21 Jun 2017

How do we calculate the optimal amount of milk or a milk replacer for a calf?

   

Mistakes	Consequences.	Secondary consequences.
Cold feeding mixture	Improper operation of the food chute	Diarrhea and dehydration. Inadequate development of the rumen. Disturbance of growth and future dairy productivity.
	Getting milk replacer into the rumen
	Gut-cooling, decay and fermentation
Overfeeding	Getting milk replacer into the rumen	Diarrhea and dehydration. Inadequate development of the rumen.
	Gut-cooling, decay and fermentation
Single trough	Weak calves receive less milk replacer. Inaccuracy of diet.	Disturbance of growth and future dairy productivity.
	Cross-infection
Wrong position of drinkers	Getting milk in the pancreas	Diarrhea and dehydration.

How to develope champions? Components of success. 

The calf feeding program must provide with gradually training for solid feeds. 
Free access to water is important for a calf. We often see that the water is carried 2-3 times a day in buckets on the farms of our customers. Only the calf knows how much pure water it really needs. Lack of water leads to a slowdown in metabolism, a decrease in feed intake, diarrhea, and temperature stress
Slow accustoming to solid foods is the key to successful development of the rumen (its suction surface), as a consequence, the milk productivity of the future cow. The surface of the rumen of different animals is clearly shown in the photo below. The first one was fed with milk, grain, hay and silage from the moment of birth without special control of quantities and cleanliness of feeds. The second one was fed with milk replacer, pre-starters, starters with gradual accustoming to roughage. The difference in the specific surface of the samples is obvious. The suction capacity of the second rumen exceeds the first in dozens (!) times 
It is extremely important to ensure the cleanliness of feed, especially in the first stages of a calf life. This helps to avoid diseases and strengthen the immunity of the animal. That is why the feeding program of the Mustang Nutrition Technology is about giving pre-starters from the 1st week, starters - from the 8th week, hay and silage - only after the 3d month. Thus you feed calves only with clean feeds in the first 3 months and provide the proper development of the calf's digestive tract. The principal feeding program of the Mustang Feeding Technology for calves offered to our customers is presented below. All products for this program are selected by our feeding experts individually for each client, taking into account the characteristics and problems of a particular herd. 

Age	Live weight, kg	Weight gain, kg/day	Colostrum	Milk replacer of early period	Milk replacer	Pre-starter	Starter	Hay	Silage
1-3 day	40	0,10	5
1st week	42	0,40		5		0,13
2nd week	44	0,60		6		0,40
3d week	48	0,85		6		0,60
4th week	54	0,90		6		0,80
5th week	60	0,95			6	1,15
6th week	67	0,95			6	1,15
7th week	73	0,95			6	1,15
8th week	80	0,95			5	1,15	0,30
9th week	87	0,90			4	1,15	0,60
3d month	125	0,90					2,20	0,20	1,20
4th month	152	0,90					2,50	0,20	2,30
5th month	179	0,90					2,70	0,20	4,00
6th month	206	0,85					3,00	0,50	4,0

The total weight of one calf intake is 500-530 kg for 6 months of fattening. It is more feasible than 800-1000 kg intake with an excessive amount of milk (up to 450 liters) and a large amount of hay / silage with low nutrition value.

The economic effect is achieved in three directions:

1. Reduction of the diet and the feeding cost (no mixing, easier feeding, less losses);
2. Disclosure of the animal's potential (rapid weight gain-> early insemination-> high productivity);
3. Benefits from the sale of milk when it is replaced by the milk replacer in the calves diet;