Checklist: Successful Calf Rearing Updated: January 2018 This checklist is designed to overview your calf rearing operations. It is separated in different focal points. You are able to declare the strong and weak points of your farm. Furthermore, you can add your own factors into the calculations. For that reason additional space is left at the end of each section. Tip: Give this checklist also to consultants, veterinarians and colleagues to prohibit subjective ratings. The list doesn't claim completeness. The assessment criteria is liable to common academic research, experience or subjective evaluation of the author. The author and Holm & Laue, aren't responsible for incorrect conclusions based on this list. recommended positive measurements are ted in yellow measurements that are t recommended are ted in red Introducing data - How good is your calf rearing? Mortality up to 48 hours after birth < 3 % 3-5 % > 5 % Mortality up to 3 months of age < 3 % 3-5 % > 5 % Average birth weight (Holstein-Friesian) < 35 kg 35-45 kg > 45 kg Weight at age of 3 months (Holstein-Friesian) > 120 kg 90-120 kg < 90 kg Age of the first insemination < 16 mon > 16 mon Weight at first insemination > 400 kg < 400 kg Age of first calving 24-25 mon. 26-28 mon. >28 mon. Introducing data H&L 100 Modern and performance-oriented automatic feeding
European Regulations and Animal Protection laws (incomplete) are examined during the Cross-Compliance checks Required space in individual pens (up to 2 weeks of age) min. 120 x 80 cm x 80 cm height more less Required space in individual pens (2-8 weeks of age) min. 160 x 100 cm x 80 cm height more less Calves can see each other and have physical contact in individual handling yes Required space per calf group in housing (up to weight of 150 kg) > 2.5 m² > 1,5 m² < 1.5 m² Required space per calf in group housing (weight of 150-220 kg) > 3.5 m² > 1,7 m² < 1.7 m² Required space per calf in group housing (weight of > 220 kg) > 4 m² > 1,8 m² < 1.8 m² Total space per lot 2-8 weeks of age > 4,5 m² < 4.5 m² Total space per lot > 8 weeks of age > 6 m² < 6 m² When on slatted floor: gap width until the age of 6 months gaps < 2,5 cm > 2.5 cm When on slatted floor: surface until the age of 6 months gaps > 7 cm < 7 cm Regulations Dry cows, management and feeding Body Condition Score heifers (BCS) < 2.5 2.5 3.0 > 3.0 Body Condition Score Cows (BCS) < 3.0 3.0-3.5 > 3.5 Hygiene of the dry cow management good middle bad Hygiene of the rear legs and pubic area of the calving cow good Cleaning before birth bad Vitamin and mineral supply in dry periode good middle bad Vaccination of the dam (E-Coli- / Rota-Corona-vaccination), if these bacteria are part of the problem yes Dry Cow Management H&L MilkTaxi The simple way of feeding calves
Extra calving box Available yes Space per cow 8 10 m² < 8 m² Hygiene good middle bad Regular cleaning before the calvings Cleaning and only littering only cleaning disinfection down Lot for a group cow alone < 3 animals > 3 animals Cow can see the herd / are near the herd yes The box is used for sick animals never sometimes often Extra Calving Box Birth management Stillbirths and dead calves within 48 hours after birth < 3 % 3 5 % > 5 % Manual help during calving rare sometimes often Disinfection of navel yes Drying of the calf suckler cow manager Checklist for birth management for the employees available t available Housing of the calf directly after birth individual box alone in calving box together with mother in calving box Cleaning of the calf box before next filling Cleaning and disinfection Cleaning new straw Ferrite appliance after birth yes Calf resuscitator within reach yes, cleaned yes, but t cleaned t available Birth Management
Feeding colostrum Standard Operating Procedure for colostrum management available yes Point in time of the first milking after calving < 2 hours 2-4 hours > 6 hours Point in time of colostrum application after birth < 2 hours > 4 hours free sucking on the udder Quantity of colostrum 3-4 l 2-3 l < 2 l Point in time of the second colostrum application < 8 hours > 8 hours Repeated application of colostrum > 3 days < 3 days Sufficient colostrum on stock (first milk of old cows), frozen colostrum bank. yes Hygiene of colostrum (udder cleaning; blood in the milk). good medium bad > 75 % of Control of the amount of total serum protein at the age of 1-8 < 75 % of samples control of samples > 55 days < 55 mg / l serum mg/l Feeding Colostrum H&L MilkTaxi with Pasteuriser The best milk quality for your calves
Calf feeding, Milk in general Drinking temperature < 38 C 40-42 C > 42 C > < 100 F 104-108 F 108 F Use of a feeding plan yes, individual yes, equal for all for each calf animals Amount of milk per feeding < 1 l 1-2.5 l > 2.5 l individual Weaning plan for the calves according to yes, equal for all bodyweight or animals concentrate intake Point in time of weaning < 8 weeks 8-12 weeks >12 weeks Period of weaning > 2 weeks 1-2 weeks < 1 week Weight development after weaning continuous weight increase stagnation for some days decreasing Access to water free choice limited Quality of water checked t checked Method of milk feeding Teat (Bucket Bucket without From the or calf feeder) teat trough Cleaning of the buckets daily weekly rarely Feeding times Adaptation of feeding to winter season calf feeder, multible times increasing energy supply regular times, every 12 hours unregular Calf Feeding, Milk in General The H&L Feed Fence Effective bucket feeding
