Expert tips for optimal calf feeding - healthy growth right from the start
The health of the calves in the first few weeks of life is the most important factor for successful rearing.
Feeding is an important component in building a functioning immune system.
Unlike humans, calves do not yet have an immune system at the time of birth. Immediately after birth, they therefore need colostrum for a passive immune defence. Full observation and ensuring sufficient colostrum intake is only possible when feeding by hand.
We offer you products for quality control, colostrum management and colostrum drinking.
The further feeding of the animals depends on the rearing and feeding system of the respective farm.
As a general rule, a drinking phase follows the second feeding. During the feeding phase, the abomasum is a very important organ, as it is responsible for digesting the milk until the other stomachs are formed.
Optimisation of calf health through adapted feeding and supplementary feed
In addition to optimised feeding with milk or milk replacer, supplementary feed is an option for the best possible health of the calves. The prevention of diarrhoea is particularly important in calf rearing.
National differences in the regulations on the supply of water and roughage
The national regulations regarding the timing of offering water and roughage vary from country to country. It is advisable to offer the calves water and roughage at their free disposal after a short period of time in addition to the drinking trough with milk or milk replacer.
Colostrum management in calf feeding - the key to improving calf health
Feeding the calf immediately after birth is crucial for its further progress.
A calf is born without immune protection and is defenceless against diseases. The newborn calf can absorb so-called immunoglobulins via the colostrum in order to build up its own immune system and shield itself against pathogens, etc. The calf's intestinal wall is permeable to bacteria immediately after birth. Immediately after birth, the permeability of the intestinal wall for immunoglobulins from colostrum is at its highest.
It is therefore recommended for the optimal supply of newborn calves...
- within the first 3 hours after birth
- 10% of the body weight of the newborn calf
- of high-quality colostrum within the first three hours after birth
This lays the foundation for further development to full performance and health.
Quality determination of colostrum
The quality of the colostrum determines the immune protection for the calf. Ideally, the high-quality first milking of the dam is fed to the newborn calf. However, if this is of inadequate quality, it is advisable to use high-quality colostrum from another animal (see Colostrum management). A refractometer or colostrometer should be available on every farm to determine the colostrum quality.
Refractometer
The Brix content of the milk can be determined by looking through the lens of a refractometer. For feeding to newborns, the Brix content should be at least 20, preferably 25 upwards. To do this, apply a small amount of colostrum to the prism of the device, close the flap and read the value on the light-dark border of the scale.
Colostrometer
Another way of determining quality is the colostrometer. The density of the first milking differs from the milk at a later point in the lactation. The quality can also be determined using a spindle.
Draw the colostrum into the pipette with the suction tube, after the spindle has aligned itself, the quality can be read on the colour scale of the spindle.
Feeding colostrum
Especially after heavy births, calves may not drink on their own. In these cases, the calf can be drenched to ensure sufficient colostrum intake.
A few points should be observed to ensure safe and injury-free drenching. It is advisable to discuss the procedure with a vet before using it for the first time. They can give you helpful tips and assess your procedure.
There are various products available for feeding. Feeding is often initially attempted with bottles or buckets with teats. The teat imitates the cow's teat. Bottles have the great advantage that they fit well in the hand and the calf's head can be supported with the second hand.
It should be noted that the calf's neck is stretched to trigger the so-called gullet reflex. This is responsible for ensuring that the milk flows directly into the abomasum. This position corresponds to the mother's drinking position at the udder
Colostrum management
Kerbl offers products for the farm's own colostrum bank to create reserves of very good quality colostrum that are quickly available.
In a colostrum bank high-quality colostrum is optionally pasteurised, then frozen, heated and fed as required. Bags are ideal for this. Placed flat in the freezer, milk will freeze through faster and will defrost much quicker.
ColostroStart
Our ColostroStart are single-use bags to ensure maximum hygiene. With a capacity of 4 litres, the bags are the ideal size for the first administration of colostrum. The bags have a labelling field for documenting the animal, date and quality of the colostrum. they can be fed with a teat or drench probe. Various accessories for easier filling and feeding complement our ColostroStart Management.
Antahi is now Trusti
The Trusti products come from New Zealand and were developed in collaboration with veterinarians to make the first feeding of calves with colostrum safer and more efficient.
The combination of ergonomic mouthpiece and drench probe minimises the risk of injury and ensures that the colostrum reaches the calf's stomach directly. The well thought-out design and easy handling are already appreciated by many farmers and at the same time reduce stress for the calf.
The mouthpiece makes it easier to insert the drench tube into the oesophagus by allowing more precise guidance. The drench tube is transparent for optimum flow control.
Trusti Colostrum Bags
Bag for feeding and storing colostrum. Feeding is carried out using a teat or, if required, a drench probe. The large opening makes it easy to fill the bags and allows the bags to be cleaned with a tube brush. If cleaned properly, the bags can be reused up to 5 times.
Trusti Calf Drencher
With the calf bottle, it is easy to switch from teat to drencher by changing the lid. In addition to the classic mouthpiece of the Trusti Tuber, there is also the Flexi Tuber with a strap to attach it to the calf's head.
Trusti Colostrum Pasteurisator
Loading the video may transfer personal data to Vimeo. Please open the cookie settings and accept the service to display the video.
The Trusti Colostrum Pasteuriser provides an effective solution for colostrum management by pasteurising, cooling and heating colostrum to the ideal drinking temperature. This ensures that calves, lambs and foals receive the best possible primary care. With 6 pre-set programmes and a user-defined mode, the Trusti Pasteuriser is easy to use.
