Raising calves during the milk period: feeding duration and diet

In the initial six months of existence, calves are very sensitive to the conditions of detention, the quality of feeding. But with proper care, they grow quickly, do not get sick, which further leads to high productivity in adulthood. In addition, the efficiency of rearing calves during the milk period depends on the correct calculation of the required amount of various products.

Dairy feeding

For the first 10 days, newborns should eat only mother's colostrum. It is quickly absorbed by the young organism, provides it with the necessary nutrients.The owner, in case of forced weaning from the cow, will have to feed the newborn on their own. Then you will definitely need fresh colostrum, a special drinker.

After birth, the calf must certainly drink some colostrum. Otherwise, he will lick nearby surfaces, which will lead to the penetration of pathogenic substances into his still fragile body.

Usually, during the first day of life, the baby drinks a liter of nutrient fluid, for the second - twice as much, for the third - about 3 liters.

In case of insufficient amount of mother's milk during the first ten days, it can be replaced with a product of own production from:

• eggs - 4 pieces;
• fish oil - 15 g;
• milk - 1 l;
• s alt - 10g

All ingredients are mixed well, then given to the calf at 300 ml half an hour before milk feeding.

Dairy food distribution (in the first month) is usually done as follows:

1. Immediately after birth, the baby is offered colostrum (about 800 g). The number of feedings per day - up to six.
2. Second week - only milk (five times drinking).
3. 15-20 days - vitamins are added to the milk diet, a gradual introduction to the roughage menu begins.

Depending on weight, calves are fed 6-10 kg of colostrum per day. The daily norm of milk in the first two weeks should be approximately 1/5 of the total weight of the animal. The average duration of feeding calves with milk is approximately 3 months.

Transition diet

From the age of 10 days (between main meals), it is recommended that the baby be offered pre-boiled warm water. It is poured into drinkers.

As an initial non-dairy food for calves, ordinary potatoes (boiled) can be used. It is allowed to enter it into the menu at the end of the 2nd week. If it is not possible to constantly cook such food on your own, it is possible to buy appropriate starter feeds. The latter simplify the process of transferring a calf from milk nutrition to hay and grass. They usually replace one of the milk intakes.

Complete feed includes (in crushed form):

• barley - 42%;
• wheat - 12%;
• corn - 15%;
• milk powder - 5%;
• soybean meal - 17%;
• feed yeast - 5%;
• fat, s alt, premixes - 1.5%.

The use of ready-made balanced feed quickly establishes normal digestion in calves, reduces the number of problems during the transition to an adult diet. It is recommended to include some hay (no more than 50 g) in transitional nutrition, and increase its amount several times in a couple of weeks. At the 2nd month, the animals are already allowed to give silage.

Use of roughage

After 20 days of life, the amount of milk in the diet gradually decreases. Initially, the substitution is done with ready-made feed (about 150 g per day). Then, quality concentrates with an additive are included in the daily menu:

• vegetable flour;
• fresh grass;
• chopped hay.

A month later, the calves are fed:

• root crops;
• silo;
• fresh cut grass;
• haylage.

The following table will help you control the amount of roughage in the first six months.

5-6 monthMilk, l5-7 Silage, kg Hay, kg Compound feed, kg Root crops, kg 0.05-0.31-1.51-1.5Premix, g 200-600700-900

	1-2 month	3-4 month
	1-2	-
0-0,1	1-2	4-6
0.05-0.3	1-1.5	2.5-3
0.1-0.8	1.5	1-0.8
	900-1000

Recommended number of products shows the average value, if necessary, it can be adjusted.

Norms for feeding colostrum to weak calves

It is important to ensure that newborns drink colostrum in small sips: then it is better digested. Under no circumstances should calves be fed with cooled nutrient fluid. It must be heated carefully (in warm water), because in case of overheating it coagulates. Also, when feeding cattle, it is forbidden to use colostrum from cows who have had mastitis (or sick) cows.

The daily portion of colostrum for a weak TV is 20-24% of live weight. The easiest way to organize calf feeding is if the cow is constantly nearby. In this case, the animals themselves know what and how to do. But if you want to leave more milk for your own needs, then the baby is recommended to start feeding as soon as possible.

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