Starting Newly Weaned Calves on Feed
- Water. Considering water intake heavily influences feed intake, calves should have unlimited access to clean water.
- Feed Deliveries. Long stem, grass hay is a recognizable feedstuff to calves and should be placed in the bunks prior to arrival.
- Diet Composition. Since intakes are relatively low during the receiving phase, the diet should be formulated with palatable, high-quality feedstuffs.
- Processing. With regards to transit time, allow calves to rest prior to processing. It is well known that vaccinating stressed calves results in a poor vaccine response.
- Conclusion. Developing a receiving protocol can help feedlot operations better prepare for incoming calves. Work closely with your nutritionist to ensure receiving diets meet the requirements of newly weaned calves.
- References. Doye, D. and D. Lalman. 2008. (E-913). pp 173 – 178. Blezinger, S. B. 2002. Starting new cattle on feed can be challenging.
How do you start feeding weaning calves?
Using the 1,2,3 rule:
- Use the first milk (colostrum) from the cow
- Feed the calf colostrum within the first two hours of birth
- Calves must be offered at least three litres of good quality colostrum
How much do you feed a weaned calf?
consume 1.5 to 2.5% of their body weight in dry matter the first week on feed. These are calves that were fed on the farm in which they were raised and typically had been creep feed. The only major stress on the calves was weaning, and death loss and sickness were minimal. Yearling
When should calves be weaned from their mothers?
The short answer: Some calves can be weaned as early as 60 - 90 days and still be quite successful. The long answer: A calf can be weaned from its mother any time after birth. Typically, calves perform best if left on the cow until a good percentage (80-90%) of the diet they consume each day is grass or hay.
What is the optimal feeding level for calves?
The following practices for raising calves can:
- Decrease the exposure of calves to disease.
- Improve calf health.
- Improve calf survival rates.
- Improve growth rates.
How much grain should a weaned calf eat?
So, the calf is offered half of 1.0 or 0.5 percent of body weight of a weaning ration or pellet and half of 1 percent of body weight of good quality grass hay. * Positioning the feed is as important as the feed itself. Put the hay the calves are most familiar with on top of the feed ration on the first day.
When should I start feeding grain to my calves?
In early weaning systems calves need to begin eating some grain by 2 weeks of age to allow enough rumen development to occur before weaning at 5 or 6 weeks of age. If we do a good job of managing grain intake, it is possible to wean calves at 6 weeks, even when milk feeding rates are high.
What is the best starter feed for calves?
Calves prefer soybean meal over other protein meals. They can adjust to cottonseed or canola meal, but during changeover, intake may decrease and be variable. Calves do not like fish meal, blood meal, and even distillers or corn gluten feed or meal. Corn and oats must be clean and without mold or mycotoxins.
How long should calves be on starter feed?
It is suggested that calves should be consuming a minimum of 2 lb/day of a high quality calf starter before weaning. Calves can be maintained on the starter for 2 to 3 weeks postweaning and then transition to a grower diet offered with long forage.
Should calves eat hay?
Calves seem to eat chopped hay more consistently than long hay and will sometimes prefer highly palatable hay over starter. Consumption of low quality chopped hay tends to be quite consistent, and in 3 independent studies intake of chopped straw was about 4% of calves' total dry feed intake.
Is sweet feed good for calves?
Because it contains molasses, textured cattle feed is often referred to as “sweet feed.” Today's textured cattle feed, which uses less molasses than in the past, still provides an advantage; it makes the feed more palatable, which is good news for your cattle.
Can you give calves sweet feed?
FOR BEEF CATTLE ON PASTURE: Offer 16% Textured Sweet Feed at the general rate of 0.25 to 0.50% of body weight daily along with free-choice, good-quality forage for the first 5 days. Over the next 14 to 17 days, cattle may be gradually increased to 2.00% of body weight daily along with good-quality forage.
How do I start my calves on the grain?
0:111:54Introducing Calf Starter Feed in 3 Easy Steps - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo keep if you can buy one of those shallow bowls it fits into a bucket that will be perfect and asMoreSo keep if you can buy one of those shallow bowls it fits into a bucket that will be perfect and as the calf starts to eat more starter. Then you increase the starter that you offer the calf.
How do I start my calves on the grain?
