Measuring the growth rate of UK dairy heifers to improve future productivity

Bazeley, Katrine; Barrett, David C; Williams, Paul; Reyher, Kristen K

doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2015.10.043

Cited by 29 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Overall ADG in the first 5 weeks was 0.48 kg/day. This exceeded the 0.12 kg/day previously recorded by Bazeley et al (2015) on UK farms but was similar to growth rates of 0.35 to 0.56 kg/day reported in a review of 19 research studies (Morrison et al, 2009). These restrictions in milk supply occurred even though numerous studies have shown that calves fed more milk at a young age have higher feed conversion efficiencies and better growth rates (e.g.…”

supporting

confidence: 79%

“…This allowed for compatible comparisons between all calves, regardless of the exact age at each measurement. No adjustments were made for recruitment size because many calves either maintain a steady weight or even lose weight in their 1 st week (Bazeley et al, 2015), meaning that a linear growth rate could not be assumed.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Early growth is therefore heavily dependent on the milk ration. A recent UK study demonstrated that calves grew very little in their first few weeks, with a median growth rate of only 0.12 kg/day between 8 and 30 days old (Bazeley et al, 2015). Growth rates of pre-weaned calves generally increase from about week 3 onwards (Bazeley KJ and Wathes DC, unpublished observations) and can exceed 1 kg/day in calves kept with their dam or on ad libitum milk (Appleby et al, 2001;Khan et al, 2011;Bach et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Analysis of pre-weaning feeding policies and other risk factors influencing growth rates in calves on 11 commercial dairy farms

Johnson

Chancellor

Burn

et al. 2018

Animal

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Growth rates in pre-weaned calves influence their health, age at first calving and lifetime productivity. Many farms restrict milk rations to encourage solid feed intake and facilitate early weaning, but this can compromise growth. This study determined the milk feeding policies and associated growth rates on 11 commercial dairy farms in South East England, each following their normal management regime. Between 26 and 54 heifers were recruited per farm, providing a final cohort of 492, of which 71% were pure Holstein. Information on calf rearing practices (feeding, weaning, housing) and health was collected via questionnaires and weekly observations. Estimates of actual milk fed (kg solids) between 1 and 63 days were calculated for individual calves. Morphometric data (weight, height, length) were taken at weeks 1, 5 and 9 and at a median age of 7.5 months and growth rates were calculated. Most calves were fed milk replacer via automated feeders (four farms), teat feeder (one) or buckets (four) whereas two farms provided drums of acidified waste milk. Farms fed between 4 and 6 l/day of milk at mixing rates of 10% to 15%, providing 400 to 900 g/day of milk solids. Both skeletal growth rates and average daily weight gain (ADG) increased in the second month of life compared with the first: height growth from 0.17 ± 0.14 to 0.25 ± 0.16 cm/day and ADG from 0.48 ± 0.25 to 0.71 ± 0.28 kg/day. Post-weaning heifers up to 7.5 months had height increases of 0.16 ± 0.035 cm/day and ADG of 0.83 ± 0.16 kg/day. From 1 to 63 days 70% of calves had growth rates <0.7 kg/day and of these 19.6% gained <0.5 kg/day. Mean ADG before 9 weeks varied between farms from 0.52 ± 0.30 to 0.75 ± 0.20 kg/day. This was related to the amount of milk fed at both a farm and individual calf level. Increasing the total milk solids fed between 1 and 63 days from 20.4 to 46.3 kg (the 10 th to 90 th percentile observed) was associated with an increase of 0.11 kg/day ADG. All farms had a wide variation in growth rates despite single feeding policies. Higher circulating immunoglobulin G and IGF1 concentrations were associated with better growth, whereas low temperatures in month of birth, high scores for diarrhoea, respiratory and umbilical disease and large birth size reduced growth. Many commercially grown dairy heifers therefore experienced growth restriction in the pre-weaned period, potentially reducing their health, welfare and productivity.