The precise temperature setting enables colostrum to be optimally heated to the desired drinking temperature. The circulating water bath ensures gentle and effective heat transfer, which preserves the quality of the colostrum. The pasteuriser has space for 2 4-litre Trusti Colostum Bags and can be operated with manual or automatic water supply.
Optimised calf feeding strategies - promoting the health and development of young calves
Once the calf has been given a good foundation with colostrum, it is important to follow this up with a suitable feeding phase.
For a long time now, science has been focussing on the optimal feeding of calves in the first few weeks of life. There are a large number of publications and recommendations, from which each farm must apply and, if necessary, modify the appropriate system for itself.
Below we would like to give you some brief information on a few aspects of calf feed. The term milk can also refer to milk replacer as well as whole milk.
- Restrictive
The calf is offered a quantity of milk appropriate to its age and state of health during the feeding period. The animals are fed at least twice a day, often three times a day (morning, midday, evening) and the drinking buckets are cleaned after each feeding. - Ad libitum
The calf is offered unlimited quantities of milk from day one. The drinking buckets remain at the accommodation for this purpose and are only removed for a short time for daily cleaning. The calf is free to decide when, how often and how much to drink. - Acidified whole milk and yoghurt drinks
Cow's milk is acidified using additives. This makes the milk more durable and is particularly suitable in combination with the ad libitum drinker. - Drinking phase and weaning
The drinking phase or drinking period is the period during which the calf receives milk. This includes the period from exclusive feeding with milk to feeding milk in parallel with solid food. Weaning is the process of preparing the calf to stop receiving milk and exclusively eat solid food.
Feeding bucket and teat
From the first day of life until the milk is weaned, particular care must be taken to minimise infection and germ pressure. Around half of all calf losses during the rearing phase are due to diarrhoea. Particularly with ad libitum feeding, the hygienic cleanliness of the trough or teat is an important factor.
We recommend allocating a separate feeding bucket to each calf. We offer ready-made systems with buckets, valves and matching teats, but you are also welcome to customise your own feeding buckets.
At the end of the drinking period, the bucket and feeding valve should be thoroughly cleaned. The teat should be replaced after each calf.
To ensure that each calf receives its own bucket with teat, the calves may be temporarily restrained in the group housing for the time of drinking.
We would like to introduce a few products to you here.
Blue Hygienic Teat
The blue hygiene teat from Kerbl has a proven germ-reducing effect, which is achieved by the addition of silver. The reduction in pathogens is therefore 14 times greater than with a conventional calf teat.
Feeding Bucket Transparent
The transparent buckets make it easy to see the fill level from the outside and from a distance.
Cover for Feeding Bucket
The covers simply keep dirt away out of the bucket interior and slow down the cooling of the heated drinking trough. The feeding buckets can be attached to to mounting brackets. The MilkGuard cover closes completely so that flies and rainwater can no longer find a way into the inside of the feeding bucket.
Loading the video may transfer personal data to Vimeo. Please open the cookie settings and accept the service to display the video.
Bucket Guard
The bucket guard prevents the animal from tossing the feeding bucket from the bucket holder. Available in two versions for retrofitting to calf housing.
Loading the video may transfer personal data to Vimeo. Please open the cookie settings and accept the service to display the video.
SuperHeat und SuperHeat Digital
Only Kerbl offers the innovative calf milk warmer SuperHeat and SuperHeat Digital. Both the analogue and digital versions of the calf milk warmer have an external temperature sensor, unique on the market. The temperature sensor enables rapid heating without clocking and precise temperature measurement in the milk. With the SuperHeat Digital, you are informed acoustically and visually when the set temperature is reached.
Watering of whole milk or milk replacer should be done at a temperature of about 38° Celsius. A temperature that is too low can cause the milk to coagulate too slowly in the calf's stomach, leading to diarrhoea. Excessive heating, on the other hand, can damage the milk's ingredients.
Development and causes of diarrhoea in calves
Effects of diarrhoea in calf rearing
Diarrhoeal diseases are among the most economically significant calf diseases. In the first weeks of life, they account for about 75-80% of all calf diseases (BOTHMER and BUDDE, 1992; BRÄNDLE, 2006).
Infectious diseases occur when the pathogen-immune system balance tips: The immune system is weakened or the pathogens are too many / too strong.
Pathogen
Causes of infectious diarrhoea
Immun System
Viruses, bacteria and parasites
Risk factors for diarrhoea
- Lack of hygiene
- Many calves in a confined space
- Biestmilch < 22 % Brix
- < 4 litres of colostrum in the first 6 hours of life
- Stress (heat, draught, ...)
Prophylaxis: How to keep calves healthy
- Hygiene
- Biestmilch management
- Avoiding stress
- Vaccination
- Globigen (IgY)
Typical diarrhoeal pathogens:
Tips from practice:
- Freshly born calves should only be housed in clean, freshly bedded calf hutches or calf pens.
- The colostrum quality should be determined before watering. Only feed high-quality colostrum!
- If the colostrum quality is not sufficient, a colostrum enhancer should be used.
- If not enough colostrum is absorbed by the calf, a drencher can be used.
- Allocate a fixed drinking bucket to each calf.
- When buying drinking buckets, make sure that they are easy to clean
- Change the teat after each calf
- Use a rapid test to detect the pathogen
Supplementary feed for calves
Find all the information you need about supplementary feed for calves here: