Growth Performance of Holstein-Friesian Heifer Calves Reared using Three Milk Replacer Feeding Regimes

Bleach, E.C.L.; Gould, M. B.; Blackie, Nicola; Beever, D. E.

doi:10.5661/recadv-05-347

Cited by 6 publications

(14 citation statements)

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“…For example, with calves being housed in groups in this study, energy requirements for activity would have been greater than those housed individually, which is the rearing system from which the data were obtained to create the NRC model. Only one study has reported calf growth rates from birth in excess of 0.75 kg/day in group-rearing accommodation (Bleach et al, 2005) and this was achieved by offering ad libitum MR resulting in consumption .1.1 kg of MR DM/day. Dietary factors such as protein quality have been shown to affect the rate of DLWG through changes in protein digestibility and absorption.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of calf nutrition on the performance of dairy herd replacements

Morrison¹,

Wicks²,

Carson³

et al. 2012

Animal

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Sixty-five Holstein-Friesian calves were randomly allocated to one of eight nutritional treatments at 4 days of age. In this factorial design study, the treatments comprised of four levels of milk replacer (MR) mixed in 6 l of water (500, 750, 1000 and 1250 g/day) 3 two crude protein (CP) concentrations (230 and 270 g CP/kg dry matter (DM)). MR was fed via automatic teat feeders and concentrates were offered via automated dispensers during the pre-wean period. MR and calf starter concentrate intake were recorded until weaning with live weight and body measurements recorded throughout the rearing period until heifers entered the dairy herd at a targeted 24 months of age. There was no effect of MR protein concentration on concentrate or MR intake, and no effect on body size or live weight at any stage of development. During the pre-weaning period, for every 100 g increase in MR allowance, concentrate consumption was reduced by 39 g/day. While, for every 100 g increase in the amount of MR offered, live weight at days 28 and 270 increased by 0.76 and 2.61 kg, respectively (P , 0.05). Increasing MR feed levels increased (P , 0.05) heart girth and body condition score at recordings during the first year of life, but these effects disappeared thereafter. Increasing MR feeding level tended to reduce both age at first observed oestrus and age at first service but no significant effect on age at first calving was observed. Neither MR feeding level nor MR CP content affected post-calving live weight or subsequent milk production. Balance measurements conducted using 44 male calves during the pre-weaning period showed that increasing milk allowance increased energy and nitrogen (N) intake, diet DM digestibility, true N digestibility and the biological value of the dietary protein. Increasing the MR protein content had no significant effect on the apparent digestibility of N or DM.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of calf nutrition on the performance of dairy herd replacements

Morrison¹,

Wicks²,

Carson³

et al. 2012

Animal

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“…Traditional feeding practices provide daily milk allowances of approximately 10% of calf bodyweight, primarily to increase solid-feed intakes to facilitate rumen development for earlier weaning. These restricted feeding practices limit the growth potential of calves [8] and are likely to provide insufficient energy in temperatures below 15 • C [9]. When calves are malnourished, particularly in cases of insufficient energy intakes, their immunity is impaired and they are more susceptible to disease (e.g., [10][11][12]).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Appropriate Dairy Calf Feeding from Birth to Weaning: “It’s an Investment for the Future”

Palczynski

Bleach

Brennan

et al. 2020

Animals

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Dairy calves must be fed appropriately to meet their nutritional needs, supporting optimal growth and development to achieve the recommended target age at first calving (AFC) of 24 months. Traditional restricted milk feeding practices suppress growth, contribute to negative welfare states and may result in malnutrition and immunosuppression. Despite more recent recommendations to increase milk allowances for pre-weaned calves, restricted feeding remains a common practice. This study explored the rationales behind the calf feeding protocols used by dairy farmers in England. Forty qualitative interviews (26 farmers, 14 advisors) were conducted between May 2016 and June 2017, transcribed in full, then coded into themes. Results indicate that a variety of calf feeding regimes are used on farms, largely determined by farmers’ attitudes regarding ease of management and the wellbeing of calves. Advisors were concerned about widespread underfeeding of calves, which may be partially due to insufficiently clear recommendations for calf milk replacer (CMR) feeding rates. There was also evidence of uncertainty regarding best practices for weaning calves. Collaboration between academic research and industry is essential to establish a consensus on calf feeding standards which support physiological function, facilitate weaning, support growth targets and ensure calf health and welfare is protected.

