Calves Rearing
Calf rearing sets the foundation for the lifetime productivity of the animal. Doing it well will give you the best chance to have a profitable animal. A new born calf will typically weigh between 40 to 50kg. Achieving an early and adequate intake of colostrums (the first milk produced by the calf’s mother following calving) is the single most important management factor in determining calf health and performance. Colo strums is rich in energy and protein but more importantly, with immunological (antibodies which provide the calf with passive immunity). The priority with new born calves is ensuring that they suckle and drink at least 2 liters of colostrum within the first six hours of life, with up to 8 liters within the first 24 hours.
In traditional beef systems the calf will stay with the beef cow for around 8-10 months before it is weaned and transferred for fattening. During this time the cow and calf will normally be grazing outside, either on grass or on a forage crop like kale. Hay and silage will be supplemented as required. In winter months when conditions worsen the animals may be brought in to large open barns and fed on conserved fodder, typically grass silage.
Animals supplied for beef production from the beef herd tend to be borne of beef cows that suckle the calf for between 7 and 10 months. After weaning the calves are finished through a variety of feeding systems. Farmers who run sucker beef herds tend to finish their animals through more extensive feeding systems.
Beef calves that have come from the dairy herd, either as pure bred bull calves (Holstein) or as cross breeds (Limousine cross Holstein for example) will usually be brought into the beef system at around one week of age. These animals will be bucket fed on milk replacer and may be housed individually or in groups. They are usually weaned when the calf is eating about 1kg of concentrates per day. This is usually between 6 and 8 weeks of age when it is between 55-65kg. Following weaning, concentrates continue to be offered ad-libitum together with grass, hay or straw and by 12 weeks old the calf is usually weighing between 90 to 110kg. From here differing feeding systems can be adopted by the farmer for the fattening and finishing of the calf.
Calf housing
Calves are either housed in groups or reared in individual pens to weaning, and bedded on straw. The individual pens comply with all the recognized welfare codes in terms of dimensions, with calves having visual and tactile contact with other calves. Individual pens are the preferred option by most stockmen since this allows for individual care and attention to the calf. Group housing systems are usually based on feeding the calves with a computerized automated milk dispenser that can regulate and monitor the amount of milk a calf drinks.
Calves are either housed in groups or reared in individual pens to weaning, and bedded on straw. The individual pens comply with all the recognized welfare codes in terms of dimensions, with calves having visual and tactile contact with other calves. Individual pens are the preferred option by most stockmen since this allows for individual care and attention to the calf. Group housing systems are usually based on feeding the calves with a computerized automated milk dispenser that can regulate and monitor the amount of milk a calf drinks.
Calf houses are designed to be well-ventilated that provide adequate air space and change but do not expose the calf to draughts. Calves are remarkably tolerant of cold temperatures and can withstand temperatures as low as 0oC as long as they are not in a draught. Providing adequate ventilation helps to prevent problems such as pneumonia and a good indication that there is adequate ventilation in a calf house is an absence of cobwebs!
Calf health
Ensuring that the calf gets a good drink of colostrums within 6 hours of birth helps to significantly minimize health problems. Treating the navel at birth with iodine also prevents problems such as joint ill. Usual routine procedures for calves will include dehorning the calf at about 5 weeks old, unless of course the calf is sired by a breed such as the Aberdeen Angus which is naturally polled (doesn’t have horns).
Ensuring that the calf gets a good drink of colostrums within 6 hours of birth helps to significantly minimize health problems. Treating the navel at birth with iodine also prevents problems such as joint ill. Usual routine procedures for calves will include dehorning the calf at about 5 weeks old, unless of course the calf is sired by a breed such as the Aberdeen Angus which is naturally polled (doesn’t have horns).
Dehorning prevents subsequent injury problems to other stock and is done using local anesthetic (just like having a tooth out!). The majority of male beef calves are reared on extensive beef production systems and therefore have to be castrated (a field full of 2 year old bulls would be extremely difficult to manage and not welcomed by ramblers!). Castration reduces the production of natural male growth hormones and is done usually by 1 month of age, along with any vaccinations deemed necessary by the farms veterinary surgeon.
Feeding adequate colostrums and providing a dry, well-bedded, spacious, adequately ventilated and draught free environment – along with plenty of TLC - keeps health problems to an absolute minimum.
