Development of an early weaning program for dairy calves

After preliminary experiments, four trials were conducted to develop and test a new feeding program for calves. The program involves the use of a special feed (a prestarter) to encourage calves to eat dry feed and to provide high quality nutrients during the time of initial rumen development. Using this plan, calves were weaned at 2 weeks of age with good results.; Dairy Day, 1984, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 1984;


Introduction
After calves are weaned, there is a reduction in labor required, less expensive feeds are needed, and ttle incidence of scour., usually decreases. Previous ('esearch has indicated that calves could be weaned as early as 3 wk of age with good results. In spite of this, most dairy calves in the United States are weaned at 6 to 12 wk of age. Since the main factor that determines when calves can be successfully weaned is the amount of dry feed consumed, anything that would increase dry feed consumption would help in an early weaning progra1n. We conducted a series of experiments to evaluate the use of a special feed (a prestarter) to stirn ula te intake and we developed a program for the use of this prestarter.

Experimental Procedure
Preliminary observations indicated that a prestarter composed of milk solids, supplementary fat, and additives ( Table 1) increased dry feed consumption if mixed with a calf starter. In Trial 1, 21 bull calves were purchased from local dairy producers and assigned to one of three treatments. Each calf was fed colostrum until 3 days of age, then mil k at 8% of birth weight daily, and either prestarter, starter (Table 2), or an equal mixture of the two. Daily feed intake and weekly calf weights were recorded and the health of each calf was monitered. The cal yes were weaned at 2 wk of age, if consuming 1 pound of dry feed daily.
The results of Trial 1 suggested tlJa t a feeding schedule invol ving the use of changing ratios of prestarter and starter would be advantageol.1'). Three subsequent trials were conducted to evaluate different feeding schedules and methods. In each, bull calves were fed milk or milk replacer' and prestarter or starter according to the schedule being evaluated. Feed consumption, weight gains, fecal scores, and other observations of health were recorded. Ipartial financial support provided by Mert'ick Foods, Union Center, WI• 2Department of Statistics 3Merrick Foods.

Results and Discussion
In Trial 1, calves that were fed prestarter as the only dry feed consumed the most and gained the most during tile first part of the trial, those fed a mixture of prestarter and starter consumed most and gained fastest during wk 4 and 5, and calves fed only starter performed best during wk 6 ( Table 3). This suggested that a program providing prestarter as the only dry feed at first, then a mixture of starter and prestarter, and finally starter alone would give good results.
During the next three trials we tested various schemes and developed the following program which ga ve good results when cal ves were weaned at 2 wk of age.

1.
Ensure adequate consumption of colostrum soon after birth and during the first 3 days of life.

3.
Feed milk or diluted colostrum at 8% of birth weight daily, 15ing an open pail.

4.
Stim ulate calves to eat dry feed by putting a small amount of prestarter in the milk.
Add palatable, fibrous starter when consumption of prestarter is t daily, first in small amounts, then increasing to appetite of calf. pound 7. Wean at 2 wk of age, if calf is healthy and eating dry feed well.

8.
Continue to feed t pound of prestarter mixed with all the starter the calf will consume to 6 wk of age.

9.
Allow access to hay unless starter contains adequate roughage.