Livestock Farm Practice

FEEDING OF YOUNG STOCK

• When a calf is born its rumen will not be developed and it will take a few months until rumen is fully developed and start functioning . Until then the calf is similar to a simple-stomached animal nutritionally. It implies the following.
•  Essential amino acids should be provided in required quantity in the ration of calves. In other words they will benefit form high quality protein and from a mixed   source of protein.
•  Vitamins belonging to the B-complex group are a nutritional necessity for them apart from vitamins A and D.
• They cannot utilize non-protein nitrogenous substances like urea.
• They require minerals for growth of bone, muscle and other tissues.