Behaviour of the calves while drinking f.ex. Information from the calf feeder (CF) Drinking speed high middle (0,4 - low (> 0.6l/min.) 0.6l/min.) (< 0.4l/min.) Number of aborted visits (CF) 0-2 3-5 > 6 Percentage of calves on the alarm list (CF) < 5 % 5-10 % > 10 % Time of staying in the stall after the completed visit (CF) > 10 Min. 3-10 Min. < 2 Min. Cross sucking of each other (mouth) never, rarely sometimes often Cross sucking of each other (navel) never, rarely sometimes often Daily gain > 800 g 600-800 g < 800 g Behaviour of calves during drinking Calf feeding, whole milk Quality of whole milk measured rmal whole quality milk waste milk Determination of solids in the whole milk yes, always sometimes Use of additives, whole milk supplements special addon's for whole ferrite ne milk Pasteurising of whole milk yes Cooling of whole milk (until feeding) yes, max. 24h with max. 15 C (59 F) one time cooling Cleaning of the storage tank daily, with without plan, detergent every other day Calf feeding, whole milk H&L Igloo Veranda The mobile calf rearing
Feeding of the calves, milk powder (CMR) Mixing temperature, according to the recommendation of the manufacturer (fat solubility!) Percentage of skim-milk yes control skim milk > 30 % skim milk < 30 % or whey powder without plant proteins whey powder with plant protein Percentage of crude fibre in milk powder < 0.1 % > 0.1 % Concentration of ash in milk powder < 8 % 9-10 % > 10 % Concentration milk powder (g/l water) > 130 g 120-125 g < 100 g Control of milk powder solubility while mixing yes sometimes CMR consumption per calf in the raising period > 40 kg 30-40 kg < 30 kg Calf feeding, milk powder Feeding of the calves; concentrate, roughage Point in time when concentrate and roughage are offered from the 2nd from the 3rd from the 4th week week week and later Quality concentrate Special calf grain in concentrate for products (cereal pellet form cows and bulls etc.) Concentrate feeding concentrate in trough twice a day dispenser, ad mixed with fresh libitum roughage Water supply free choice rationed Control concentrate intake programmed measured by via calf feeder hand ne Individual concentrate intake with age of 6 weeks (per calf per day) Quality roughage I Quality roughage II > 1 kg 0.5-1 kg < 0,5 kg TMR of the lactating cows well structured High quality hay chopped too finely undefined wet Concentrate & Roughage
Animal health Mortality within 48 hours after birth < 3 % 3-5 % > 5 % Mortality within 3 months of life < 2 % 2-5 % > 5 % Body temperature C 37.7-38.2 38.3-38.8 > 38.9 Body temperature F 99.9-100.8 100.9-101.8 >102 Drinking speed high middle (0.4 - low (< (>0.6l/min.) 0.6l/min.) 0.4l/min.) Quantity of aborted visits (CF) 0-2 3-5 > 6 Percentage of calves on the alarm list (CF) < 5 % 5-10 % > 10 % Morbidity (Rate of illness) < 10 % 10-20 % > 20 % Diarrhoea ne rarely often/heavy Frequency of diarrhoea per affected calf until 3 months 0 1 > 1 Point in time of diarrhoea infection ne 0-3 weeks > 3 weeks Colour of excrements (5 weeks) brown yellow grey, bloody Consistency of excrements hard soft, pappy liquid Respiratory diseases ne rarely often/heavy Frequency of respiratory diseases per affected calf 0 1 > 1 Condition of the skin, age of 10 weeks shiny rough incomplete few dreary both sides show Defluxion of the se rmal secretion both secretion, eyes tearing, on one slimy ears and secretion head Eye / Ear rmal ears hanging hanging Joints dry articulation swollen Animal Health MultiMax Veranda Mobile group housing In outdoor climate
Calf Management, Climate of the barn Draught in the laying area ne sometimes yes A protected micro climate area is offered yes Ammonia smell table (30 cm above straw bedding) rarely much Ammonia concentration measured; according to law max. 20ppm!!! < 4 ppm 4-10 ppm > 10 ppm Air humidity in the bedding area < 60 % 60-80 % > 80 % Temperature in the bedding area (calves older than 1 week) < - 0 C 0 to + 15 C > + 15 C Adaptation to the winter season increasing ne Climate of the Barn Calf Garden Individual housing in outdoor climate
Calf management, Raising systems Composition of bedding area dry bedding cubicles Barn System Outdoor climate Cold barn slatted floor, concrete Air conditioned barn Outdoor climate: 2 bedding area system (bedding area in yes, both yes, partial hutch and outside) under roof under roof Outdoor climate: Offer of micro climate yes Outdoor climate: Protection against draught in the bedding area Housing in the first 2 weeks yes, always individual hutches only in the main wind direction Frequency of adding bedding daily every 2-4 days two calve boxes group > 4 Interval > 1 week Frequency of clearing out every 2-3 every 4-5 weeks weeks > 6 weeks Quality of litter dry and absorptive wet bad quality Pen is roofed yes Space per calf in individual housing > 3.5 m² 1.5-3.5 m² < 1.5 m² Group housing: age different in one group < 2 weeks 2-4 weeks > 4 weeks Proportion calf: feeding place (for roughage and concentrate) 1 : 1 1.2 : 1 > 1.5 : 1 Required space per calf in group housing > 2.5 m² 1.5-2.5 m² < 1.5 m² Slatted floor; width of gaps (up to age of 6 months) yes; 2.5 cm yes; > 2.5 cm If feed racks are used: Secure feed Self catching rack in V form racks Raising Systems TwinHutch Animal friendly mini group housing
Final Ratings: Introducing data - How good is the calf rearing? Regulation European Animal protection law Dry cows, management and feeding Extra calving box Birth management Feeding colostrum Calf feeding, Milk in general Behaviour of the calves while drinking Calf feeding, whole milk Feeding of the calves, milk powder Feeding of the calves; concentrate, roughage Animal health Calf Management, Climate of the barn Calf management, Raising systems Overall