Feeding the preweaned calf. Dr. Peter S. Erickson Professor of Dairy Management and Extension Dairy Specialist

Transcription

1 Feeding the preweaned calf Dr. Peter S. Erickson Professor of Dairy Management and Extension Dairy Specialist

2 Fairchild Dairy Teaching and Research Center, University of New Hampshire, Durham

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4 Five C s of Successful Calf Rearing Colostrum Cleanliness Consistency Calories Comfort Dr. Sheila McGuirk, U of WI School of Veterinary Medicine

5 Total cost associated with raising dairy replacements is 15 to 25% of the total cost to operate a dairy U of WI update (Hoards Dairyman, September) for 40 calf raising operations av. cost of $5.31/day from birth to 61 days and custom raisers av. $3.16/day (weaned at 45 days of age). Knowing true costs of raising heifers is critical. Chester-Jones (2015)

6 Av cost post weaning in WI to pre-fresh was $1,323 or $2.04/day (648.5 days). Dairy operations averaged 24 months for first freshening. Custom raised heifers freshened at 23 months. Knowing true costs of raising heifers is critical. Chester-Jones (2015)

7 Colostrum First secretion after parturition Provides calf with Ig First source of water Calves are born with 3% body fat

8 Colostrum basics* (Fetrow, 2009) Quality -> 50 g/l IgG; Quantity 4 quarts (10% BW) Quickness < 6 h Cleanliness- < 100,000 cfu/ml; Feed < 1-2 h or refrigerate < 48 h

9 Why is colostrum important? 7.8 % of preweaned calves die. Primarily due to diarrhea (NAHMS,2007) Almost 20 % of calves have failure of passive transfer (FPT) (serum IgG <10 g/l) (NAHMS,2007) 60% of the colostrum produced in the US fails to meet minimum standards (Morrill et al., 2012)

10 Increased IgG uptake has been correlated with increased milk yield 8.5kg of ME milk/ 1 g/l IgG increase(denise et al., 1989) Reduced morbidity and mortality Increased ADG

11 37 Brown Swiss heifers fed 2 L of good quality (> 50g/L colostrum) vs. 31 Brown Swiss heifers fed 4L of good quality colostrum Veterinary costs $/calf = for 2L, for 4L Age of conception 2L = 14 mos, 4L 13.5 mos. ADG 2L 1.8 lb/d, 4L = 2.27 lb/d (P<0.001) Faber et al., 2005

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13 Milk yield 2L Lactation 1 = 17,305 lb Milk yield 4L Lactation 1 = 16,595 lb (P>0.05) Milk yield 2L Lactation 2 = 18,008 lb Milk yield 4L Lactation 2 = 20,983 lb (P<0.05) Feeding 2L more resulted in better overall performance!!

14 To Improve colostrum management: 1) Improve the quality (IgG) fed. 2) Increase the quantity of colostrum provided. 3) Feed colostrum to the calf as soon after birth as possible. Davis and Drackley (1998)

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16 Colostrum Quality Good quality colostrum contains greater than 50 g IgG/L Fair 25 g 50g IgG/L Poor < 25 g IgG/L Colostrum contains other Ig including IgA (3.9 g/l and IgM 4.2 g/l)

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21 Brix values and IgG values Brix % IgG (g/l) Quality < Poor to Fair Fair Good >30 >80 Excellent

22 How should colostrum be fed? In the US about 2/3 of the dairy producers either use a nipple bottle or an esophageal feeder. 1/3 still allow the calf to nurse their dam- not recommended. Besser et al. (1991) found that 61.4% of dairy calves that were allowed to nurse failed to attain passive transfer (24 h IgG < 10g/L).

23 Using an Esophageal feeder and a nipple bottle (Elizondo-Salazar et al. 2011) 40 calves Colostrum tested g/l Fed 3.8 L with a nipple bottle remaining colostrum was provided by an esophageal feeder with h after birth

24 Treatment and blood parameters (24h) of calves fed colostrum by a nipple bottle or both. (Elizondo-Salazar et al.,2011) Item SEM Calves Nipple, L Tube fed,l Serum IgG, g/l AEA,%

25 Heat stress Tao et al (2012) Cows were exposed to cooling (sprinklers and fans) or heat stress (no sprinklers or fans) Calves (12 cooled dams, 9 heat stressed dams) All fed 3.78 L maternal colostrum

26 Birth weight, colostrum IgG, 28 d serum IgG, weaning weight Variable Heat stress Cooling P = Birth weight, kg <0.01 Colostrum IgG, g/l d serum IgG, g/l /-1.7 g/l /- 1.5 g/l 0.03 Weaning weight, kg Estimated 24h IgG, g/l 16 25

27 Cold Stress Norwegian data Gulliksen et al (2008) indicated that cows calving in the winter months produced colostrum with lower IgG than any other season of the year. Cows calving in December, January and February produced colostrum that averaged <50 g/l

28 In contrast, Conneely et al (2013) in Ireland indicated that colostrum quality was highest in autumn and lowest in early Spring Breed effects Environmental effects

29 New Data from UNH Developed an equation to predict colostrum quality using previous cow DHI data (accepted J. Dairy Sci.) Used 111 Holstein cows from 9 NH dairy farms Needed to be at least first parity Needed to be on DHI Cabral et al., (J. Dairy Sci).

