Dairy replacement heifer nutrition

Proper nutrition and management are necessary to provide adequate numbers of healthy herd replacements. Satisfactory heifer programs must take into consideration care of the dam and characteristics of the newborn calf, including the deficiency of circulating antibodies at birth and the lack of a functioning rumen. Nutrition. Nutrition of the dry cow is very important because of the effect this has on the next lactation as well as 0[1 the developing fetus. Several points should receive special attention. (l) Provide adequate protein and energy to meet requirements. (2) Increase concentrate intake gradually during the last part of the • dry period, so that rumen microorganisms will be adapted to the ration to be fed • ,. after freshening. Do not allow cows to get too fat. (3) Be sure intake and balance of minerals are correct. A calcium-phosphorus ratio of about 1.4:1 is recommended. Housing. By nature, the cow attempts to isolate herself from other animals to deliver her calf, and this practice helps prevent contamination of the newborn calf with infectious agents. With increased confinement, this is not possible, and special precautions should be taken to provide a clean environment for the calf during and following calving, when it is highly susceptible to diseases. A clean, well bedded, well ventilated stall should be provided in a location where the cow can be observed frequently with a minimum amount of disturbance. Other. The udder of the cow should be cleaned before the calf nurses. It is especially important that bacteria do not gain entrance to the intestines before absorption of colostrum takes place

Dairy calf and heifer research at KSU

The 1990 Annual KSU Dairy Day is known as Dairy Day, 1990At Kansas State University, we are conducting research concerning nutrition and feeding management of calves, heifers, and dairy steers with emphasis in the following areas: 1) development of feeds and management practices to stimulate rumen development and allow earlier weaning, concomitant with satisfactory growth; 2) vitamin supplementation to improve performance of growing dairy animals, with emphasis on increasing efficiency of the immune system; 3) determination of nutrients needed by growing heifers to achieve desired rates of growth required to reach adequate size at freshening at 22 to 24 mo of age, without getting too fat; 4) study of feeding programs designed to produce lean, tender, flavorful meat from surplus dairy bulls, with emphasis on methods to monitor body composition in the live animal; and 5) investigation of protein sources for milk replacers

Effect of processing temperature on utilization of whole soybeans by young calves

Two trials were conducted to determine the optimum conditions for processing whole soybeans for young calves. In the first trial, laboratory procedures and a nitrogen balance study were used. This information was used to design the second trial in which raw and processed soybeans were evaluated in an 8-wk growth trial using 96 Holstein day-old calves. Starters contained soybean meal (SBM), SBM with added fat, raw soybeans, or soybeans processed at 280, 340, or 375°F in a California Pellet Mill Jet-Sploder. Calves fed the starters containing soybeans processed at 340 consumed more feed, gained faster, had lower fecal scores (less scours), and less mortality.; Dairy Day, 1984, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 1984

Effect of processing temperature on utilization of whole soybeans by young calves

Two trials were conducted to determine the optimum conditions for processing whole soybeans for young calves. In the first trial, laboratory procedures and a nitrogen balance study were used. This information was used to design the second trial in which raw and processed soybeans were evaluated in an 8-wk growth trial using 96 Holstein day-old calves. Starters contained soybean meal (SBM), SBM with added fat, raw soybeans, or soybeans processed at 280, 340, or 375°F in a California Pellet Mill Jet-Sploder. Calves fed the starters containing soybeans processed at 340 consumed more feed, gained faster, had lower fecal scores (less scours), and less mortality.; Dairy Day, 1984, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 1984

Effect of supplemental Vitamin E on the performance, metabolic profiles, and immune responses of dairy calves.

Forty-six Holstein heifer calves were used from birth to 3 rno to study the effect of supplemental vitamin E at 1400 or 2800 mg dl-a.-tocopherol acetate given orally at weekly intervals or 1400 mg dl-a-tocopherol by intramuscular injection. Weekly starter consumption was 10 to 27 % more (P=.12) and weekly weight gains were 9 to 25% more (P=.13) in supplemented calves. Creatine phosphokinase activity was negatively correlated with serurn tocopherol concentrations, indicating a subclinical muscular dystrophy in unsupplemented calves. Lymphocyte stimulation indices were positively correlated with serum tocopherol concentration. Calves given high level of oral supplementation had higher IgM antibody concentration. It was concluded that supplemental vitamin E is beneficial for calves reared on conventional complete starters to increase disease resistance and to obtain optimum performance.; Dairy Day, 1984, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 1984

Effect of lasalocid in rations for growing heifers

Sixty-four Holstein heifer calves were used from 10 to 26 wk of age to study the effects of lasalocid on growth and feed consumption. Calves were evaluated weekly for weight gain and feed consumption. Lasalocid-fed heifers gained slightly, but not significantly, more than those that did not receive lasalocid. Their hay consumption was not significantly different than that of the control heifers.; Dairy Day, 1989, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 1989; The 1989 Annual KSU Dairy Day is known as Dairy Day, 198

Effect of calf-starter protein solubility on calf performance

Three starters containing differently processed protein supplements were fed to Holstein heifer calves, using an early weaning program. One starter contained soybean meal. The other starters contained soybean grits processed through an extrusion cooker to reduce the protein solubility to an intermediate (PDI> 50%) or low (PDI < 15 %) level. Calf performance was similar on all three starters

Performance and ruminal microbial and metabolic development of young calves fed diets containing aspergillus oryzae extract

The 1990 Annual KSU Dairy Day is known as Dairy Day, 1990Seventy-three, neonatal, Holstein, heifer calves in one experiment and 45 neonatal, Holstein, bull calves in another were used to study the effects of dietary Aspergillus oryzae extract (Amaferm) on calf performance. Forty of the heifer calves were selected to study the effects on ruminal microbial and metabolic development. In general, Amaferm-supplemented calves had greater ruminal microbial activity than the calves fed no Amaferm. For the most part, growth and feed intake were not affected

Performance of early weaned calves fed lasalocid

Twenty-two newborn, bull calves were used to determine the effects of lasalocid on growth and feed intake of early-weaned calves from week 1 to 12. Calves were assigned to lasalocid or control groups on day 3. Lasalocid-fed group received lasalocid in milk from day 4 to 7 and in milk and pre-starter from days 7 to 14 and in starter feed from weeks 2 to 12. Lasalocid-fed calves had a significantly higher feed consumption and greater weight gain than calves that did not receive lasalocid. The difference became apparent only after 6 wk of age. Lasalocid appears to be a beneficial feed additive for newborn calves.; Dairy Day, 1987, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 1987

Effect of ruminal protozoa on performance of early-weaned calves

Twenty newborn bull calves assigned to two groups, protozoa-free or protozoa-inoculated, were used to determine the effects of ruminal protozoa on performance of early weaned calves. Calves in the protozoa group were inoculated via stomach tube with a suspension of ruminal protozoa at weekly intervals until a viable population was established. Calves were evaluated weekly for weight gain and feed intake. Feed intake and weight gain were not significantly different between the groups but tended to be higher in protozoa-inoculated than protozoa-free calves.; Dairy Day, 1987, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 1987