Feeding higher volumes of calf milk - Dispelling the feeding myths
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- 21 Apr 2023
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Research trials have shown that feeding higher volumes of milk can lead to many benefits for calf, heifer and cow performance as well as the farmer. However, as we encourage higher litres there is often some reluctance due to the following myths.
Read more: The benefits of feeding calves a higher plane of nutrition
1. Abomasal capacity – rumen spill
The abomasum can significantly increase capacity. According to Ellingsen et al., (2016) three-week-old calves voluntarily consume up to 6.8 L of milk in one meal without milk entering the rumen or any indications of abdominal pain or discomfort. This data confirms the abomasum has a high capacity to accommodate fluids significantly greater than 2L at a time.
2. Insulin resistance
It has previously been thought that feeding too much milk will lead to insulin resistance and unable to control blood sugar levels. However, we now know that calves fed higher amounts of milk from birth were able to control blood glucose concentration. A study from MacPherson et al., (2016) shows that calves are able to slow down the rate of abomasal emptying to control blood glucose when fed larger meals.
3. Weaning check
Feeding higher milk volumes has clear benefits, but the process needs careful management. It is essential to feed a milk replacer specifically and to follow a managed feeding curve to increase intakes. Then, as importantly, it is important to follow a planned, stepped-down (Steele et al., 2017) or gradual weaning strategy (Welboren et al., 2019), managing the length of weaning and age at weaning (Eckert et al., 2015; Meale et al., 2015) to ensure concentrate intakes are adequate at weaning.
4. Mammary gland development
Heifers fed higher levels of milk lay down fat in the udder which can compromise future performance. Evidence from the LifeStart Programme contradicts this, showing that calves fed higher levels of milk replacer produce more milk in the first lactation. Increased fat deposition in the mammary glands of postweaning heifers has been negatively associated with milk production (Sejrsen and Purup., 1997), but there is currently no evidence to suggest that fat deposition in the mammary glands of preweaning calves has adverse effects on subsequent milk production.
