calf rearing schedule from birth up to 3 months (weaning)

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE:      CALF REARING SCHEME,   First 3 months of age
DAY/WEEK		FREQUENCY/KGS	CONCENTRATE**	ROUGHAGE***	REMARKS
0-1 DAY*	Colostrum	Immediate & 4-6 times in total:  5-6 litres first day	0	0	20% from the body weight
2nd DAY*	Colostrum	2-4 time x 1 litre = 4litres this day	0	0	10% from the body weight
3rd DAY*	Colostrum	2 x 1.75 litres	0	0
4-7th DAY	Milk (NB)	Warm and Fresh 2 x 1.5 litres	0	0	Fresh water two hours after milk!
2nd WEEK	Milk	2 x 1.75 litres Handluke warm	2x Handful: all to be eaten!	0	‘’
3rd WEEK	Milk	2 x 2 litres Handluke warm	2x Handful: all to be eaten!	0	‘’
4th WEEK	Milk	2 x 2 litres	1/4-1/2 Kg	A little bundle of Quality hay: Grass or Lucerne	‘’
5th WEEK	Milk	2 x 2 litres	1/2 Kg	TO BE INCREASED PROGRESSIVELY FROM WEEK 5-12	‘’
6th WEEK	Milk	2 x 2 litres	1/2 Kg		‘’
7th WEEK	Milk	2 x 2 litres	1/2- 1 Kg		‘’
8th WEEK	Milk	2 x 2 litres	1Kg		‘’
9th WEEK	Milk	2 x 1.75 litres	1Kg		‘’
10th  WEEK	Milk	2 x 1.5 litres	1Kg		‘’
11th  WEEK	Milk	2 x 1.5 litres	1Kg		‘’
12th  WEEK	Milk	2 x 1 liter	1.5 Kg		‘’

NB: It is preferable that the milk fed should be from the mother.

COLOSTRUM*:

·         After birth, calf should receive within 30 minutes colostrum of good quality!

·         Within 24 hours after birth calf must have drunk 5,5-6 litres of colostrum in small portions, quality colostrum first 24 hours is the best!

             

CONCENTRATES**:

·         Concentrates will stimulate growth of rumen-wall. Until 2^nd week the calf should have access to easy degradable, protein-rich and tasty concentrates. Calf needs to get used to other feedstuffs than milk!

·         Make sure that the calf eats ‘all it can eat’ every day!

                                 

HAY***: (good grass or Lucerne hay, in later stage some quality maize silage)

·         Roughage stimulates growth of muscles within the rumen. Hay also stimulates growth of the other stomachs.

·         Supply from the 4^th week onwards. Only the best quality (smell it!/leaves/ fibre-rich) counts, no fungi inside! From 12^th week same feed as fed in weeks thereafter, no abrupt changes (feed/housing) during weaning!