REARING CALVES

FIRST MONTHS AFTER BIRTH

• The calf is not born with antibodies in their system, so it is vitally important that the young
• calf get colostrum as quickly as possible
• It should be hand fed if the calf is too weak to suckle the mother.

FEEDING MILK

• Milk is the food ideally suited to the digestive system of the calf.
• The normal procedure,
• is to feed the calf with the following cycle of feeds:
• Colostrum,milk
• Milk Replacer,and Concentrate ration.

MILK REPLACER

• The calf sometimes cannot be weaned of the
• Mother until it is 5 - 6 weeks old
• The digestive system of the calf is very sensitive and is easily upset.

MILK REPLACER 2

• It must be fed gradually as the calf may react to it.
• This is usually done over a period of 4 –5 days.
• •Bucket fed calves are given 2 litres if milk replacer
• • twice daily at body temperature.
• They may also be fed using an automatic feeder,

WEANING ONTO HAY AND CONCENTRATES

• •Hay, concentrates and water should be available to calves as
• as they stop drinking Colostrum.
• •At first the level of hay and concentrates they consume will
• be very low, but this will increase as the calf gets older.

THE CALF ON GRASS

• •Calves should be allowed onto grass until the weather is warm.
• The change from warm housing to cold outdoor conditions can cause a
• Shock and can disturb the calf’s growth