Dairy NZ

Extra effort now will pay dividends later. To set a dairy cow up for a long, productive life you must give her the best possible start. Extra effort now will pay dividends throughout her milking life. Well grown heifers make much more successful milking cows, and growing them well starts from the day they are born.

Best practice in calf rearing

• All calves, including bobbies must receive adequate fresh colostrum within the first 24 hours of life and should be fed colostrum, or a colostrum substitute, for at least the first four days of life
• Always handle calves gently and with care. Do not allow anyone to throw, hit or drag a calf at any time. Electric prodders must not be used on calves
• Calves that are not with their dams must be provided with shelter so that they can stay warm and dry
• Calf pens must be fit for purpose and well maintained. Bedding areas must be comfortable, clean and dry, with adequate ventilation to ensure that ammonia gas does not build up. Exposed concrete, bare earth and mud are not acceptable
• Calves should be fed at the same times each day to minimise stress
• Always ensure your calves have access to large quantities of clean water
• Feed calves well to rapidly achieve weaning weight with a well developed rumen.

Colostrum

• The calf should drink at least 2-3 litres of fresh colostrum during the first six hours of life to get supply of immunoglobulins, which act as antibodies. to achieve this, pick up calves twice a day and give them first day colostrum regardless of if they have had a feed
• First day colostrum is valuable (even if it has blood or with clotty mastitis milk). It should be fed fresh
• To store colostrum (other than first day colostrum) store in multiple drums (to reduce risk of loss) in a cool place and stir it twice a day
• A colostrum keeper can be added to maintain the sterility of the product, or add a sachet of Ezy-yo to each drum
• Colostrum can be frozen for upto six months. Thaw in hot water, do not microwave.

Calf rearing rations - feed comparison

All of the following quantities of different feeds can supply about 3 MJ ME to the calf:

• 1 litre of whole Friesian milk (fresh, acidified or stored colostrum)
• or  0.9 litres of whole Jersey milk
• or  0.14kg of whole milk powder
• or  0.16kg fat fortified milk powder.

Daily intakes (litres) of milk (5.0% fat and 3.7% protein) for calves to gain weight to weaning

Ensure good routine hygiene and health practices:

• Scrub all feeding equipment well with hot water and detergent
• Frequently clean and disinfect pens where sick calves are treated
• Spray pens weekly with a broad spectrum disinfectant
• Remove sick calves promptly to a sick bay

Make regular health checks

Calves must be checked twice daily for signs of ill-health and treatment given if any fall ill.

Check that:

• Noses are clear of discharges and are moist and cool
• Calves are alert and have responsive ears with no infection around the ear tag
• Navels are clear of infection
• Mouths are clear of ulcers
• Calves have shiny, supple coats. Note that if a calf's pinched skin is slow to return to normal it may be dehydrated and need electrolytes
• You vaccinate, treat for parasites and provide access to shelter
• You control the spread of disease. Calves of the same age should stay in the same pen. However, small or unthrifty calves may be better off with a younger group.