Calf Care: Food And Water Requirements For Newborns

Raising a newborn calf requires careful attention to its diet to ensure it grows and develops properly. Bottle-fed calves should be fed two to three times a day, with each feeding consisting of two litres of milk replacer. This will continue until the calf is at least eight to twelve weeks old, after which it can be supplemented with hay, calf pellets, and pasture. It is important to follow the recommended feeding schedule and amount of milk replacer to ensure the calf is getting enough to eat and is growing at a healthy rate.

Newborn calves should also be provided with free-choice water in addition to their milk or milk replacer and calf starter. Water is essential for rumen development, which allows the calf to transition to a diet of forages and other fibrous feedstuffs. Calves that are provided with water from birth tend to have increased body weight and improved feed efficiency.

The importance of water for newborn calves

Water is essential for newborn calves, and they should have access to it from birth. Water helps with hydration and rumen development, which is crucial for their growth and transition to solid food.

Rumen development

Water is necessary for the development of the rumen, one of the four compartments of a calf's stomach. At birth, the rumen is small and inactive, but it grows and becomes functional as the calf starts consuming water and dry feeds. Water consumed by calves goes directly into the rumen, providing a moist environment for bacteria to grow. These bacteria produce volatile fatty acids (VFAs) that stimulate the development of rumen papillae, which then absorb the VFAs, providing nutrition to the calves.

Hydration

Water is crucial for hydration, especially in warm temperatures. Dehydration can lead to health issues and even death. Providing water from birth can help calves stay hydrated and reduce the need for antibiotics, as adequate water intake can lower the incidence of scours (cattle diarrhoea).

Increased growth and improved digestive function

Supplemental water for calves has been linked to increased growth and improved digestive function. A study by Wickramasinghe et al. (2019) found that calves offered water from birth had improved body weight, hip height, and body length compared to calves offered water later in life. Additionally, water intake can increase starter intake and weight gain.

Best practices for providing water

Clean and residue-free water should be provided to encourage intake. Water buckets should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected between each calf to prevent the spread of diseases. Water should be provided away from calf starter to prevent contamination and improve labour efficiency. Automatic waterers should be installed at an accessible height and emptied, cleaned, and scrubbed regularly.

In summary, water plays a vital role in the health and development of newborn calves. By providing water from birth, you can promote rumen development, improve hydration, and support the overall growth and well-being of the calves.

How to bottle-feed a calf

Bottle-feeding a calf is a challenging but rewarding experience. Here are some detailed instructions to help you through the process:

Prepare the Milk Replacer:

• Using warm water, mix the milk replacer according to the package instructions. Warm water is essential to dissolve the fats in the milk replacer. Ensure the water is not too hot, as it can burn the calf or cause protein separation.
• Use a whisk or mixer to combine the water and powder until you achieve a smooth consistency without any lumps.
• Pour the prepared milk replacer into the bottle and attach the nipple.

Feeding Technique:

• Wash your hands thoroughly before feeding.
• Hold the bottle steadily while the calf drinks. Young calves may try to head-butt the bottle, so be prepared to guide them back to the nipple.
• After feeding, clean and sanitise all equipment, including bottles, nipples, and mixing utensils. Allow them to air dry and store them in a clean, accessible location.

Feeding Schedule and Amount:

• Newborn calves typically drink small meals up to 10 times a day when nursing from their mothers. However, bottle-fed calves only require 2-3 feedings per day.
• Each feeding should consist of up to 2 litres (or quarts) of milk replacer. The exact amount will depend on the calf's size and age, so follow the package instructions.
• Stick to a consistent feeding schedule. If you need to make dietary changes, do so gradually over the course of a week.
• Calves will also need access to clean water at all times.

Colostrum:

• If possible, the first feeding for a newborn calf should be colostrum, the first milk produced by the mother cow. Colostrum is rich in antibodies and provides essential protection against diseases.
• If you cannot obtain colostrum from the mother cow, use frozen stored colostrum or a commercial colostrum replacer.

Weaning:

• Around 8-12 weeks of age, you can start weaning the calf off milk replacer. Gradually reduce the number of bottle feedings while introducing solid foods such as hay, calf pellets, and pasture.
• Continue to provide access to clean water.

Health Considerations:

• Overfeeding can lead to "scours" (diarrhoea), which can be dangerous and even fatal for calves. Monitor the calf's stool for any signs of scours and treat with electrolytes if necessary.
• Keep all feeding equipment clean and sanitised to prevent the spread of bacteria.

