Abstract

The milk-feeding period is a front and center welfare concern, as well as a huge economic opportunity for producers and veteri­narians alike. Calf nutrition has progressed from a simple, one-size-fits-all approach to a more sophisticated understanding of the role that early nutrition has in health and future productivity. Still, calves are the only age group where it is not routine to have a nutritionist who formulates the diet, provides feedback and evaluation of animal performance, and is responsible for out­comes of the program. Veterinarians could step in to provide this service. In this presentation, I discuss what incorporating calf nutrition into a dairy practice might look like, as well as some tools available to help accomplish it. Topics discussed include the role and economic value of improving early feed efficiency; research on the value of early nutrition for health and future pro­ductivity; and tips and strategies to implement increased milk feeding programs, including starter and weaning management.

Full Text
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