What are the precautions for raising calves?

Calves cannot digest forage in the early stage of growth, so pelleted feed can be chosen. Then gradually combine corn, wild hay, milk and oat grass for comprehensive nutrition.

Precautions for raising calves

1. A newborn calf does not use its three forestomachs, which means it cannot yet eat grass (rumination, chewing the cud), and during the first 4 to 6 weeks it only drinks milk. To control disease, whether dairy cattle, water buffalo or beef cattle, it must be ensured that the calf drinks at least 1 to 2 liters of colostrum within 8 hours of birth.

2. In most cases, the cow herself can feed the calf, but the colostrum quality of first-calf heifers is not high, so adding some colostrum saved from adult cows when they calved to feed the calf is beneficial. Within 24 hours after birth, it is best to separate the calf from the milking cow.

3. To avoid infection with paratuberculosis (the main symptom is diarrhea), which is an intestinal bacterial disease that accumulates over many years, calves are susceptible to this disease, so during the first 3 months, or preferably within 12 months, calves should be kept as much as possible from contact with environments containing the feces of adult cows.

4. Two weeks after birth, calves need to be fed high-calorie, high-protein concentrate feed to help the rumen grow. The faster the rumen develops, the sooner dairy cows can wean the calf, and the faster water buffalo and beef cattle will grow. The feed should contain at least 20% crude protein. When increasing concentrate feed, only feed the calf (dairy cow) milk once a day, with the amount of milk not exceeding 5 liters; this is enough to meet their calorie requirements, and the next time the calf feels hungry at feeding time it will eat a little more concentrate.