Traditionally calves were weaned at almost eight weeks old, although in recent years this has been reduced to six or even five weeks old.
Calves may be weaned as soon as they are eating significant quantities of concentrate, for example 1-1.5 kg per day for three consecutive days. The concentrate being offered needs to be highly palatable to achieve these intakes.
Some calves are abruptly weaned, but it is more common to reduce to once-daily feeding for a few days before totally withdrawing milk. Fresh water and palatable forage (hay or straw) should be freely available throughout. The change from a liquid to a solid diet is a critical time for the calf, and to be successful it is important that pre weaning feeding has allowed the rumen to develop to its full size and that it is functioning correctly. Inadequate ruminal development before weaning can lead to many post weaning digestive problems, with bloat and scouring being the most common.After weaning the calf needs to be given a highly nutritious diet to compensate for the loss of milk. It has probably been moved from individual pens to group housing, where it must compete with others for trough space. If the stress of this is combined with an overall reduction in nutritional status, then the calf is rendered more susceptible to disease, and this is at a time when its passive antibody levels are declining. As with the young calf, many health problems are exacerbated by poor management, and one of the most important preventive measures for all the diseases of the weaned calf is to provide adequate space, good housing and a well-balanced diet.
The following diseases of the weaned calf will be considered on the basis of their main symptoms:
Digestive problems
• pot-bellies
• chronic diarrhoea
• rumen bloat
• colic
• coccidiosis
• salmonellosis
• necrotic enteritis
Respiratory problems
• calf pneumonia
Deficiency diseases
• nutritional deficiencies
• muscular dystrophy
Urolithiasis
Nervous diseases
• hypomagnesaemia
• meningitis
• tetanus
• lead poisoning
• cerebrocortical necrosis
(CCN)
More on the topic Traditionally calves were weaned at almost eight weeks old, although in recent years this has been reduced to six or even five weeks old.:
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