Dairy NZ

Restricted milk systems

• Restricted milk (~5 litres/day) fed for 10 weeks
• Rumen development occurs as leafy pasture is consumed in increasing quantities
• Long period of milk feeding , although can feed milk once daily.

Unrestricted milk systems

• High levels of milk (~8 litres/day) fed until ~6 weeks of age
• Solid feed intake minimal during this period and rumen development restricted
• High quality concentrate meal fed for f 2-3 weeks after milk feeding ceases.

Restricted milk and meal systems

• Restricted milk (~5 litres/day) fed for 6 weeks
• Free access to meal and leafy pasture from first week
• Continue to feed meal until eating 1.0-1.5 kg/day and hold at this level
• Economics depend on relative cost of milk and meal.

Concentrated milk and high protein meal systems

• Very restricted levels of milk (~2-3 litres once daily) fortified with 200-300g milk powder for the first 4-5 weeks of life and fed once daily
• Calves fed indoors on ad lib 20%CP meal plus straw until 10 weeks of age
• Meal feeding continued for 1-2 weeks, after turn-out to pasture
• Modified versions of this system, developed at Poukawa Research Station, Hawkes Bay described by Muir et al. (2000). Proc.NZ Grassland Ass. 62: 9-11.

Alternative feeding systems for rearing calves