Palatability
The key to successful calf rearing is early rumen development. Early development allows the rearer to wean calves off expensive milk quickly, with minimal growth checks and prepares the calf for high feed intake and growth rates. The secret to developing the rumen quickly is early dry feed consumption. To promote early intake a feed needs to smell and taste good. In any feeding system intakes will be improved by the use of a highly palatable feed.
Most feed manufacturers add flavouring agents to their feeds. A high molasses content is frequently used along with ‘special flavours or herbs and spices’. Much like the famous KFC ingredients these are often well guarded secrets on which products can develop a superior reputation. NRM calf feeds all contain Moozlee feedlink to avoid growth checks.
The form of the feed is also important. Research indicates that calves find textured feeds most palatable. Textured feeds contain pellets plus whole or processed grain.
Pellet quality and fines. Calves do not like to consume dusty fines, they find them unpalatable. Inspect your feed for firm pellets before you buy.
Calves crave roughage. The problem is that hay, straw, and lucerne chaff contain low density nutritional value, and if calves are allowed free access they may over-consume the less dense materials at the detriment of concentrate intake. The best solution is to buy a dry feed with roughage included. This will improve the palatability of the dry feed and control the roughage intake.
Palatability is not the only criteria of a quality dry feed. The dry feed must also provide essential nutrients, be fresh, clean, and consistent. However, remember ‘calves don’t eat percentages’ and palatability can deliver a successful rearing programme.