If you are raising calves on your farm, you will want to have the best feed available. There are several things to consider when it comes to choosing the best feed for your calf. For instance, it’s important to look for a quality product that is free of antibiotics. Also, you’ll want to make sure that the feed is high in protein.
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Alfalfa hay
Alfalfa hay is considered by most experts to be the best feed for calves. However, it can be expensive and is also difficult to find in some regions. When selecting hay, make sure it is high quality and smells good. It should not smell moldy. If it does, the animal might be sick or bloated. Changing to a different type of hay might not be a good idea.
Researchers have examined hay and feeding experiments to determine the effect of alfalfa hay on calves. They found that the calves fed alfalfa hay during the first month of life had fewer respiratory problems.
Colostrum
Colostrum is the milk produced by the mammary gland of a newborn calf in the first 24 hours of life. The colostrum contains immunoglobulins that help protect the calf from disease. In addition, colostrum is rich in nutrients and non-nutrient factors that promote growth and development in the calf.
A high-quality colostrum should be given immediately after birth. It should contain a minimum of 100,000 colony forming units (CFU) per milliliter. Calves born without immunity are susceptible to a variety of diseases, including brucellosis, salmonella, and cryptosporidia.
The US recommends a minimum of 3-4 L of good quality colostrum at the first feeding. This is an important factor for neonatal calf survival and early lactation milk production.
Milk
Milk is a great feed for calves, but it’s not the only option. Calves can also be fed waste milk and milk replacer. But before you choose one of these options, there are some things you should know.
Young calves have a limited digestive capacity. This means they can’t digest some sugars or fats. They are also susceptible to nutritional scours. So when you’re feeding liquid feeds to your calves, make sure you’re providing them with enough minerals and nutrients.
You can also try giving your calves some colostrum. Fresh colostrum is best, but frozen can be used as well. Colostrum is made up of leukocytes, which are cells that help fight off bacterial disease.
Soybean hulls
If you are looking for an alternative feed source for your calves, then soybean hulls are a good option. They have a high level of digestible fiber and a low level of starch and fat.
Soybean hulls are byproducts of the soybean oil and meal production process. They are processed and then dried, milled, and toasted. Some hulls are also pelleted.
Soybean hulls have been used as a supplemental feed for cattle and horses. In fact, research has shown that horses fed soybean hulls have a lower glycemic index than those fed other feeds. Moreover, they are more palatable to calves and may help stimulate a calf’s appetite for protein.
Corn gluten
Corn gluten is a corn co-product, and a good energy source for ruminants. The by-product has high levels of crude protein and fiber and can be easily digested by cattle. However, it can have a high sulphur content, which can be toxic to animals.
Corn gluten is a by-product of the wet milling process of corn. During the wet milling process, sulfur dioxide is added to the corn to assist in starch extraction. This results in a residual feed that is highly digestible fiber, high in antioxidants, and rich in B vitamins.
It is commonly used in livestock feeds because of its nutritional benefits. It contains protein, fat, phosphorus, and fiber. In addition, it has a good nutrient balance, and the ability to minimize the starch load in the rumen.
One-Step Calf Starter
One-Step Calf Starter is a pelleted calf feed that is highly palatable and provides a complete pelleted ration to calves. It should be used at four days after weaning to improve the weight gain and growth rate of calves.
Calf Starter should be given at a rate of 1 pound per 100 pounds of body weight. This allows for two feedings of approximately two quarts each.
Young calves need to be fed a diet that contains a minimum of 30% starch. However, starch intake is influenced by the quality of forage. A higher intake of starch will increase the risk of acidosis in the rumen.
