a quality milk replacer. Not all protein sources are created equal.
There are three ways to feed more milk replacer.
1) Add a feeding. Feeding a third meal will increase amount of solids by 1/3 compared to feeding only twice daily.
2) Increase volume. Increase the feeding volume by 1/3 between the two feedings. This is the same as adding a third meal. However, these larger meals can decrease starter grain intake and cause digestive upset.
3) Increase solids. Another way to feed more milk replacer is to add more powder to the volume of milk replacer mixed. One should consult with your nutritionist to determine amount of powder to add to increase energy. However, total solids in milk replacer should not exceed 15%. Anything greater can cause health risks. When feeding whole milk, it is recommended to pasteurize it first to reduce the risk of bacterial pathogens, especially for non-saleable milk.
Ø Water: All feedings and water available should be served at a calf’s normal body temperature of 101.5°F. The reason for this is that if feedings and water are not served at body temperature, the calf must utilize additional energy to warm the feedings and water to 101.5°F. Water is essential for maintaining body fluids, rumen development, digestion, and eliminating waste. Calves should consume 10% of body weight in water daily. Since milk intake does not substitute for water, provide supplemental water.
Ø Electrolytes: Have electrolytes on hand to help prevent the calf from getting dehydrated when ill.
Ø Failure to minimize the effects of cold stress
Ø results in depressed immune function
Ø increased risk of sickness
Ø poor response to treatment
Ø decreased growth performance
Ø possible death.
Reference-On Request