The dangers of overfeeding a newborn calf

Overfeeding a newborn calf can have detrimental effects on your wallet and the calf's health and can even be deadly. Here are some dangers of overfeeding a newborn calf:

Bacterial disruption

The calf's stomach contains helpful bacteria that aid in food digestion. However, when these bacteria are exposed to a sudden increase in nutrients, they can multiply rapidly and cause diseases and other health issues.

Scours

Scours is a form of deadly diarrhoea that can be caused by overfeeding. It leads to a rapid loss of water and electrolytes, resulting in dehydration, high temperatures, pneumonia, and eventually death. Scours can be treated with an electrolyte mix, but early intervention is crucial.

Interference with weaning

Overfeeding can make a calf too dependent on bottle-feeding, reducing their willingness to start eating solid foods. This can lead to mineral deficiencies and hinder the transition to a diet of forages and other fibrous feedstuffs.

Increased costs

Bottle-feeding a calf requires time, effort, and money. Overfeeding will increase these costs, as you will need to provide more milk or milk replacer.

Discomfort

Overfeeding a calf can cause discomfort due to improper digestion of breast milk or formula. It can also lead to swallowing air, resulting in gas, increased belly discomfort, and crying.

To avoid these dangers, it is important to stick to a consistent feeding schedule and monitor the calf's intake. Gradually introduce new foods or reduce their milk intake over the course of a week.

The benefits of feeding colostrum to newborn calves

Colostrum, the first milk produced by a mother cow after birth, is vital for the health and development of newborn calves. Here are some key benefits of feeding colostrum to newborn calves:

Nutritional Value:

Colostrum is rich in nutrients and antibodies, providing newborn calves with essential nourishment. It has higher levels of fat, vitamins A, D, and E, and protein compared to regular milk. These nutrients are particularly important as newborn calves have low reserves of these nutrients.

Immune System Development:

The antibodies in colostrum provide calves with their initial protection against diseases. As antibodies do not pass through the cow's placenta to the fetus, newborn calves are vulnerable to infections. The absorption of immunoglobulins in colostrum helps develop the calf's naive immune system and provides passive immunity until their own immune system becomes fully functional.

Digestive Health:

The composition of colostrum supports the calf's digestive health. Its relatively low lactose content reduces the risk of diarrhea. Additionally, the presence of specific enzymes and bacteria in colostrum aids in the digestion and absorption of nutrients, preventing nutritional deficiencies and related health issues.

Growth and Development:

The high nutritional content of colostrum promotes optimal growth and development in newborn calves. The essential nutrients in colostrum, especially protein, support tissue growth and development, ensuring that calves grow strong and healthy.

Cost-Effectiveness:

Feeding colostrum to newborn calves can be cost-effective, especially when compared to purchasing older cattle. Bottle-feeding calves with colostrum and milk replacer is generally more affordable, and the bottle-feeding stage is relatively short.

Behavior and Temperament:

Calves that receive adequate colostrum and are bottle-fed tend to grow up to be gentle, friendly, and companionable adults. This can make them easier to handle and work with as they mature.

Feeding colostrum to newborn calves is critical for their short- and long-term health, growth, and development. It provides essential nutrients, boosts their immune system, supports digestive health, and promotes optimal growth. Additionally, bottle-feeding with colostrum can be a cost-effective way to raise calves and can contribute to positive behavioral traits in adulthood.

How much and how often to feed newborn calves

How much to feed newborn calves

Newborn calves should be bottle-fed until they are weaned, which is typically around 8 weeks of age. Bottle-fed calves only require 2 to 3 feedings a day. Each feeding takes about 15 minutes. During their first two weeks of life, a newborn calf is ready to eat fresh, clean, and palatable food. At this time, a calf starter with an 18% crude protein content should be introduced. In general, calves do not begin consuming solid feed until two weeks of age. Calves should consume approximately 8% to 10% of their body weight on a daily basis.

How often to feed newborn calves

It is important to follow the recommended feeding schedule and amount of milk replacer to ensure that the calf is getting enough to eat and is growing at a healthy rate. Young calves require routine, so it is important to develop a feeding schedule right away and then stick to it. If you need to make any changes to your calves’ diet — such as adding new foods or reducing their milk replacer intake — do so gradually over the course of a week.

The importance of water for newborn calves

It is widely assumed that calves receive all the required nutrients from liquid feeds – milk or milk replacer – until weaning. However, it has been shown that offering grain at 3 days of age drastically improves rumen development by weaning. Water is also important for rumen development. Water consumed as plain water enters the rumen and becomes available for the microbes to use.

Frequently asked questions