0:111:54Introducing Calf Starter Feed in 3 Easy Steps - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo keep if you can buy one of those shallow bowls it fits into a bucket that will be perfect and asMoreSo keep if you can buy one of those shallow bowls it fits into a bucket that will be perfect and as the calf starts to eat more starter. Then you increase the starter that you offer the calf.
Can a 2 week old calf eat hay?
With these facts in mind, calves can be introduced to forage between 2 and 3 weeks of age. The forage should be high in fiber, but low in nutritive value, and it should be chopped so the particle size is about 1 inch in length. Ideally, low quality forage should be offered ad libitum.
How much should I feed my calf starter?
One-Step Calf Starter: Feed at the rate of 1 pound of starter per 100 pounds of body weight. Avoid feeding hay prior to weaning. Wean calves at four to six weeks of age when eating a minimum of 2.0 pounds of One-Step Starter per head per day for two consecutive days.
How do I get my baby calf to eat grain?
Hand-feeding – Try putting a small amount of grain directly into the calf's mouth right after they have nursed a nipple, when they are most curious. 5. Fresh water -- Begin offering clean, fresh water as soon as starter grain is offered, and change it daily as well.
What to feed a stressed calves?
Plant protein sources such as soybean meal, canola meal, or cottonseed meal are preferred. Vitamins and trace minerals, such as vitamins A and E, zinc, and copper, play an important role in immune function and should be provided at appropriate levels for stressed calves.
What should a calves diet be?
Receiving diets should be low in starch and consist of highly digestible fiber sources. Avoid feeding cheap feeds or by-products that vary in composition. Inclusion of silage in receiving diets should be limited as it is not a familiar feedstuff to calves and may lead to clostridia problems. Calves do not tolerate nonprotein nitrogen sources such as urea. Plant protein sources such as soybean meal, canola meal, or cottonseed meal are preferred. Vitamins and trace minerals, such as vitamins A and E, zinc, and copper, play an important role in immune function and should be provided at appropriate levels for stressed calves.
Why is it important to manage cattle during the receiving phase?
Proper management during the receiving phase is critical to overall health and long-term performance of cattle in the feedlot. Newly weaned calves are faced with the stress of separation from the cow, deprivation of feed and water during transportation, and adaptation to the feedlot environment. Whether calves are being introduced into a backgrounding or finishing program, implementing low-stress management practices to ensure this is a smooth transition for incoming calves becomes a major priority.
Can you rest calves before processing?
With regards to transit time, allow calves to rest prior to processing. It is well known that vaccinating stressed calves results in a poor vaccine response. Practice low-stress cattle handling at all times and use working facilities that are appropriate for processing calves. Consider delaying administration of implants until calves are on a steady plane of nutrition.
How to get calves to eat?
Second, licking stimulates weaning calves’ appetites, prompting them to look for feed and water. 2. Offer Palatable Calf Starter Feed. When calves search for feed, make sure there’s a palatable feed in the bunk. If calves like the feed, they will start eating ...
What is the best starter feed for calf?
Bigger pellets tend to work best for calf starter feeds because they are softer. Bigger pellets also allow calves to get more with every mouthful, which is essential for less aggressive calves standing at the bunk. Avoid mealy feeds, which often separate and become less appealing to weaning calves. 5.
What are the challenges of weaning calves?
Suddenly, they’re faced with a plethora of stressors and challenges. Weaning calves typically includes the weaning itself, shipping, commingling, processing, a change in nutrition and – to top it off – potential swings in weather. Weaning calves are often hungry, meaning they tend to bawl for their dam. Bawling for extended periods can irritate ...
Why do calves bawl?
Bawling for extended periods can irritate a calf’s throat and potentially lead to respiratory challenges. These stressors, paired with a still-developing immune system, can ultimately lead to reduced disease resistance.
What happens when a calf comes to the bunk?
A worst-case scenario is when a calf comes to the bunk for the first time and finds an unpalatable feed.
Can you wean a calf from mealy feed?
Avoid mealy feeds, which often separate and become less appealing to weaning calves.
What is the best protein for a young calves?
Soybean meal or alfalfa is a preferable protein source over cottonseed meal for young calves, and Lalman says the ration labeled Diet B is well tested and favored by producers starting lightweight calves. 5.
What is the best way to wean cows from drought?
One of the biggest components to successfully early weaning of calves from drought-stressed cows and pastures is a prosperous transition to a feed ration or rations.
How much weight did a calf gain in a day?
