Dr.iCow’s Diary
Date: 14.02.2020
Dear Dr.iCow,
What can I do to my cow and calf to grow faster? I use booster. Is it advisable?
Dehorning in calf.
From: Bernard,County: Vihiga, Kenya.
Discussion:
Bernard is very interested in improving his dairy cows and calves and would take up the right information and put it in practise. Dairy cow feeding and calf management are of particular interest to him.
Dear Bernard,
For healthy and productive dairy cow the feed ration should have energy, proteins, fibre, vitamins, minerals supplements and water all in the right quantity and quality. Energy is the most limiting nutrient in dairy production and it is on this basis of energy content you can buy a concentrate or feed additive like booster for supplementation. Feedstuffs for a dairy cow are forages like hay, nappier grass, silage, green grass, sweet potatoes vines, lucerne, minerals supplements, concentrates and free access to fresh clean drinking water at all times. Forages have high crude fibre and good quality forage is the base of high milk production and should be fed at the right stage of growth usually around their flowering.
Calf rearing is very important as the calf’s growth rate during the first 60 days of life determine the future potential of the animal. A calf requires good feeding regime and a clean environment. In week 1 to week 2 of age, the calf continues to depend on liquid diet, milk (or milk replacer from a reliable manufacturer) for its growth and should consume about 10% of its body weight and is about 4 litres of milk; 2 litres in the morning and 2 litres in the evening.
Week 2 to week 3, introduce high quality forage which has fine texture and mixed with legumes like sweet potatoes vines. Supplement the calf with starter pellets or calf starter at this time. Give the calf clean fresh drinking water, about 4 litres divided into 2 portions between milk feeding. This continues for up to 6 weeks. From Week 6, reduce the amount of milk, encourage taking of dry feeds and introduce mineral supplements by giving a mineral block as a background lick.
Water intake increases with age, allow free access. Week 9 to 12 weeks of age, wean the calf. At weaning there is withdraw of milk which should be done gradually, e.g. to one litre daily and eventually to nil. This is done so as to avoid stress and also allow a calf’s digestive system to adjust to new diet. By this time the calf is now dependent on other feeds. Pneumonia and dirrhoea are the main ailments in calves and can be prevented and controlled with proper hygiene and management.
Dehorning has the benefit of a herd free from damage like severe injuries and bruises caused by horns and decreased risk injury to farm workers. It is advisable to dehorn animals at a young age, at least before they attain the age of 2 months when the horn buds become attached to the frontal bone of the skull.
Dehorning at a young age has advantages of lowering stress on the calf and the procedures are easier with less risk. Young calves recover much quicker and have fewer complications than older calves and adult cattle. There are various choices of dehorning methods like hot-iron dehorning, chemical dehorning and surgical disbudding. The procedure in calves should be done by a qualified vet paraprofessional or a vet. Calves and cattle require observation and aftercare following the procedure.
Thank you
From your friend and advisor,
Dr.iCow