Webinar with prof. Paweł Górka. Questions and answers.

• What are the advantages and disadvantages of an automatic feeding station?

The advantage is that we can individually plan the feeding program for each calf. What’s more, we can feed calves with large amounts of milk replacer (CMR), and this dose can also be divided into several smaller ones (which reduces the likelihood of digestive problems in calves). In such a situation, having an automatic feeding station allows the so-called accelerated growth rate of calves.

On the other hand, having an automatic feeding machine means that the calves are kept in groups. Group keeping of calves from the first days of life can parent some problems. This applies in particular to the greater likelihood of spreading diseases among the calves through contamination with each other.

Hence, the use of an automatic feeding station should be considered primarily in farms that are certain of the health status of calves in the first days of their lives. It is a good idea to keep the calves for the first 7-14 days of life individually. Only the calf that is actually healthy and well-fed with colostrum is included in the group pen. Otherwise, the farm may struggle with a large number of calves suffering from digestive and respiratory diseases.

• What should be the maximum concentration of CMR powder in 1 liter of water?

Concentration over 180-200 grams in 1 liter may increase the likelihood of digestive problems in calves, especially if the preparation is administered in a large dose and a small amount of breaks (twice a day). This is due to a sudden and significant increase in osmolarity in the stomach. Hence, in general, exceeding a concentration of more than 180 grams per liter should be avoided, which does not mean that it cannot be used, e.g. when calves are fed frequently with small doses of food. In this case, however, the calves must have unlimited access to water; otherwise, such concentration may not fulfill its function.

• How much dry matter should the prepared formula contain, how much larger than whole cow’s milk should it be to be safe?

A concentration of more than 180 grams in 1 liter of go should be avoided. The most common concentration currently used is 150 g in 1 liter, and generally it ranges from 120 to 160-180 in 1 liter. The high popularity of the concentration of 150 g per liter is due to the fact that calves fed with this dry matter concentration are less likely to have diarrhea, as has been shown in some experiments.

Hence, if we compare the above-mentioned concentration to the concentration of dry matter in whole milk, which is 120-125 g in 1 liter, we can conclude that the recommendations regarding the preparation formula differ from the milk composition. However, such recommendations are covered by research results.

• Is it worth using new nipples that slow down drinking speed and increase the salivation of calves? For and against?

If we look at the physiology of the calves’ digestive tract, nipple sucking is the most natural way for calves to eat. We know that this is of great importance in the first days of life and the colostrum period. During this period, the use of open buckets of colostrum increases the likelihood of diarrhea, which is a strong argument for the use of bottles or buckets with a teat to calm calves. Another argument in favor of the use of teats, especially those which slow down the drinking speed, is that the calf takes longer to take milk. During this time, digestive juices are secreted and a large amount of saliva is secreted, which potentially has a positive effect on the digestive processes. Moreover, the calf satisfies its behavioral needs, those related to the suckling need. Hence, calves that will drink from specially designed nipples that allow for slower and longer suckling will potentially suck less at other calves.

• What could be causing the calves to suck each other?

One of the reasons why the calves are sucked is that the calves are not satisfied with the suckling reflex. This mutual suction mainly applies to the first few minutes after taking milk or milk replacer. If the calf takes milk or a preparation from an open bucket or takes milk from a teat, which has a very large opening, and thus a fast flow, the intake of the entire amount of feed takes very quickly. In such a situation, it is not able to satisfy the suckling reflex and it realizes this behavioral need by sucking on other objects (most often other calves, cage elements). Hence, when keeping the calves in groups or in pairs, it is advisable to administer the feed from a pacifier.

• Is milk with probiotics, symbiotics, etc worth using?

The use of probiotics is standard in calf nutrition. This is because many observations proved a positive effect of adding a probiotic to the milk replacer and whole milk. Such a procedure increases the weight gain of calves and reduces the likelihood of diarrhea. Hence, the use of this type of additive is justified and is practically a standard. Slightly less positive research results concern probiotics and symbiotics. It is also quite debatable whether we should use several different additives in the preparation, as their potential effect does not have to be positive or synergistic. The interactions between the various feed additives used in the milk replacer are not well studied.

• What is expert’s opinion on how to feed calves from buscets (without a teat) from a taxi?

As already mentioned above, from the point of view of the physiology of digestion, the method most closely related to the natural collection of milk by calves is from a teat (from a bottle with a nipple or a bucket with a nipple) and such methods of feeding calves should also be implemented from the point of view of satisfying the behavioral needs of calves.

Nevertheless, there are farms where the use of buckets with nipples may not actually work. This is most often due to the fact that on the farm the procedures of washing the teats cannot be carefully followed, which causes the growth of pathogenic microorganisms in the teats, which cause diarrhea in calves. In this case, open buckets or bowls are actually better. Nevertheless, taking into account the digestive physiology, the behavioral needs of the calves, and the general trend to continuously improve animal welfare, the use of buckets with a nipple should be the goal of any farm.