In that older OSU data, calves gained 1.75 pounds per day for the weaned period and in recent years have gained 1.75 to 2.25 pounds per day on the two rations we show here. In North Dakota trials, early-weaned calves gained 1.51 to 2.32 pounds per day.
Why are the first two weeks after weaning important?
That paper notes the first two weeks after weaning are critical because stress can be high and calves need to learn how to eat and drink.
How many calves per pen?
To insure that smaller and more timid calves get a chance at feed and water, limit 20 calves per pen during the critical first few days on the starter ration. Placing one or two older calves that are accustomed to eating and drinking in with the early-weaned calves helps to reduce stress on the weaned calves and give them someone to follow to ...
Does Oklahoma State University have a confined cow operation?
Oklahoma State University has for several years now maintained a confined-cow operation and therefore has calves on feed. Beef Producer asked OSU beef specialist Dave Lalman if he has any new lessons or thoughts from those experiences he would share. This is his answer:
Can silage be used in weaning?
Although they have high nutrition, he says, silages should only be used in limited amounts because the high moisture level and the palatability characteristics of silage make it unlikely calves will consume silage-based diets in amounts adequate to grow at targeted levels.
What do I feed my finishing steers?
I feed WSC to my finishing steers. They are fall calves weaned in May, on grass w/ corn , then hay w/ corn. I get them up to about 20# WSC with a little bit of protein pellets.
What do you feed whole shell corn with?
Against what a lot of people do - I feed whole shell corn, with a protein pellet added to get the protein level needed.
How old are fall steers when they are butchering?
And to add - I feed out Sept-Oct born calves and butcher them the following October - so they are 12 or 13 months of age. I have been averaging about a 750# carcass. Growthy calves do not need to be backgrounded (pastured). They can go directly on a finishing ration (SLOWLY). Start with 1% of their body weight. You can easily increase every 2 weeks - up to 3% of BW. My fall steers are getting just about 20# WSC right now. Butcher date is 10-11
Why do cattlemen fear feeding whole corn?
That’s because they can see the corn in manure and fear their cattle aren’t getting anything from it.
How much corn should I feed my dog?
I would feed him 1-2% of his body weight. What does he weigh? If he is 1000#, 1% is 10#. So 9# corn & 1# 45%, should be about 12.5% which I would think is "just right" for protein. With good hay, that should be good to grow him out. 2% will help him grow out better - just watch for fat.
What is the only thing that gets grain?
Basically, the only thing that gets grain (corn) is my replacement heifers, show cattle and a few steers I feed out for freezer trade.
Does manure have WSC?
Yes, their manure will have WSC in it. But, WSC is only about 8% lower efficiency than cracked corn. If you can buy WSC for less than 8% difference, you are wasting your money paying for processing and it is healthier. They do NOT need anything with molasses.
Water
Feed Deliveries
- Long stem, grass hay is a recognizable feedstuff to calves and should be placed in the bunks prior to arrival. Providing a mixed ration at approximately 0.75% of body weight on a dry matter basis for the first day’s feed delivery and progressively working up to 2.5% of body weight within 14 – 28 days is an effective strategy whether calves are fed ...
Diet Composition
- Since intakes are relatively low during the receiving phase, the diet should be formulated with palatable, high-quality feedstuffs. Receiving diets should be low in starch and consist of highly digestible fiber sources. Avoid feeding cheap feeds or by-products that vary in composition. Inclusion of silage in receiving diets should be limited as it is not a familiar feedstuff to calves a…
Processing
- With regards to transit time, allow calves to rest prior to processing. It is well known that vaccinating stressed calves results in a poor vaccine response. Practice low-stress cattle handling at all times and use working facilities that are appropriate for processing calves. Consider delaying administration of implants until calves are on a steady plane of nutrition.
Conclusion
- Developing a receiving protocol can help feedlot operations better prepare for incoming calves. Work closely with your nutritionist to ensure receiving diets meet the requirements of newly weaned calves. Not only is proper bunk management a key component for efficiently starting calves on feed but also maintaining target intakes throughout the feeding period. Management …
References
- Doye, D. and D. Lalman. 2008. Beef Cattle Manual. 6th ed. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service. (E-913). pp 173 – 178. Blezinger, S. B. 2002. Starting new cattle on feed can be challenging. Cattle Today. https://cattletoday.com/archive/2002/March/CT193.shtml. Accessed 11 July 2018.