Housing and management characteristics of calf automated feeding systems in the Upper Midwest of the United States

Abstract

Automated milk feeders are used by dairy producers to manage preweaned calves in group housing, but little is known about how these feeding systems are being used in the United States. To better understand how US dairy producers are operating these systems, this study investigated characteristics of barn design, environment, and management practices on 38 farms in the Upper Midwest of the United States via a questionnaire and on-farm measurements. Farms using automated feeders ranged in size from 7 to 300 calves on site. Natural ventilation was used on 50% of the farms, followed by barns with mechanical ventilation (39.5%), tunnel ventilation (7.9%), or outdoor facilities (sheltered plastic domes; 2.6%). Calves were kept in groups of 17.6 ± 9.8 animals (range: 5.9 to 60.5) with an average space allowance of 4.6 ± 2.0 m/animal (range: 1.6 to 11.9). Calves on these farms received 3.7 ± 0.75 L (range: 2 to 6) of colostrum, but 22% of the tested calves had serum total protein values lower than 5.0 g/dL. Calves had an initial daily allowance of 5.4 ± 2.1 L (range: 3 to 15 L) of milk or milk replacer, rising to a peak amount of 8.3 ± 2.0 L (range: 5 to 15 L) over 18 ± 11.4 d (range: 0 to 44 d). Milk replacer was fed to calves on 68.4% of the farms compared with whole milk supplemented with nutrient balancer on 23.7% and whole milk alone on 7.9% of the farms. Calves were completely weaned at 56.8 ± 9.0 d of age (range: 40 to 85.5) and 52.1 ± 7.5 d (range: 40 to 79) since introduction into the group pen with the feeder. Notably, bacterial contamination of milk was common; the median coliform count was 10,430 cfu/mL (interquartile range: 233,111; range: 45 to 28,517,000) and standard plate count was 2,566,867 cfu/mL (interquartile range: 15,860,194; range 6,668 to 82,825,000) for samples collected from the feeder tube end (or feeder hose). Some areas of deficiency might be of concern as they might be influencing the success of using automated calf feeding systems. In particular, a better understanding of the dynamics of pathogen load is needed in both the group pen area and in the automated feeder unit itself, as these reservoirs represent significant risk to calf health and welfare.

Pre-Weaned Calf Rearing on Northern Irish Dairy Farms: Part 1. A Description of Calf Management and Housing Design

“…The herd sizes observed in this study were typically smaller than those reported in the US and other parts of the UK [11,15] but larger than those surveyed in Europe [17,28]. Several studies have associated larger herd sizes with increased calf mortality [28,29]; however, Murray et al [30] found conflicting evidence.…”

“…Additionally, systems vary across different regions. Numerous surveys have been conducted in US regions where temperatures regularly fall below 0 • C and barn design is typically consistent across farms [13][14][15][16]. Klein-Jöbstl et al [17] noted similar consistency in areas such as colostrum management, housing and feeding procedures within Austrian dairy farms.…”

Welfare implications on management strategies for rearing dairy calves: A systematic review. Part 1–feeding management

“…In addition, throughout the literature reviewed, the method of feeding has been modernized with the introduction of automatic milk feeders, which are introduced to animals at around 5 days of age and can be housed in groups of 10–15 calves ( 93 , 94 ). These feeders accurately control animal milk intake ( 95 ), but their effect on calf welfare is still being investigated.…”