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No. 44 (September 1963)
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Farming

Good Calf-Rearing

by D. Wright

Many articles have been written on calf-rearing but despite the information available, the numbers of poorly reared young stock, including calves, yearlings and incalf heifers, are still high.

Here is one short example of the importance of good rearing. The difference in production between Jersey heifers calving down at 700–740 lbs live-weight, and poorly grown heifers calving down at 600–650 lbs live-weight, is at least 30 lbs of butterfat in the first year and 20 lbs of butterfat in the second year. These figures speak for themselves.

This article deals with the three stages in the rearing of young stock—

1

Calf stage—birth to normal weaning

2

The yearling stage—weaning to mating

3

The in-calf heifer stage—mating to calving

At the calf stage the aim should be to have calves weighing 120 lbs at eight weeks and 220 lbs at 18 weeks. At eight weeks the chest girth should measure 33 ½ inches and at 18 weeks it should be 40 inches. Colostrum should be fed for at least two days after birth and whole milk for three weeks. Then there should be a gradual changeover to separated milk or its equivalent during the next three weeks, followed by separated milk alone or the equivalent. It is important to avoid over-feeding and at 10–12 weeks they should be getting a maximum of two gallons per day, in two feeds. This amount should not be exceeded, and is arrived at gradually after starting in the first weeks at six pints of whole milk per day.

Starting from two weeks of age calves must have access at all times to good quality leafy grass and clover pasture. This is essential. Top quality pasture, as far as calf-rearing is concerned, is a grass and clover mixture still in the leafy stage and not longer than four to six inches. This means, in actual fact, pasture of high milk qualities. If this type of pasture is assured calves can be weaned after whole milk feeding at eight weeks. This particularly applies on whole milk supplies. Feeding involves a ration of seven pints per day in two feeds. However, early weaning should not be attempted unless management and pastures are top class.

Rotational Grazing of Calves

It is hard to understand why farmers will not carry out management which has been proved correct, widely publicised and fully explained. Still we see the same old practice of using a set calf paddock right through the bucket feeding stage, and then, after weaning, the set stocking of calves in one paddock. This paddock more often than not contains the incalf heifers as well. The result of this method is a high build-up of internal parasites (worms), unthrifty, miserable calves, and deaths. This type of management reflects laziness and ignorance.

The important points in rotational grazing of calves are:—

1

Calves are given access to the best pasture on the farm from two weeks of age

2

They are moved from paddock to paddock daily, the move from a particular paddock being a few days before the milking herd is due to graze that paddock

3

No matter how much feed is available calves should not be left in a paddock longer than two days

4

The calf is a very selective grazer and by rotational grazing only the best quality pasture in eaten. In this way the growth rate is such that any worms in the calves do not have any harmful effect

5

In contrast, calves that are set stocked return again and again to selected parts of a paddock, so that there is a pattern of ungrazed and closely grazed patches. A stage is reached where there is insufficient feed intake from these closely grazed areas and as a result a check in growth rate occurs and worm infestation builds up

Yearling Stage

Provided calves have been well reared and there is adequate hay or silage available, no trouble should be encountered. It is wise, however, to get calves used to hay before the onset

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GOOD CALF-REARING—

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of winter. The aim should be to have continued growth without feeding them so heavily that they become fat. When yearlings become fat there is difficulty in getting heifers in calf.

In-calf Heifer

One of the most common faults is the wintering of in-calf heifers with the mature dairy herd, particularly when available feed is limited, and having the heifers competing with the cows for the feed. Well grown heifers often slip back badly in condition under this management and it is wise to draft out springers and winter them separately.

To summarise, I would emphasise the importance of good rearing from an early age, combining cleanliness and correct bucket feeding with rotational grazing. Calves must have the pick of the pastures, not be confined for weeks in a dirty worm-ridden calf paddock from which so many ills, deaths and pitiful looking calves originate. Far too little attention is given to calves and it is felt that it is more good luck than good management that calves on many farms ever reach the producing age.

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