Rumen Development and Feeding Management of

Young Calves

Tom Wright, Dairy Nutritionist, OMAFRA

Importance of Rumen Development

Growth = energy + protein

To get energy and protein from the rumen into the calf, absorption capacity is needed

Calf starter helps develop rumen papillae to optimize absorption capacity

Courtesy of Dr. M. Steele

Phases of Development

Three aspects of rumen development from birth to weaning:

1. Pre-ruminant phase (lasts 2 to 3 weeks from birth)– almost exclusively reliant on nutrients in milk for growth and

development

2. Transitional phase– gradual intake of solid feed promotes rumen development, papillae

growth, rumen musculature, development of fermentation environment

3. Ruminant phase (at weaning)– dependent on fermentation of solid feed, absorption of nutrients,

production of microbial protein and VFAs

Phases of DevelopmentPre-ruminant Transition Ruminant

Milk Solid feed

Calf starter helps develop rumen papillae to optimize absorption capacity

Source: Penn State University. Available online

Rumen Development

Fermentation of carbohydrates in solid feed – primarily from starter

Promotes rumen development

Key fermentation products are butyrate and propionate (Warner, 1956)

Provision of small amounts of hay (10 - 15% of intake) can aid in rumen musculature development but in young calves, fermentation of hay is limited because:

few cellulotytic bacteria are present rumen pH is not stabilized papillae not fully functional to absorb VFAs11

Rumen Development

Starter fermentation produces volatile fatty acids (VFA), which are taken up across the rumen wall for energy

Starter VFA

Promotes lower and stable pH

Protein

Rumen Wall

Rumen Development

With too low pH, fermentation bacteria can start to die off

Starter VFA

lower rumen pH

Protein

Rumen Wall

Feeding and Nutritional Management

More to Nutrition than Nutrients

Environment and Management are just as important as nutritional quality

Consider: Air quality Water Lighting Ambient temperature Social setting Sanitation/Disease Pressure

Good calf managers always look at the whole picture so they set calves up to meet their potential

Factors Affecting Eating Behaviour

Management

Environment

Light

Nutrition

Health

Housing

Social Factors

Intake

Interrelationships for Eating Behaviours

Management

Environment

LightNutrition

Health

Housing

Social Factors

Intake

Positive attitude direct relation to disease level (Lensink et al., 2001)

Lowest mortality in neonatal calves when a female was in charge (Losinger et al., 1997)

Three vs. twice a day liquid feeding ??1x day for replacer no effect (Stanley et al, 2002)

Weaning 6,7,8 wk of age or older – avoid post-weaning slump Industry in NA aims for 8 wks

Feeding Management

750 – 850 g, Zanton and Heinricks, 2005

How Fast Do You Want To Grow Them?

Greatest Growth Potential Occurs In The First 6 Months

Source Babcock

Importance of Water

Most essential nutrient, represents 70% of body weight

Water is lost from respiration and manure (feces and urine)

Water balance is controlled by the kidneys

Water intake is positively correlated with dry matter intake

Water

At what age is fresh water offered to calves? 0 – 5 days 23%

(215/920) 5 – 10 days 29%

(268/920) More than 10 days

30% (280/920) Not until after

weaning 17% (157/920)

Some Water Myths & Issues

Water causes scours

They get enough water in milk or replacer

It’s a pain to handle and it freezes in winter

Water should be offered from 3 days of age, it promotes starter intake

Preferably free choice access

Needs to be clean

Calves prefer to drink warm water (though no evidence this improves gain etc., but they will drink more water if it’s warm)

Ideally it should be physically separated from the calf starter-water dribbled into calf starter reduces intake of starter

Water Recommendations

Quigley et al. 2006

Average Daily Water Intake Birth to 4 wks 3.5 L4 wk to 8 wks 5.7 L

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Week of Age

L/D

18 h L

10 h L

18 h L + G

10 h L + G

Water Intake by Treatment

Consider Effects of Housing on Calf Feeding

Social Environment

Packs vs. corrals vs. individual housing

No clear data on feeding and intake, mostly other behaviour responses have been documented

Dry cows - 12 hours

Lactating cows - 16 to 18 hours

Yearlings - 12 hours ?????

Neonatal - unknown

Consider Effects of Lighting

Effects of Light on Starter Intake

(18h vs. 10h)

Week

Osborne et al. 2007

18h

10h

Cold Weather Feeding

45kg calf requires 382g/d of dry milk replacer at thermoneutral temperature to meet her maintenance energy requirement, but the same calf needs 725 g/d at -20 °C

Calves have little body fat reserve to use as an energy source (4 - 5% of body weight)

In cold barns, it is important to increase quantity of milk (preferably via extra feeding time) and recognize that cold stress in calves happens at a fairly comfortable ambient temperature for people (below 15°C)

Feeding Calves in Colder Weather

Temperature (oC)

20 10 0 -10 -20

Body Weight (kg)

Maintenance Energy RequiredMcal/day

40 1.59 2.02 2.45 2.96 3.31

50 1.88 2.39 2.90 3.50 3.91

60 2.16 2.74 3.32 4.01 4.48

The thermoneutral zone for calves lies between 15 and 25°C

Energy required by the calf increases significantly when it’s cold

Cold Weather Feeding Options

To maintain growth:

1. Increase volume of milk or replacer at each feeding

2. PREFERRED OPTION provide an additional feeding

3. For accelerated programs additional milk/replacer at a third feeding is preferable to increasing quantity

4. Switch to higher fat milk replacer in cold weather (20% in winter months)

5. Promote starter intake – ensure freshness etc.

Calf Starters and Supplements

Grain

At what age is grain/starter introduced to calves? 0 – 5 days 32% (299/940) 5 – 10 days 46% (430/940) 11 – 20 days 17% (162/940) More than 20 days of age 5% (49/940)

Do calves have free-choice access to grain/starter? 87% YES

Feeding Calf Starter

Calves should be offered starter from birth

During the pre-ruminant phase, intake of starter is small, but measurable amounts are consumed by 14 days

Goals of the traditional “Calf Starter Method” of feeding when milk is restricted fed

↑ starter intake

↑ promote rumen development

↓ age at weaning

Calf Starter Intake

Reduced milk availability is best promoter of calf starter intake

Reducing available milk once before weaning helps increase starter intake at weaning

De Passillé et al., 2011

Comparisons:- Early vs. late

weaning

- Low-fed vs. high-fed milk program

*Weaning period highlighted*

Introduction of Hay

When are calves normally introduced to hay? Less than 2 weeks of age 155 2 – 4 weeks of age 195 4 – 6 weeks of age 190 After weaning 20

Forage Intake

Forage intake can influence rumen health Intake increases with age Doesn’t appear directly related to milk feeding program

(early vs. late weaning; low vs. high-fed milk)

De Passillé et al., 2011

Inorganic vs. organic (proteinate)

Proteinate defined:a trace mineral (Zn, Cu, Mn, Fe, Se or Co) chelated to amino acids and peptides

Main effect is on immune system

Better biological activity

Maternal Trace Mineral Influence on Calf

Probiotics (good for first 2 weeks of life) mannanoligosaccharides, yeast cell walls Pastes (live yeasts, vitamins, bacteria) 5ml/d Lactoferrin – natural antibiotic, immune regulator

Calf Nutrient Supplements

Organic trace minerals √

Lactoferrin ?

Probiotics/Pastes √

Group/Individual Management $

Automatic feeder Management $

Extra light √

Whole milk/replacer Management $

Take Home Message

Milk Replacer

Milk Feeding Options

Whole saleable milk

Waste milk

Pasteurized milk

Milk replacer (various formulations)

Milk Feeding

Whole Milk

Milk Replacer

Waste Milk

Acidified Whole Milk

Acidified Milk Replacer0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

Nu

mb

er

of

Re

sp

on

se

s

Economic and management decision No difference after weaning

Acidified replacer (formic, propionic, pH 3.8-4.5) Has to be mixed cold

Higher Protein/Fat replacers 28/20%, soy protein, plant oils

Whole Milk vs. Replacer

Managing Replacer Feeding

Assess the water source

Bacterial contamination sources include

Scoops, pails, nipples, hands

Pest Control during storage

e.g. rodents, dogs and cats

Milk Replacer Feeding

Smaller stomachs require frequent feedings to allow a calf MAXIMIZE nutrient uptake

Too many nutrients at once

Milk can travel back to the rumen and cause bloating

It will pass right through the calf and cause nutritional scours

Feeding schedules should consider what a calf can physically digest in one meal

Types Of Milk Replacer

All milk protein

Alternative source

Accelerated growth

Milk Replacer Ingredients

Protein Whey protein concentrate, dried whey, skim milk, casein, calcium or

sodium caseinate, dried whey product, soy protein isolate, soy flour, protein modified soy flour, soy protein concentrate, wheat protein, hydrolized wheat gluten, potato protein isolate, egg product, animal plasma protein

Fat Vegetable oils, lard, tallow, coconut oil, milk fats, lecithin

Other Ingredients Vitamin and mineral premix, prebiotics, probiotics, organic acids,

flavouring, emulsifiers, selenium yeast

Milk Replacer Composition

Conventional Restricted Milk Fed Programs Crude Protein content of 20% to 22% maximizes lean tissue growth

(Bartlett et al., 2006)

Enhanced Milk Feeding Programs Crude Protein must be 26% to 28%, can use a lower fat (15%)

except in cold weather (energy needs to be increased to 18 -20%)

NRC Recommendations (DM basis)

Nutrient Whole Milk Milk Replacer Starter GrowerCalcium, % 0.95 1.00 0.70 0.60

Phosphorus, % 0.76 0.70 0.45 0.40

Magnesium, % 0.10 0.07 0.10 0.10

Sodium, % 0.38 0.40 0.15 0.14

Potassium, % 1.12 0.65 0.65 0.65

Chloride, % 0.92 0.25 0.20 0.20

Sulfur, % 0.32 0.29 0.20 0.20

Iron, mg/kg 3.0 100 50 50

Manganese, mg/kg 0.2-0.4 40 40 40

Zinc, mg/kg 15-38 40 40 40

Copper, mg/kg 0.1-1.1 10 10 10

Iodine, mg/kg 0.1-0.2 0.50 0.25 0.25

Cobalt, mg/kg 0.004-0.008 0.11 0.10 0.10

Selenium, mg/kg 0.02-0.15 0.30 0.30 0.30

Vitamin A, IU/kg 11,500 9,000 4,000 4,000

Vitamin D, IU/kg 307 600 600 600

Vitamin E, IU/kg 8 50 25 25

Notes To NRC Recommendations

Generally, they reflect the calf’s needs, but they date from 2001 and new information has been developed since that time.

Vitamin E is routinely included in milk replacers at higher than NRC levels

Based on evidence that it supports calf health.

Vitamin A is routinely added at several times the NRC recommendation but while there is some data to support this, it isn’t a conclusive benefit