• What is the optimal and maximum temperature for feeding to calves?

The temperature of the administered preparation should be close to the temperature of the milk, i.e. about 39^oC. Possible experimentation with higher temperatures is not justified. The goal should be to feed the calf with a temperature of 39-40^oC. From the point of view of the practical feeding of the calves, the feeding procedures of the calves can easily be adjusted so that the said temperature is reached when fed to the calf.

• What are the risks of administering feed below 39^oC? Many dairy farmers give cooler feed, can this cause diarrhea?

The main threat is the disturbance of the digestive processes (for the proper course of digestive processes, the optimal temperature is the aforementioned temperature of 39^oC). As a result, a different temperature does not ensure the proper course of digestive processes. This does not mean that the use of, for example, cold, sour water does not have to work. It is also a question of how the calves get used to a given feeding system. From the point of view of physiology, the temperature of the liquid feed should be 39-40^oC.

• How long should calves be fed with a nipple?

At least for the first few days and the administration of colostrum and the so-called post-colostral milk. During this period, feeding the liquid feed from an open bucket, or worse, in a slightly forced manner from a shallow dish or cup, will result in a greater likelihood of diarrhea.

• Is it a myth that feeding the calves to 2-3 degrees higher than their body temperature will make diarrhea less likely?

There are no scientific reports – as to the knowledge of the person answering this question – that would support the hypothesis that the higher the temperature went, the lower the probability of diarrhea.

• Should you stop giving milk to calves during diarrhea?

Whether milk or CMR should be discontinued during diarrhea depends largely on the farm. Ie. the procedure should be tailored to the specificity of the farm, including the most common cause and course of diarrhea in calves. Nevertheless, efforts should be made not to completely withdraw the milk replacer in the event of diarrhea. If the calf has an appetite, it is viable, there is no need to stop the milk replacer completely. If the breeder is concerned or there is a risk of the calf becoming dehydrated after the onset of diarrhea (due to, for example, infrequent health checks of the calves due to the limited number of hands required to work), then a possible recommendation should be to limit the amount of feed consumed by the calf. The calf’s organism needs nutrients to effectively defend itself against pathogenic microorganisms.

In some farms, however, the administration of milk or even part of its dose does not work. The course of diarrhea is so intense that each feeding makes the situation even worse. Such a course of the disease in a large number of calves should be consulted with a veterinarian. On the other hand, if feeding does not deteriorate the calves’ condition, then the farm should not  discontinue the administration of the milk replacer.

• Should we differentiate the concentration of the preparation in summer and winter?

In the case of calves kept outside the livestock buildings, and additionally if the temperature conditions are unfavorable, i.e. the temperature drops below 10 ° C, we observe an increase in their demand for nutrients. Whether or not the concentration should be increased in this situation depends on how much the calf takes in the milk replacer powder and what the farm’s goal in terms of daily gains is. If the dose of the powder is large, 900-1000 g per day, then there is no absolute need to increase the concentration of drink or to give more of it. In such a situation, however, the breeder must accept the fact that the weight gain of calves will be slightly lower. To sum up: the calf will cover its nutritional needs, but it will not grow so well.

If the goal of the farm is to maintain a high growth rate or to maintain a certain level of growth rate then the concentration of went should be increased or the calf should receive more go from the milk replacer. Increasing the concentration of drink or its volume is recommended in periods of low ambient temperatures when the calf receives less powder, i.e. 500-700 g / day.

• Should any history of diarrhea eliminate heifers from breeding?

Considering that many calves go through diarrhea in the first weeks of their lives, there is no such justification. It would end up with some farms not having heifers to refurbish their herds. Only animals for which we know that this problem reoccured should be eliminated from the herd, i.e. it was ill several times. In such a situation, removing it from the herd should be considered. One diarrhea is not a reason to eliminate such an animal from the herd. It is worth mentioning that there are scientific reasons that confirm that diarrhea in the first weeks of life has a negative impact on the development of the future cow. It should be noted that this influence was greater the more often the animal was ill.

Will each preparation double the birth weight until weaning?

The answer to such a question is very difficult. In some situations, even a very good preparation from a manufacturer with an established reputation does not allow the calf’s birth weight to double on the day of weaning, i.e. most often on the 60th day of life. I would like to emphasize that whether a calf will double its birth weight at 60 days of age depends not only on the milk replacer, but on many other factors, including: the effectiveness of calf treatment, disease prevention, the composition of CMR, composition of the feed, etc. However, when the farm has very well-developed calf feeding procedures, even the use of preparations for the so-called second rearing period, preparations that are characterized by a lower concentration of nutrients, does not necessarily mean that the calves will grow much worse, provided, however, that we use it correctly (not earlier than recommended by the manufacturer) and we will maintain a very high intake of starter feed. There are strategies that can significantly increase starter feed intake.