Key points for calf feeding and management in winter

The winter weather is cold, and calves are prone to catching cold and getting sick.

Therefore, in winter, cows close to calving must be moved into the calving barn in time. The barn must have dedicated calf pens, and the feeding and management of winter calves must be strengthened. 1. A newborn calf's organs are not fully developed, and its adaptability to the surrounding environment is poor, so it is easily affected by the environment.

Therefore, the calf's living environment should be clean, dry, and have sufficient sunlight. Practice has shown that the temperature inside the calf barn has a huge impact on the growth, development, and physiological condition of calves, so a suitable temperature in the barn must be ensured, especially in winter, and various warming measures must be taken. 2. After birth, calves grow vigorously, have a high metabolic intensity, and have high nutritional needs, but because the calf's forestomach and rumen functions are not yet fully developed, feed utilization is relatively low, and improper feeding can easily cause nutritional deficiencies that seriously affect growth and development. Therefore, newborn calves must be fed colostrum, and feeding must be at fixed times, in fixed amounts, and at a fixed temperature. 3. After calves are 7 days old, start supplementary feeding of forage and feed, and gradually transition to weaning, allowing them to chew freely and practice eating; after three weeks, mixed concentrate can be fed, and some vitamins and mineral elements can be added. After that, gradually increase the feed intake according to age in days. The feed should have high nutrient concentration, good palatability, and be easy to digest and absorb. 4. Manage by group according to age in months, body weight, and after weaning, and measure body weight once a month.