Brian Tarr
Ruminant Nutritionist
Shur-Gain Central Region
Calf Starter:
the Other Important
Feedstuff for Proper Calf
Growth and Development!
In the previous article we discussed the importance of feeding your calves a higher plane of nutrition.
Calves raised on an intensified program, grew faster, were healthier, calved earlier and produced more milk
in their first lactation. However, to grow a calf correctly and economically a calf starter must also be fed along
with the milk replacer.
From Milk Replacer to Dry Calf Starter
Figure 1
Figure 2
The calf is totally dependent on the protein and energy supplied by
milk replacer for the first 14 to 21 days of age. At this point in time the
calf will require more nutrients than the milk replacer or milk alone can
supply. To correct for this you must feed more milk replacer or dry calf
starter. Starter is much more economical and it is necessary for the
development of the rumen. Adequate calf starter intake is essential
for volatile fatty acid production, particularly butyrate, which enables
early rumen development and enables the calf to be transitioned off
of milk (Figure 1 and 2).
Only Milk
Milk and dry starter
When Should we Offer Dry Calf Starter?
As early as 5 days of age calves should be offered calf starter and free
choice water. The most important factor for the successful feeding of
the pre-weaned calf is the early acceptance and high intake of the calf
starter ration. There are many factors that affect the calf starter intake
but the two main factors are free-choice water and a starter that
is palatable. Kertz (1984) conducted a trial that showed calves
consumed significantly more dry starter and recorded higher average
daily gains (ADG) when they had access to free choice water
compared to no water (Graph 1, page 10).
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Graph 1
Calves Need Water!
400
(0.88)
300
(0.66)
Source: Kertz, et al., JDS, 1984
Gain / Intake, g (lb)
500
(1.1)
200
(0.44)
100
(0.22)
0
ADG
Blue is ad lib water
Intake
Red no water
Trials and Studies on Ingredients for Palatability
Palatability generally means the feed “tastes good” but in the context
of the calf that may be more difficult to define. Several researchers
have examined different ingredients for palatability to calves. Quigley,
for example, suggests that soybeans and molasses improve palata­
bility, soybean meal and corn don’t appear to have any effect either
way, while canola meal, and urea will reduce palatability. Some
ingredients, such as fats and bicarbonate may enhance palatability
at low inclusion rates but depress intake at higher inclusion levels.
Work reported by Montoro et al. (2010) in a preference trial showed
that wheat was highly palatable while gluten feed was not. Choosing
the best ingredients is important, but equally important can be
the inclusion level of these ingredients.
Shur-Gain has conducted several trials looking at ingredient palata­
bility and followed these up with preference trials to determine which
feeds the calves actually prefer or would consume first given a choice.
The preference trials conducted at our Nutreco Research facilities
demonstrated a wide range of preference by the calves for several
products on the market today. We brought in calf starter products
manufactured across the company as well as the best competitive
products on the market to evaluate the preference and acceptance by
new born calves. Interestingly, when our group examined all the
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products for appearance and “smell”, the calf starter that we deemed
to be best based on these visual criteria, was not the one the calves
ate the most of!
Optivia Textured Calf Starters,
for Optimized Palatability and Intake
The Shur-Gain 22% Express Textured Calf Starter out performed the
other textured products on trial based on early acceptance and overall
intake by the calves. These studies have been used to further refine
our calf starter formulations and we are confident that the ingredients
selected and inclusion levels used in the Optivia rations optimize
the palatability for the young calf and thus ensure maximum intake.
Textured vs Pelleted Calf Starters
Both textured and pelleted calf starters are fed to pre-weaned calves
and they both can provide equivalent nutrients. However, numerous
research trials have demonstrated that feeding textured starters
helps prevent parakeratosis (keratin build up on the papillae) in
the developing rumen. Keratin build up on the papillae permanently
reduces their ability to absorb nutrients. Both textured and pelleted
forms of calf starter produce the Volatile Fatty Acids (VFA) necessary
for rumen development but textured starters provide the scratch
or abrasiveness that prevents the build up of keratin on the papillae.
EXCLUSIVE
CALF STARTER
with a Special Flavour Enhancement:
FLAVOUR BURST
Palatability or what we perceive as “taste” can also be enhanced in a
number of ways, including flavours and sweeteners. The simplest of these
and most common is molasses. Calves and other small ruminants show a distinct
preference for starter rations that have molasses added “on the outside” of
the feed. The research reviewed indicates that 4 to 5% molasses is ideal.
It is not entirely clear if this is simply enhanced palatability or if there
is an olfactory role as well. To gain the highest intakes, Shur-Gain has
developed a special flavour enhancement that will only be available
with O ptivia Calf Starters. This flavour enhancer when combined
with our carefully selected ingredients led to a significant
improvement in intake.
Keratinization can be partially mitigated in pelleted calf starter
formulations by supplementing the starter with chopped straw or hay.
Recent studies reported by Dr. Alex Bach from Spain showed that
feeding straw along with pelleted calf starter rations provided
sufficient “scratch” to help reduce parakeratosis. However, the straw
intake should not exceed 10% of the total daily feed intake. The advantage of a pelleted starter is it can be stored in bulk bins and attracts
fewer flies in the summer compared to textured feeds with molasses.
Optimum Protein Level
When selecting a calf starter which crude protein level is best?
In reality the crude protein level should not matter - the key parameter
is the amount (grams/lb) of protein consumed. The most important
factor in optimizing protein consumption is intake. More palatable calf
starters promote higher intake and supply more total nutrients.
Key Points
for a Good Start
High calf starter intake is the most important
factor determining the success and outcome
of the calf feeding program (higher growth
rates and better health). There have been
many studies looking at nutritional
composition of the diet in an effort to find
the optimal diet for growing calves efficiently and cost
effectively. This is likely more difficult to determine than it appears
as it is confounded by palatability and intake. In addition, cold and
heat stress have important effects on the nutritional requirements
of calves, as do the environmental conditions that they are raised
in. We need to feed well balanced, highly nutritious diets to calves
that can be easily adjusted to suit the prevailing conditions.
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