Good Calf-Rearing

Te Ao Hou, September 1963, Page 59

Good Calf-Rearing by D. Wright Many articles have been written on calf-rearing but despite the information available, the numbers of poorly reared young stock, including calves, yearlings and incalf heifers, are still high. Here is one short example of the importance of good rearing. The difference in production between Jersey heifers calving down at 700–740 lbs live-weight, and poorly grown heifers calving down at 600–650 lbs live-weight, is at least 30 lbs of butterfat in the first year and 20 lbs of butterfat in the second year. These figures speak for themselves. This article deals with the three stages in the rearing of young stock— 1 Calf stage—birth to normal weaning 2 The yearling stage—weaning to mating 3 The in-calf heifer stage—mating to calving At the calf stage the aim should be to have calves weighing 120 lbs at eight weeks and 220 lbs at 18 weeks. At eight weeks the chest girth should measure 33 ½ inches and at 18 weeks it should be 40 inches. Colostrum should be fed for at least two days after birth and whole milk for three weeks. Then there should be a gradual changeover to separated milk or its equivalent during the next three weeks, followed by separated milk alone or the equivalent. It is important to avoid over-feeding and at 10–12 weeks they should be getting a maximum of two gallons per day, in two feeds. This amount should not be exceeded, and is arrived at gradually after starting in the first weeks at six pints of whole milk per day. Starting from two weeks of age calves must have access at all times to good quality leafy grass and clover pasture. This is essential. Top quality pasture, as far as calf-rearing is concerned, is a grass and clover mixture still in the leafy stage and not longer than four to six inches. This means, in actual fact, pasture of high milk qualities. If this type of pasture is assured calves can be weaned after whole milk feeding at eight weeks. This particularly applies on whole milk supplies. Feeding involves a ration of seven pints per day in two feeds. However, early weaning should not be attempted unless management and pastures are top class.