8/19/2018

Pre-Weaning Calf
Nutrition

1
8/19/2018

2
 8/19/2018

Critical Colostrum
Single most important requirement for the newborn calf
◦ Energy dense (high in fat)
◦ Easily ___________
DIGESTIBLE

◦ Serves as a laxative and gut stimulant

◦ Important for calf health and immune function
• Source of antibodies
• _________________________________
PASSIVE IMMUNITY

Critical Colostrum
Source of antibodies
o Build up of immunoglobulins
o Starts approximately _____
6 weeks prior to parturition in the mammary gland
o Late gestation nutrition is critical
Peak concentration of antibodies
o ~ 2 weeks prior to parturition

3
 8/19/2018

Critical Colostrum
Source of passive immunity
oColostrum provides antibodies against disease
oCalf born without immunoglobulins
oThe “first milk” or colostrum, absorbed directly through the gut and
immunoglobulins can be found in the bloodstream within __ 2 hours

Colostrum Antibody Concentration

✓ The first 6 hours are critical!!
Primary protection against disease
oThe calf’s greatest ability to absorb antibodies
• Within the first 6 hours of life
50% after ___
12 hours

0% after ___
24 hours

4
 8/19/2018

Potential Problem
Insufficient nutrition during late gestation
→Results in ____
LOW levels of colostrum being produced
• Potential insufficient colostrum consumption by calf
• Calf susceptible to calf ____________
SCOURS
▪ Potentially leads to dehydration and death

o Must insure that calf receives sufficient colostrum

QUARTS within first 24 hours
• 2-4 ____________
o Also can provide Calf Guard
• Bovine Rota-Coronavirus Vaccine
• Back of tongue at birth for additional protection against viral calf scours

Maintain a Source of Synthetic or

Frozen Colostrum
Ideally…
o Collect from own mother
o Collect from other mature cows on the ranch
• Avoid colostrum from ________________________
1ST CALF HEIFERS if possible
o Commercial synthetic colostrum sources
o Collect from dairies or other sources

5
 8/19/2018

Calf Scours
✓ Typically ______________
7-14 days after birth
→ Diarrhea
ELECTROLYTES
Substantial loss of fluids causing dehydration and loss of __________________
o Depression
o Sunken eyes
o Weakness or inability to stand
o Acidosis
o Death

Calf Scours

6
 8/19/2018

Calf Scours
Treatment
o Provide fluids (milk or milk replacer)
o It is too late for antibody protection
• Supplying colostrum is of no value
▪ Antibodies will not be absorbed
o___________
COLOSTRUM is still an energy and protein rich fluid

o Provide electrolytes after milk

Implantation

7
 8/19/2018

Approved Location for Implant

Administration

Growth Implants for the Cow-Calf

Operation

Ralgro
Active ingredient
o 36 mg Zeranol (synthetic _____________)
ESTROGEN

Cleared by FDA for use in:

o Steers and heifers
o ______________
SUCKLING calves
o Replacement heifers (> 30 days old)

8
 8/19/2018

Growth Implants for the Cow-Calf

Operation
Synovex-C or Component E-C
Active Ingredients
o 10 mg estradiol benzoate
o 100 mg ____________________
PROGESTERONE

Cleared by FDA for use in:

o Steers and heifers
o Suckling calves
o Replacement heifers (> 45 days of age)

Growth Implants for the Cow-Calf

Operation
Compudose or Encore
Active Ingredients
o 25.7 or 43.9 mg estradiol

Cleared by FDA for use in:

o Steers
o Suckling calves
o Not labeled for _____________________
REPLACEMENT HEIFERS

9
 8/19/2018

Effect of Implants on Growth

Given at ___________
1-2 months of age:

weaning weights ~_____%

5 (20-30 lbs.)

Economics of Using
Implants

Implant cost
o$1.00 - $2.00 per dose
Assume a ______
20-30 lb. increase in weaning weight

Average selling price of a 500 lb. steer

o$2.75 per lb.
Increase in income
o$68.75 per head for $1.00 - $2.00 cost plus labor

10
 8/19/2018

Summary of Implants
Overall Recommendations
Implant all calves to be marketed
o All steers and non-replacement heifers
REPLACEMENT HEIFERS
If you can identify _______________________
o DO NOT IMPLANT
o Increased cost with no real benefit
o Potential for _________________/developmental
REPRODUCTIVE issues

Factors Affecting Weaning Weights

Milk Production
Responsible for____________%
50-80 of WW
o By 60 - ______
120 days
o Milk supplies only 50% of the nutrients needed for maximum calf growth
o Calves must have accesses to quantity forage to meet maximum growth potential

