Dairy Herd Management's Calf and Heifer Adviser

More on milk-feeding frequency

Last month, we told you how researchers at Penn State University have revisited the concept of once-a-day milk replacer feeding. Study results published in this month’s issue of Livestock Science quantify their findings. Here are some of the highlights:

Improved starter intake. For example, calves fed milk replacer once daily from 15 days of age until weaning at six weeks of age ate about 1 pound more starter per day before weaning than calves fed milk replacer twice daily.
Similar growth rates. Overall, average daily gain of calves weaned at six weeks was 1.43 pounds for calves fed once daily and 1.23 pounds for calves fed twice daily.
Calf health unaffected. Both groups achieved the same fecal and respiratory scores.
Same rumen development. Rumen papillae length, width and rumen wall thickness were the same for both groups.

Step-down feeding follow-up
New research shows a step-wise reduction in milk intake may facilitate rumen development. According to research in the July Journal of Dairy Science, rumen wall thickness, papillae length, papillae width and papillae concentration were all higher in step-fed calves than conventionally fed calves. Calves on the step-down method received milk at the rate of 20 percent of bodyweight, and later at 10 percent of bodyweight. Other calf-performance results were published earlier this year. For more details, go to: www.dairyherd.com.

Achieve success with sexed semen
Sexed semen carries a tremendous potential, but it also comes with a few challenges. If you elect to use it in your heifer program, Mike Overton, veterinarian at the University of Georgia, offers these tips to increase your odds of success:

Only use it in virgin heifers. And remember, it is not recommended for use in timed-A.I. programs.
Use the best semen-handling and placement practices possible. Warm up equipment to avoid cold shock; protect semen straws between thawing and placement, and avoid the use of spermicidal lubricants.
Recruit your best-available technician to handle breeding duties with sexed semen.
Make sure the heifer is truly cycling and in estrus prior to breeding.

Blender bolsters colostrum replacer mixing
While most calves at Durst Brothers Dairy receive colostrum from their dam, colostrum-replacement products help bridge the gap when colostrum volume or quality is low. However, employees at the Mantorville, Minn., dairy were often frustrated when lumps remained despite their best efforts at mixing. To alleviate the problem, the dairy purchased a commercial-grade immersion blender. It has stainless steel parts for easy cleaning. Now, calves get a well-mixed first meal and employees like the speed, ease and consistency the blender delivers.

Quick, accurate temping tool

Johanna Laggis, calf manager at Laggis Bros. Dairy, East Hardwick, Vt., uses inexpensive, digital thermometers from the local drugstore for temping young calves. “They’re quick, accurate and affordable, plus they’re much more convenient to use than mercury thermometers,” she says.
Calf-management specialist Sam Leadley, with Attica (N.Y.) Veterinary Associates, affirms that the thermometers are fine to use on calves. “Just be sure to apply gentle pressure when using them, so that the thermometer is touching the wall of the rectum, and not temping air,” Leadley advises.
And be careful where you store them, adds Laggis. “One time I took one out of my pocket and left it on the bathroom counter,” she recalls. “My son used it orally on himself.”

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