Elizabeth Plunkett, Graduate Research Associate, Department of Animal Sciences, The Ohio State University
At birth, a calf’s rumen is not fully functional, and milk bypasses the rumen via the esophageal groove to be digested in the abomasum. As the calf grows, a healthy, active rumen becomes more and more essential for its long-term success. The transition from a nonfunctional to a fully functional rumen is heavily diet-dependent. Offering starter feed early on encourages rumen fermentation, which produces butyrate, a vital compound for developing the rumen’s lining and papillae. The earlier you provide access to a clean, dry starter, the sooner you can supply the rumen with all the essential compounds it needs for a smooth weaning. So, what steps can you take to boost starter intake and give your calves the best start possible?
1. Water intake drives starter intake.
Water is often overlooked as an essential nutrient but can be a key driver for starter success. Restricted access to water can lead to reduced weight gain and starter intake in calves (Kertz et al., 1984). Providing ad libitum access to clean, fresh water as early as the first week of life is a simple, yet powerful, tool that can benefit your calves.
2. Start with a shallow bowl.
While calves are known to be curious, many shy away from sticking their head into a deep, unfamiliar bucket. Providing a handful of starter into a shallow bowl creates an invitation for calves to explore something new without added stress. In most cases, you can find dog bowls that will fit in the same holder and act as the feed bucket until intake increases. Offering small amounts at the start also helps reduce waste, as calves typically don’t begin eating significant amounts of starter until three weeks of age.
3. Refresh starter daily for young calves.
Young calves who are new to starter should receive a fresh supply daily (or at least weekly). Stale starter can leave a bitter taste in a calf’s mouth, and you want their first experience consuming starter to be enjoyable so they will be a repeat customer. Starter dishes can also quickly become a breeding ground for mold and bacteria, creating unwanted and unnecessary challenges. Starter refusals that are clean and dry from young calves can be fed to older calves, helping to reduce waste and make the most of your feed.
4. Gradual weaning.
Gradual weaning is a proven strategy for increasing starter intake and improving overall weight gain (Sweeney et al., 2010). A key consideration when implementing gradual weaning is that milk intake should not be reduced until calves demonstrate consistent consumption of starter. Once calves begin showing a substantial interest in starter, a reduction in milk can be initiated to stimulate further starter consumption. This approach encourages higher starter intake prior to complete milk removal, optimizing both growth performance and feed efficiency. Consider talking with your nutritionist to develop a gradual weaning program that best suits your goals.
5. Group housing calves.
Extensive research has demonstrated the positive effects of group housing during the weaning period (Costa et al., 2016). One of the benefits of this approach is that calves can learn feeding behaviors from each other, leading to improved feed intake and growth rates. Post-weaning, group housed calves tend to have greater competitive success at the feed bunk compared to calves housed individually. While group housing calves may offer many benefits, it should be implemented carefully. Prior to grouping calves, it is important to consider factors such as size differences and health status of the calves. Disease transmission is a potential concern, as group housing can increase the risk of health issues among calves. With proper backgrounding and sanitation protocols in place, group housing calves can be an effective strategy to enhance starter intake.
6. Limit bulky, low-quality forages.
Feeding hay during the preweaning period is a complex topic and should be approached with extreme caution. Forages are low in energy and provide unnecessary bulk in the rumen at a time when we need energy-dense feed for calves (i.e., starter). Introducing forages too early may discourage calves from consuming starter, lowering energy intake. Forages do little for rumen development, as their primary role is to provide abrasiveness to prevent keratin build-up on papillae, aiding in greater absorption of nutrients. You can achieve the same effect by feeding a texturized starter which is more nutrient-dense.
Weaning does not have to be a stressful event for you and your calves. By focusing on ensuring that calves are eating enough starter, the weaning process will be smoother and reduce stress for everyone. It is important to base weaning on starter intake rather than days of age. Calves should be consistently eating 2 to 3 lb/day of starter for at least three consecutive days before you begin weaning. A successful weaning sets the stage for calves to grow into healthy, productive cows that will perform in the parlor.
Sources:
- Costa, J.H.C., M.A.G. von Keyserlingk, and D.M. Weary. 2016. Invited review: Effects of group housing of dairy calves on behavior, cognition, performance, and health. J. Dairy Sci. 99:2453–2467. doi:10.3168/jds.2015-10144.
- Kertz, A.F., L.F. Reutzel, and J.H. Mahoney. 1984. Ad libitum water intake by neonatal calves and its relationship to calf starter intake, weight gain, feces score, and season. J. Dairy Sci. 67:2964–2969. doi:10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(84)81660-4.
- Sweeney, B.C., J. Rushen, D.M. Weary, and A.M. De Passillé. 2010. Duration of weaning, starter intake, and weight gain of dairy calves fed large amounts of milk. J. Dairy Sci. 93:148–152. doi:10.3168/jds.2009-2427.