why is the birthweight of calves a desirable trait

However, actual gestation length is determined mainly by the calf itself (his fetal maturity triggers labor) and this is a function of his genetics via his sire. In contrast, it makes up only 8 percent of the stomach capacity in a mature cow. The commercial cattleman knows that the lower birth weight of the calves puts less stress on the mother. Statistical Analyses. On the other hand, when the calf drinks in response to thirst, liquid enters the rumen instead of the abomasum. Breeding season focuses our attention on reproduction and fertility traits. Source: Davis and Drackley, 1998. Thus, the genetic antagonism. Table 5 shows the recommended nutrient composition of milk replacer. Frost-free freezers are not optimal for long-term colostrum storage, as they go through freeze-thaw cycles that can allow the colostrum to thaw. Within 6 hours, the average ability of the gut walls to absorb immunoglobulins decreases by one-third. With that in mind, it's easy to conclude that selecting low birth weight sires will reduce calving difficulty and increase the percentage of calf crop. From three days of age, make fresh, clean, free-choice water available. Calf starters usually contain adequate levels of the major and trace minerals required by the young calf. For a given trait, EPD values are calculated . The goals of raising calves to weaning age are optimizing growth and minimizing health problems. The high content of fat and vitamins A, D, and E in colostrum are especially important because the newborn calf has low reserves of these nutrients. If both the sire and dam are programmed for shorter gestation, calves will be smaller. When feeding is over, slowly remove the tube. When evaluating different feeding programs, weigh the increased cost of feed against increased weight gain using cost per pound of gain. Whey is composed of water, minerals, lactose, and other proteins (including immunoglobulins). Lowering the starch concentration in the pellet could also prevent acidosis and the need to feed forage, but at the high cost of less rumen development by weaning time. However, their protein quality, or amino acid content, is slightly inferior. If milk replacer must stand before feeding, give it a quick stir before feeding each calf. In both experiments, calves fed a consistent diet grew faster and more efficiently than those fed an inconsistent diet. In reality, milk replacer is not a true solution, but rather a suspension, so most milk replacer will settle if left standing more than 10 to 15 minutes. Low-birthweight cattle often have shorter-than-average gestation, and high-birthweight cattle tend to have longer-than-average gestation. This was one of the things that made Salers popular in the 1990s. Table 5. When comparing products, the first step is to read the label. Calf starter must be palatable to encourage intake. In many cases, colostrum quality can be improved by heat treatment (pasteurization), which reduces bacterial contamination. If calves are fed the same daily amount of metabolizable energy (ME), for example, 1.25 pounds per day of milk replacer containing 20 percent protein and 20 percent fat (2.15 Mcal ME/lb), one might think all calves will gain weight at the same rate. It is very important to provide adequate energy, since the calf's metabolic rate, or rate at which energy is used, is greatest during the first two weeks of life. The amounts of protein and energy required by a calf are divided into two categories based on their use for maintenance and growth. A scale that starts at zero and goes to approximately 35 provides a good range for testing colostrum. A calf will likely suck the end of the tube into its mouth, which makes the tube easier to pass. In reality you might not care whether the gestation length is 279 days or 286 days (a practical range), as long as the calf is born easily. . Contact him at Hook Farms, 11333 180th St., Tracy, MN 56175; or call 507/629-4946; or e-mail at [emailprotected]. In the bovine, antibodies cannot cross the placental wall and pass directly from the dam to the fetus. Any of these choices can provide excellent feed, although each option has advantages and disadvantages. Diets must provide enough energy to support growth and enough protein to be used for that growth. Also avoid "hot spots" inside frozen colostrum. It is ideal to keep enough frozen colostrum on hand to feed several calves. Birth weight versus calving ease | Beef Magazine Volume of first-milking colostrum also can be misleading and is not a recommended method for estimating colostrum immunoglobulin content. Energy consumed in excess of maintenance needs can be applied to growth. In terms of IgG, good quality colostrum contains at least 50 grams of IgG per liter (g/L). The fetus is growing fastest in the final stages, so several more days gestation creates a larger calf. Colostrum also contains immunoglobulins (antibodies), which are critical in providing the calf with immunity from infectious diseases. Low enzyme activity and curd formation following first colostrum feeding allow the calf to digest and assimilate nutrients slowly, yet efficiently, preventing scours caused by undigested nutrients reaching the large intestine. Calves that do not receive enough energy when scouring will begin to break down muscle protein and will lose weight quickly. Research shows that birth weight is the most important factor for elk calf survival, which is a reflection of how well nourished the mother was before and during pregnancy. There are many commercial systems for pasteurizing colostrum and thawing it. Ken Olson, extension beef specialist, South Dakota State University, says some producers have tried underfeeding cows to have smaller calves but data shows they often increase calving difficulty. Guessing a calf's birth weight and feeding her less than she requires in the first few weeks of life may limit her growth. While calves can digest saturated fats, including milk fat, coconut oil, palm oil, and lard, they have limited ability to digest unsaturated fats such as corn and soybean oils. When using a refractometer, the prism and sample cover must be thoroughly cleaned after every sample to avoid residue that could affect the next measurement. Facts About Baby Calves. In addition, when calves are fed only milk or milk replacer the amount fed to each calf must be adjusted as the calf grows to ensure both energy and protein needs continue to be met. The pasteurizer and associated equipment for hauling or storing milk should be assigned an annual cost that includes purchase price, depreciation, installation, operation (including cleaning), and labor for the pasteurization process. Interestingly, while the calf appears normal or grows at rapid rates, her rumen is underdeveloped. Proper feeding and care of young calves is the first step in raising healthy, productive replacement animals to enter your milking herd. Registered in England and Wales. The calf might be smaller, but her ability to push it out is less, he explains. The "clinical threshold dose" (the level of exposure that results in disease) is considerably lower for colostrum-deprived calves than for colostrum-fed calves (Figure 6). South Central: Factors affecting calf sale weight, More metabolic factors affecting the immune system of the transition dairy cow. There are several variables that affect birthweight, including breed, genetics of sire and dam, length of gestation (heritable), age and size of dam, sex of calf, environmental factors, nutrition and health of the dam. Regularly maintain and clean milking equipment, especially waste milk cans and their lids. Faster growth rates can be achieved at higher feeding rates, but be sure to gradually increase the amount you are feeding to allow calves to adjust and to limit scouring. Open the calf's mouth by applying pressure to the corner of the mouth or by grabbing over the bridge of the nose and applying pressure to the upper palate or gums. Theres a fairly narrow window of acceptable gestation length. Outliers present severe challenges. Grains are fermented to butyrate and propionate that do stimulate rumen development. Why? Based on the requirements shown in Figure 9, a standard 20 percent crude protein milk replacer fed at 1.23 pounds per calf per day will support daily gains of nearly 0.75 pound in calves weighing 100 pounds. For many years, producers have fed hay to preweaned calves based on the theory that rumen development required physical stimulation, or "scratch." Other factors include the calf's size and the efficiency of IgG absorption. 2017 Angus Media Continuous milking (no dry period) has been found to reduce colostrum volume and IgG concentration. *Value for each amino acid is grams of the amino acid per 100 grams of crude protein. Heat treatment at 140F for 60 minutes has been shown to effectively eliminate Mycoplasma bovis, Listeria monocytogenes, E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella enteritidis, and possibly Mycobacterium avium ssp. If it is properly positioned, the rings of the trachea and the rigid enlarged esophagus can be felt easily. The functional rumen acts as a fermentation vat, where microorganisms digest complex carbohydrates and high-fiber feedstuffs. The search for less expensive ingredients has produced many options for protein sources. Feeding higher levels of whole milk can result in more rapid growth rates, but it is not recommended due to decreases in grain consumption and prolonged weaning time (and slowed rumen development). PDF Selective Breeding in Agriculture - agclassroom.org Source: Adapted from D. Hancock, Dairy Herd Management, Feb. 1984. Length of the dry perioda 3- to 4-week dry period is needed to allow antibodies from the blood to be concentrated in colostrum. Photos by Heather Smith Thomas. 2. Why Do So Many Calves Die? - National Center for Biotechnology Heather Thomas is a freelance writer based in Idaho. Figure 11. BreedJerseys tend to have the highest levels of antibodies, Holsteins have the lowest, and other breeds fall in the middle. Good herd records are important. In real world conditions, neither total nor average intake is controlled. Batch pasteurization requires heating milk to 145F and holding it for 30 minutes. How they are raised depends upon their ultimate use: dairy farming . However, the calf's reticulum, rumen, and omasum are inactive and undeveloped. During cold weather, cattle reduce heat loss by routing more blood around internal organs and less to the skin and extremities. Nutrients are provided by liquid feeds and starter grain, and intake and composition of both these feeds affect growth potential. simultaneously to improve calving ease, very few breeders will get the correct emphasis on each of these various EPDs to actually make the progress they want. Procedures for using an esophageal feeder are described later in this article. This dictates extra care in storing and handling this milk. As cow/calf producers discovered long ago, that's because selecting for low birth weights is antagonistic to selecting for growth performance. Feeding a balanced diet that meets current NRC recommendations for protein, energy, minerals, and vitamins is a good preventive strategy. Some family lines within breeds tend to have gestation lengths that differ from the average 283 days. This calf needs an extra 3 to 5 quarts of fluid per day to correct dehydration; that is in addition to the 4 quarts the calf would normally consume. At harvest time, we find out. Offer only small handfuls at each feeding until calves begin to eat starter. This annual cost can then be spread out over the total pounds of milk pasteurized in a year. Early bacterial inoculation of the gut creates another problem: immature intestinal cells can absorb infectious organisms as well as antibodies. Why is the weaning weight of calves a desirable trait? Environmental factors affecting growth rate include nutrition of the dam and environmental temperature. Instructions for feeding are detailed on the milk replacer feed tag. Our objective was to evaluate differences in lactation traits and calf weights produced by F1 cows under varying daily metabolizable energy availability. The most important items to identify are the crude protein and fat content, ingredients, and feeding instructions. Source: Adapted from Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle, 2001. Colostrum affects both morbidity (illness) and mortality (death). The primary causes of mortality in the perinatal period are calving problems, in particular dystocia, defined as both difficult and abnormal calvings. Colostrum must be fed as soon as possible (within 1 hour) after collection or cooled to lower than 40F to prevent bacterial growth during storage. Use of a turntable can help to minimize antibody damage. Research has indicated that white blood cells (leukocytes) present in colostrum also contribute to the health of calves. Using HTST pasteurization, milk must be heated to 161F and held for 15 seconds. Esophageal Feeder. The objective of calf nutrition is to promote rumen development early in life. Waste milk contains more microbial life than other liquid feeds. This effect is more commonly observed in older, weaned calves. Sire selection is the fastest way to make improvements in herd genetics. Pooling milk from several cows is a common, but very risky, practice. PHOTO 5: This heifer just gave birth quickly and easily. While the exposure dose of a given pathogen strongly influences disease severity, the calf's immunity can mitigate these effects. Energy is used to support body functions and allow dietary protein to be used in building body tissue. Within two weeks of age, the calf can digest starch. Calving season brings the reality of our sire selection for birth weight, calving ease and calf vigor. Multiple trials have reported acceptable levels of serum IgG and total protein in calves fed various replacer products. In calves fed milk and grain papillae grow larger and the rumen walls thicken as calves get older. IgA comprises 8 to 10 percent of the immunoglobulins, and IgM makes up 5 to 12 percent. Rather than pour it down the drain, many producers feed transition milk to calves. You may have a weak calf that is slower to get up, slower to suckle, and when it finally does suckle, it gets inadequate colostrum.
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