30 Equation LnIgG = PASWK LnFY LnFP LnPY LnPP LnPAR PTAM D >; r 2 = 0.56 There will be a quiz at the end!

31 What does this mean? Weeks on pasture was a negative Previous fat yield was a positive Previous fat percent was a negative Previous protein yield was a negative Previous protein percent was a positive Parity was positive PTA milk was negative Days above 73 F was positive

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33 Feeding the dam Garcia et al (2014) fed 78 prepartum cows for 8 weeks Control (no supplemental fat) 1.7% Saturated Fat 2.0% Ca- salts of FA Calves born from cows fed supplemental fat had higher 24h serum IgG and a higher AEA

34 Gao et al (2012) fed 3 different energy concentrations to prepartum cows for 3 weeks. High (6.48 MJ/kg), Medium (5.88 MJ/kg) and low (5.25 MJ/kg). Calves born from cows fed the higher energy diet had increased numbers of CD4+ cells (T- helper cells) Indicator of better immunity

35 Pasteurization Gelsinger et al (2014) collected colostrum over 2 years Split into 3 categories High (>90g/L), Medium (70 g/l), low (50 g/l) ½ was pasteurized (60 C for 30 min) and ½ was frozen.

36 Plasma IgG after pasteurization Item Unheated Heated P-value H M L H M L T Q IgG IgG IgG AEA,%

37 Pasteurization increases IgG uptake. Gelsinger et al. (2014) speculate that it might be due to a reduction in absorption of other non-ig colostral proteins.

38 What if colostrum is poor quality or not produced? Use a LACTEAL based colostrum replacer! Follow manufacturer directions Typically try to get 200 g of IgG into the calf from these products by 6 h of life. Will not be as good as Mom s, but is a great substitute Colostrum supplements not effective on day 1 Can be effective after day one added to Milk replacer

39 Milk and Starter Feeding Phase Calves are born non-ruminants Must become a ruminant through the consumption of dry feeds Typically coarse starter grain Must consume milk or milk replacer

40 Fermentation of grain results in the production of the VFA s primarily butyrate results in the production of papillae More VFA s are produced by coarse starter If a fine or pelleted starter is fed then feed hay

41 Comparison of rumen papillae development at 6 weeks in calves fed milk only (A), milk and grain (B), or milk and dry hay (C). Heinrichs-Penn State

42 Calves fed milk or milk replacer due to the shunting effect of the esophageal groove and the chemical composition of the milk or replacer preferentially shunt the milk or milk replacer to the abomasum.

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44 Production of butyrate and propionate at the expense of acetate Forages maintain a higher ruminal ph and decrease the production of VFA The increased absorption observed with propionate and butyrate suggest their requirement for rumen development

45 Pre-ruminant Stomach

46 Ruminant Stomach

47 How the stomach changes over time Assume calf is fed dry feed and milk replacer or milk Age Abomasum Forestomach Birth -2 weeks 70% 30% 8 weeks 50% 50% 3-4 Months 25% 75% Maturity <10% >90%

48 Milk and Milk replacer Types Starters

49 Milk Replacer Types Should be all milk protein Can use some with SPC or Egg protein but must be < 50% of total protein Conventional MR 20-22% CP: 20% fat, feed at 4L/calf/d Accelerated range fro 26:16 to 28:20 there are some that are 32:30

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53 Free Choice Water A MUST!! Bacteria that reside in the rumen need an aqueous environment. Water is an essential nutrient separate from milk

54 Feed these up to and over 1.5 kg of powder/d All calves get free choice starter I prefer coarse starter vs. pelleted starter Stimulates rumen development

55 UNH Data Chapman et al., newborn Holstein heifer calves Daily DMI Weekly BW and skeletal measures N efficiency during the 5 th week ½ weaned at d 42 fully weaned at d 49 Followed for 1 wk after

56 Nutrient analysis of control, and moderate protein milk replacer, and starter grain Nutrient Control MR MMR Starter DM,% CP,% Fat, % ADF,% NDF,% Starch, % Ash, %

57 Preweaning Growth data Item C MMR HMR SE TRT Week Int MR int (lb) Starter (lb) <0.001 <0.001 < < DMI (lb) <0.001 <0.001 FE ADG/DMI Water (lb) ADG (lb) < WH (in) < HH (in) < BHBA (mm) <

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59 Accelerated vs Conventional Milk Replacer 36 Holstein Heifer calves Birth until d 56 Half the calves were visited twice more (4X/d)

60 Preweaning Milk replacer study Treatment 1 P = Item C0 C1 A0 A1 SE Visit MR Int Initial BW, lb MR, lb/d < Starter, lb/d Water, lb/d

61 Item C0 C1 A0 A1 SE Visit MR INT ADG, lb ADG/DMI

62 Overall performance Treatment 1 P = Measurement C0 C1 A0 A1 SE 2 Visit MR INT DMI lb/d ADG, lb/d Water intake, lb/d Final Weight, lb ADG/DMI

63 Weaning Several methods ½ pound of starter for 3 consecutive days Cut out second feeding of Milk replacer or milk for the weaning week Typically 6-8 weeks

64 Conclusion Colostrum is the key ASAP Remember they have a very näive immune system Keep them dry clean out of drafts Milk and Milk Replacers many different ways to feed

65 Provide clean, fresh water at all times Don t Forget to dip navels- new recommendation is twice THANK YOU

66 Questions

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