ANN 121: Applied Animal Nutrition-I (2+1)

MILK FEEDING IN WEANED CALVES

• Weaning of calves within 4 days of birth is important because it is essential to have exact data on dam’s milk production for future selection and progeny testing.
• After weaning, the calf is trained to drink milk from a pail either through hollow pressure rubber tubing or a nipple.
• Milk has a high nutritive value and should be given to calves after 4 days of age. Milk is a complete feed for calves.

• The calf must receive sufficient milk during the first three months.
• A minimum of 110 liters of whole milk should be fed over a period of 4-5 weeks along with a calf starter having good quality protein and low fibre.
• A minimum of 160 liters of whole milk upto the age of 7-10 weeks in addition to colostrum is an alternative suggestion.
• Economical feeding on restricted milk quantity slows rate of growth which delays maturity age.
• Milk should be given warmed to body temperature and preferably with a trace mineral supplement to make up for its deficiency of Fe, Cu, Mg, Mn and Zn.

• Green fodder upto 100 g dry matter may be offered daily from the age of 15 days onwards to provide a stimulus for the development of rumen and as a source of carotene.

Feeding schedule for cattle and buffaloe calves using calf starter
Age of calf	Whole milk	Calf starter	Hay
1 – 3 days	Colostrum 10 – 15% of body weight in 2 feedings	A little by 3rd day
4 – 30 days	Whole milk @10% BW in 2 feedings	100 – 500 grams	Introduce the calf to a good quality hay by 2nd week
31 – 45 days	Whole milk @ 7% BW	500 – 700 g/day	Ad lib
45 – 60 days	Whole milk @ 5% BW	700 – 1000 g/day	Ad lib
Beyond 60 days		Ad lib	Ad lib