10 Key Principle of Profitable Calf Rearing
Minimum weight 40kg
No twins, sick, or induced calves
Must be 5 days of age
Dry and clean naval cord
Bright and alert
Check joints for swelling and pain
A calf needs at least 4 litres of colostrums within the first 12 hours after birth (ie 2 litres twice a day)
Do health check (as in rule 1)
Transport calves humanely in a covered vehicle with soft clean base of shavings, straw or bark at a minimum depth of 100mm. There must be enough floor space for calves to be able to sit - about 1 square meter per calf
Spray cord with iodine before and after transport
On entry into barn allow time for calves to de-stress by allowing rest
Feed only electrolytes for the first 12 hours
Allow at least 1.5 – 2 square meters per calf
No more than 10 – 12 calves per pen
No more than 100 calves per barn
Use more than one barn to control diseases and to separate age groups
Separate old calves from young calves
Avoid mixing calves – leave in one pen for the first 3 weeks
Calves should be dry and draught free
Best is a barn that is twice as deep as it is wide
Check for draughts at ground level
Flooring – base of clay/sand with a slope to allow drainage
Slats or raised flooring is often draughty and less suitable
Bedding – straw, bark or shavings at least 200mm deep
Add to bedding when required
Control rodents and birds to prevent disease transfer
There must be no water lying around barn or feeding areas
Good ventilation is critical to remove affluent gases.
Ventilation should be adjustable by doors and windows on exterior walls in the barn
High levels of ammonia indicates insufficient ventilation
Drainage – see housing
Feed milk or a good quality Calf Milk Replacer (CMR) at the rate of at least 10% of the body weight daily (ie 40kg calf requires at least 4 litres a day)
CMR – Follow the recommended mixing rate and volumes on the bag
Make changes in volume or strength gradually and allow 3 days between changes
When animals are under environmental or nutritional stresses, or when recovering from disease challenges, increase CMR concentrate to aid recovery
Best results are achieved if calves are fed twice a day for at least 10 days
Feed hot (40oC) for at least the first 14 days
Teat feed – with a compartmentalised feeder
Feed by the same person each day – preferable a woman
Feed a highly palatable concentrate ad lib from 5 days of age
Allow access to hay or straw from 5 days of age
Allow access to clean fresh water at all times
Calves can be weaned off milk when consuming 1 kg concentrate per calf per day
Continue meal/pellet supplement for at least 1 month post weaning off milk at the rate of 1.5 – 2 kg per day
10. Animal Health
Sterilise barn, bedding and feeding utensils with a proven virucidal spray before entry into the barn and then twice weekly
Carefully observe calves daily. Record and treat properly at therapeutic levels
Autopics and faecal cultures and blood tests are valuable for the prevention and prevention of disease – consult with your vet
For the treatment of calf scours remove calves from milk. Treat with a good quality electrolyte mixed at adequate levels to correct dehydration and to maintain fluid and energy balance. About 6 – 10 litres of electrolyte are required daily. Return to milk feeding when the scouring stops