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Getting Calves Off To A Great Start

Sep 26, 2016

By Warren Rusche

Feeding cattle successfully is a bit like a horse race; a bad start can doom the chances of winning.  Problems created during the starting phase increase the odds of sickness and affect performance for the entire feeding period.

Two primary issues need to be managed during the transition process. The behavior of the calf needs to be managed so that calves adjust to the feedlot environment as quickly and smoothly as possible. Secondly, the rumen needs to adapt to feedstuffs that may be quite different from what the calf was eating before weaning.
Behavior & Environmental Adjustments

Using starting pens designed with the calf in mind can help manage cattle behavior and minimize stress during receiving. Large pens with lots of room per head facilitate calves spending more time walking the fence and reduce opportunities to find feed and water. Dust problems during dry conditions become worse if there is a larger area churned up by a group of roaming calves, and the risk of spooking and breakouts increase.

Wide, shallow pen designs keep calves close to feed and water increasing their opportunities to encounter feed and water. Temporary panels can be used to cut larger pens into smaller, more manageable sizes. A 60-foot-deep pen with at least 12 inches of bunk space per head works well for the first 7 to 10 days; calves can be allowed more area after they have settled down. Some calves may not recognize water fountains, especially those coming from extensive range areas. Using additional water tanks so that calves can see open water can help make sure that water intake is not limited.

Calves also need to become accustomed to people. Walking calves up to the bunk right after feeding encourages feeding behaviors and acclimates them to handling at the same time. It is much easier to find and treat sick calves without additional stress if they are used to being handled. Calves that are afraid of people are surprisingly good at hiding signs of illness, at least until they become very sick. Investing time and effort to improve cattle handling skills pays dividends, especially considering the challenges in finding employees with livestock experience.
Dietary Adjustments

To encourage eating behaviors in the first few days, diets for starting calves need to be palatable and nutrient dense. Long-stem prairie hay is the traditional roughage of choice because calves recognize it as feed and it stimulates saliva production. However, prairie hay alone does not have enough energy or nutrients to support immune function and weight gains. Combining roughage with concentrate feeds helps calves achieve a positive energy balance more quickly.
 

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