Breeding, Housing, and Feeding Management

Abstract

The rate of calf mortality increases with increasing herd size unless a specialist is involved in calf raising; then there is a drop in the death rate. Breeds of larger dairy cattle have more difficulty calving, and this appears to result in a high calf mortality rate at or soon after birth. Sires differ in respect to size of calf produced, and it behooves the dairyman to use care in selecting sires to mate with heifers. Calves from the breeds of smaller cattle appear to possess less antibody protection. They typically have a higher incidence of diarrhea.Providing an acceptable relative humidity and adequate air movement is more important than ambient temperature in the colder climates. More research relative to environmental requirements of the calf, independent of human comfort, is needed. The importance of the mother's first colostrum soon after calving and mothering by the dam is emphasized.Liquid diets including the advantages of high fat diets and the feeding of acidified colostrum are discussed. Recent research on liquid concentration, amount, temperature, and frequency of feeding is reviewed. Once daily feeding of 3.18kg of liquid consisting of 12 to 18% solids, fed either cold or warm, is recommended for replacement Holstein calves weaned at 21 to 28 days.