11
 8/19/2018

Factors Affecting Weaning Weights

Feed Supply
Responsible for 20-50% of WW
Dependent on forage quantity and quality
o Increased gains are realized
• Calves born 2-3 months before pastures green up
Limited forage
o May supply __________
creep feed
o Traditionally used to supply energy
o Protein not a concern (milk)

Creep Feeding

Supplying supplemental feed to a nursing

calf without allowing its damn access to
the feed

12
 8/19/2018

Creep Feeder

Creep Feeding

13
 8/19/2018

Creep Feeding
Common misconceptions

oWill not alter ________

milk intake by calf

oCalf substitutes creep for grass

oWill not relieve suckling intensity on females

Creep Feeding
SPRING CALVING ON WARM SEASON GRASS

14
 8/19/2018

Creep Feeding
Increased WW 40 - 70 lbs.
Feed to gain: 15 to 30 lbs. feed per lb. of gain

Commercial Economics
16% CP Grain Based Creep Ration
$400/ton
$0.20/lb. of feed

15 to 30 lbs. feed/lb. of gain X $0.20/lb. of feed =

Cost of additional gain
$3.00 - $6.00 per lb. of calf gain

15
 8/19/2018

Commercial Economics
Value of additional calf gain
500 lb. calf @ $2.75/lb. = $1375.00
555 lb. calf @ $2.65/lb. = $1470.75

$1470.75 - $1375.00 = $95.75

Value of additional gain

$1.74 per lb. of calf gain

Commercial Economics
Cost of additional gain
$3.00 - $6.00 per lb. of calf gain

Value of additional gain

$1.74 per lb. of calf gain

✓ Not typically cost effective given feed prices and value of

additional calf gain

discounted
Also… “fleshy” calves are typically _________________

16
 8/19/2018

Creep Feeding
FALL CALVING ON WARM SEASON GRASS

Creep Feeding

Increased WW 50 - 80 lbs.
Feed to gain: 5 to 10 lbs. feed per lb. of gain

17
 8/19/2018

Commercial Economics
16% CP Grain Based Creep Ration
$400/ton
$0.20/lb. of feed

5 to 10 lbs. feed/lb. of gain X $0.20/lb. of feed =

Cost of additional gain
$1.00 - $2.00 per lb. of calf gain

Commercial Economics
Value of additional calf gain
500 lb. calf @ $2.75/lb. = $1375.00
565 lb. calf @ $2.60/lb. = $1469.00

$1469.00 - $1375.00 = $94.00

Value of additional gain

$1.45 per lb. of calf gain

18
 8/19/2018

Commercial Economics
Cost of additional gain
$1.00 - $2.00 per lb. of calf gain

Value of additional gain

$1.45 per lb. of calf gain

✓ May be cost effective under some market conditions given feed

prices and value of additional calf gain

Fall born calves grazing warm season forages are typically ________
less
“fleshy” and not as heavily discounted

Creep Feeding → ADVANTAGES

Calf WW up to 40 - 80 lbs.
Improve condition and ______________
uniformity
of calves
Carrying capacity of pasture
____________
stress of calf at weaning

19
 8/19/2018

Creep Feeding →
DISADVANTAGES
$$$ -- HIGH FEED COSTS
o Increased labor and equipment requirements
o Replacement Females
• Potential to become too fat?
- Mammary gland developed between 3 to 9 months
- Fat deposits in udder
- Decreased future milk production?
o “___________”
Fleshy calves discounted at livestock auctions
o Masks ________________
genetic differences among calves
• Difficult to evaluate milk production and genetic merit

HIGH PROTEIN
Creep Feeding
SPRING CALVING ON WARM SEASON GRASS

20
 8/19/2018

High Protein Creep Feeding

Increased WW 20 - 30 lbs.
Feed to gain: 2 to 3 lbs. feed per lb. of gain

Feed _______lbs.
1-3 of 30 - 40% CP feed/head/day

o Supplying addition N to the rumen MCO population

✓ May be cost effective under some market conditions given feed prices and
value of additional calf gain

High Protein Creep

30-40% CP supplements from natural sources

o Ruminally _____________
degradable plant protein

o Satisfies the N deficiency of rumen MCO

21
 8/19/2018

High Protein Creep

Satisfy MCO
Increased
N requirement DMI

Microbes Increased
multiply digestion
POSITIVE
Increased
ASSOCIATIVE
More microbes to passage EFFECT
digest forages

22