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“…The pregnancy rate of beef heifers in their first breeding season is generally considered a moderately heritable trait, although the heritability range in seven different studies reported by Bormann et al (2006) was from almost zero to over 0.2. In Brangus heifers there was a positive genetic correlation between first service conception rate with weight, height and backfat thickness but a negative relationship with overall heifer pregnancy rate .…”

Section: Genetic Selectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many producers will take calving ease into consideration (Eaglen et al, 2013). However, bull fertility is also variable, with a study of Angus beef heifers reporting variations in pregnancy rates between sires of 65% to 100% within a breeding season (Bormann et al, 2006). In beef heifers reproductive tract scoring (RTS) before the start of the breeding season can be used to assess the development stage of the ovaries and uterus as a guide to how many animals have reached, or are at least close to, puberty (Holm et al, 2009).…”

Section: Heifer Fertilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Traditional calf rearing systems offer restricted volumes of milk during the pre-weaning period, typically feeding liquid milk at 10% of BW and supplying 400 to 500 g milk solids/day to achieve growth rates of around 400 to 600 g/day under thermoneutral conditions. Calves provided with higher volumes of milk early in life can double their nutrient intake up to 14 l per day, so gaining more weight (up to around 1 kg/day; Bleach et al, 2005). Feeding whole milk or milk replacer to support rapid pre-weaning growth rates enables heifers to achieve breeding size earlier.…”

Section: Nutrition and Growth Ratementioning

confidence: 99%

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Heifer fertility and carry over consequences for life time production in dairy and beef cattle

Wathes

Pollott

Johnson

et al. 2014

Animal

141

116

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The rearing period has a key influence on the later performance of cattle, affecting future fertility and longevity. Producers usually aim to breed replacement heifers by 15 months to calve at 24 months. An age at first calving (AFC) close to 2 years (23 to 25 months) is optimum for economic performance as it minimises the non-productive period and maintains a seasonal calving pattern. This is rarely achieved in either dairy or beef herds, with average AFC for dairy herds usually between 26 and 30 months. Maintaining a low AFC requires good heifer management with adequate growth to ensure an appropriate BW and frame size at calving. Puberty should occur at least 6 weeks before the target breeding age to enable animals to undergo oestrous cycles before mating. Cattle reach puberty at a fairly consistent, but breed-dependent, proportion of mature BW. Heifer fertility is a critical component of AFC. In US Holsteins the conception rate peaked at 57% at 15 to 16 months, declining in older heifers. Wide variations in growth rates on the same farm often lead to some animals having delayed first breeding and/or conception. Oestrous synchronisation regimes and sexed semen can both be used but unless heifers have been previously well-managed the success rates may be unacceptably low. Altering the nutritional input above or below those needed for maintenance at any stage from birth to first calving clearly alters the average daily gain (ADG) in weight. In general an ADG of around 0.75 kg/day seems optimal for dairy heifers, with lower rates delaying puberty and AFC. There is some scope to vary ADG at different ages providing animals reach an adequate size by calving. Major periods of nutritional deficiency and/or severe calfhood disease will, however, compromise development with long-term adverse consequences. Infectious disease can also cause pregnancy loss/abortion. First lactation milk yield may be slightly lower in younger calving cows but lifetime production is higher as such animals usually have good fertility and survive longer. There is now extensive evidence that as long as the AFC is > 23 months then future performance is not adversely influenced. On the other hand, delayed first calving > 30 months is associated with poor survival. Underfeeding of young heifers reduces their milk production potential and is a greater problem than overfeeding. Farmers are more likely to meet the optimum AFC target of 23 to 25 months if they monitor growth rates and adjust feed accordingly.

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Growth Performance of Holstein-Friesian Heifer Calves Reared using Three Milk Replacer Feeding Regimes

Cited by 6 publications

References 0 publications

The effect of calf nutrition on the performance of dairy herd replacements

The effect of calf nutrition on the performance of dairy herd replacements

Appropriate Dairy Calf Feeding from Birth to Weaning: “It’s an Investment for the Future”

Heifer fertility and carry over consequences for life time production in dairy and beef cattle

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