Getting the best price in a busy calving season
If you sell young calves, apart from the breed and sex, the animal’s appearance will have a huge influence on the sale price. Poorly done calves never command top prices.
A calf is not born with the rumen function of older animals, so stimulating the rumen from an early age will set it up for the rest of its life. Only the calf’s true stomach (abomasum) functions in the early stage of life, so developing the rumen as early as possible by including the correct long fibre and concentrate will reduce the amount of whole milk or replacer required up to weaning.
Calves are generally sold at 14 to 21 days, so a lot of the early nutrition management is outside the control of the farmer who eventually rears the calf. Calves that get whole milk or milk replacer need a suitable concentrate and fibre source that will encourage live weight gain and skeletal development. Milk replacer for young calves should be high in protein (21%-23%), and contain good energy and trace element levels.
For many dairy farmers, at this time of year, milk quality is extremely variable. As a result, calves get a different diet each time they are fed. This may lead to digestive upsets, disrupting performance. I am hearing of many farmers who have concluded that for reliable quality and consistent performance, milk replacer best suits their system and their calves. Also watch for too much milk being forced on young calves to reduce milk super-levy worries — they should not be a dumping ground. Anything over six litres a day requires very careful management.
Hay is generally seen as the preferred long fibre source, but clean, fresh barley or wheaten straw is usually significantly better. I advise use of straw regularly; the appearance of the calves and subsequent performance supports this .
Concentrates for young calves can be variable in quality. They should be palatable, dust free, with quality protein sources and digestible fibre.
Inclusion rates of ground cereals should be kept to a minimum; therefore, coarse mixes are more suitable than calf pellets. Flaked maize should be included in the starter, to improve the coarseness of the mix and increase energy levels.
Molasses will improve palatability and eliminate harmful dust. Molassed beet pulp is the preferred digestible fibre source. Citrus pulp or soya hulls may have to be used if there isn’t a suitable source of beet pulp. Rolled barley and rolled oats are the preferred homegrown cereal sources in calf rations.
Up to 10 weeks old, calf concentrates should supply a crude protein of 20% and an energy level of 12.8 ME. After 10 weeks, the protein level should be reduced to 18%, but the energy level should be maintained.
As calves develop rapidly, correct mineral and vitamin supplementation is essential. Adequate calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D in a balanced mineral and vitamin supplement are essential.
* Independent dairy and beef nutrition consultant Brian Reidy, Premier Farm Nutrition, can be contacted at brian@pfn.ie
