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
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