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supporting

confidence: 79%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Analysis of pre-weaning feeding policies and other risk factors influencing growth rates in calves on 11 commercial dairy farms

Johnson

Chancellor

Burn

et al. 2018

Animal

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“…Yet, there may be an opportunity for interventions during early post‐natal life in calves, by modulating the catch‐up growth and preventing the development of metabolic diseases in later life (Jimenez‐Chillaron et al., ). Recent studies have shown both a very limited and an enhanced diet in young calves to have potential negative consequences for their later performance (Bazeley et al., ; Brickell et al., ; Moallem et al., ; Shamay et al., ). Hence, the principal challenge is to develop an optimal growth rate, ensuring a short‐term survival and resistance against diseases, without disturbing fertility and metabolic health in later life.…”

Section: Implications For Replacement Heifer Rearing Practicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although heifer rearing has gained interest over the last years, a recent study in UK dairy heifers has shown a very poor growth pre‐weaning, with negative effects on health and welfare of the calves (Bazeley et al, ). Hence, optimization of rearing strategies is necessary.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Innovative look at dairy heifer rearing: Effect of prenatal and post‐natal environment on later performance

Eetvelde

Opsomer

2017

Reprod Domestic Animals

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As heifer rearing is a costly investment, dairy farmers have been stimulated to maximize early growth of their calves, mainly by enhanced liquid feeding. However, the long-term effects of this "accelerated growth" are largely unknown. Studies recently performed at Ghent University indicate that in dairy cattle, certain maternal factors (such as young age and high milk yield) and environmental factors (such as high ambient temperatures) create a suboptimal environment for the developing foetus, altering the phenotype of the newborn calf. According to the "thrifty phenotype hypothesis," these metabolic alterations prepare the newborn for similar ("matching") conditions after birth, enhancing its survival during periods of limited feeding. Yet, when an abundance of nutrients is available in post-natal life (e.g., during periods of enhanced feeding), the "mismatch" between pre- and post-natal environment results in an early catch-up growth, with potential negative consequences. The aim of the article was to discuss this mismatch between pre- and post-natal environment in dairy calves. Previous studies, especially in human medicine, have shown catch-up growth to be associated with obesity, fertility problems, metabolic diseases and a reduced lifespan. Hence, we hypothesize that, by applying programs of accelerated growth, our current management system accentuates the mismatch between the pre- and post-natal environment in dairy calves. We can conclude that, although more research is necessary, the current findings point towards a more individual approach when rearing dairy heifers.

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Accuracy of heart girth tapes in the estimation of weights of pre‐weaned calves

Sherwin

Hyde

Green

et al. 2021

Veterinary Record Open

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Background Heart girth tapes (HGTs) are often used as an alternative to weight scales for calves. This study investigated the accuracy of HGT in estimating bodyweight and daily liveweight gain (DWLG) of pre‐weaned calves, and the impact of inter‐observer variation. Method In Study 1, 119 calves were weighed using HGT and electronic scales on multiple occasions. Mixed‐effects models for both bodyweight and DLWG were used to determine the accuracy of HGT compared to the electronic scales. Simulation data were used to further analyse the accuracy of DLWG estimation including for factors such as the effect of group size on group DLWG estimates. In Study 2, 10 observers weighed 20 pre‐weaned calves, using HGT and electronic scales. Mixed‐effect model was used to investigate the impact of different observers on the accuracy of HGT on measuring bodyweights. Results Mixed‐effects model results suggest HGT provides a relatively accurate estimation of weight (MAE: 2.66 kg) and relatively inaccurate estimation of DLWG (MAE 0.10 kg/d). Simulated data identified associations between time between weight dates and error in DLWG estimation, with MAE of individual DLWG estimation decreasing from 0.43 kg/d when 14 days apart to 0.08 kg/d when 70 days apart. Increased calf numbers reduced error rates of group DLWG estimation, with <0.05 kg/d error achieved in >90% of simulations when 12 calves were weighed 70 days apart. Conclusions HGTs are relatively accurate at estimating individual bodyweights but are unreliable methods for measuring DLWG in individual calves, particularly weighed within a short‐time period. Estimates at group level however are relatively accurate, providing there is a suitable period of time between weigh dates and an appropriate number of calves per group.

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Measuring the growth rate of UK dairy heifers to improve future productivity

Cited by 29 publications

References 28 publications

Analysis of pre-weaning feeding policies and other risk factors influencing growth rates in calves on 11 commercial dairy farms

Analysis of pre-weaning feeding policies and other risk factors influencing growth rates in calves on 11 commercial dairy farms

Innovative look at dairy heifer rearing: Effect of prenatal and post‐natal environment on later performance

Accuracy of heart girth tapes in the estimation of weights of pre‐weaned calves

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