Genetics and nutrition - a good marriage for calf development

Proper calf-rearing programmes will pay off in the long run as healthy calves will end up as productive heifers and cows.

However, if any aspect of calf management is neglected, then that animal could have setbacks in her lifetime and not reach her full potential.

This is why good calf nutrition and genetics work together hand in hand as essential tools to produce a healthy, productive dairy herd.

VikingGenetics experts travel worldwide to help farmers with their own herd genetic improvements and offer advice on the proper feeding and management of calves.

Healthy growth in calves is ultimately dependent on four key elements, which are:

1. Genetics
2. Endocrine function
3. Nutrition
4. Management

“At VikingGenetics, we have the skillset as experts in genetics and we have developed professional partnerships with other experts in the fields of nutrition and management,” says John.

“With this collective expert knowledge in our armory, we can tackle any issue brought to us by farmers and help them produce more efficient and healthy livestock.”

This is the most important feed in the animal’s life. However, it is not as simple as pouring four litres of early milk into the calf.

Firstly, to achieve successful maternal antibody transfer to calves, you need to ensure the colostrum is good quality. This means an immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody concentration of at least 50 g/l. Calves should be fed at least three to four litres of this high-quality colostrum within six hours after birth.

The calf’s ability to absorb the nutrients in colostrum starts to shut down at birth and after 24 hours is greatly reduced. It is important to feed 10% of the calf’s bodyweight within one hour after birth. An additional two litres should be fed six hours later and, where possible, another two litres can be fed 12 hours after birth.