Calf feeding

General introduction
● Feeding is essential in ensuring healthy calves that are a source of heifers, which in time
turn to productive cows.
● It basically starts from the time the calf is born.`
● Calf is born with non-functional rumen, so cannot digest fibrous complex feed.
● Mostly fed on liquid & low fibre solid feed till rumen develops.
Aims of feeding
● Get a strong and healthy calf.
● Reduce mortality rates.
● Maintain a growth rate of 400-500g/day.
● Attain ideal serving weight of 350kgs at 14-16 months.
● Enable it to first calve at 14-16 months.
● Enhance rumen papillae/wall development for fibre digestion.
Feeding from birth to weaning
Colostrum (Day 1-3)
● Calf is born with low immunity thus susceptible to diseases.
● Allow the calf to suckle its mother immediately after birth to obtain colostrum.
● Colostrum contains antibodies that give calves passive immunity.
● A calf needs to consume up to 6 L of colostrum within the first 24 hours after birth. This
enhances their survival rate and health condition.
● Colostrum is fed for 3-4 days consecutively.
● In cases where the mother dies during calving or produces limited milk, prepare artificial
colostrum, get a foster mother, milk replacer, bucket/bottle feeding.
● Foster mothering is applicable where many cows are calved/lactating at the same time.
● Artificial colostrum is a mixture of an egg, half litre of fresh warm water, half litre whole
milk, one teaspoonful of castor oil/cod liver oil.
● The egg is a source of protein, castor oil and cod liver oil are sources of energy and
whole milk acts as a source of lactose and milk protein.
Week 1 (from day 4)-week 4
● Give 4-5 litres of milk/milk replacer per day.
● Use warm clean water when mixing the milk replacer to avoid scours.
● Give (Week 1-0.25Kgs/day of calf starter pellets),(Week 2-0.5Kgs),(Week 3-
0.75Kgs),(Week 4-1Kg).
 ● Give fresh quality hay free choice .
● Provide clean fresh water at all times.
● Provide mineral brick.
Week 5-Week 9
● Reduce milk/milk replacer to 3L/day.
● Give calf pellet 1.5kgs/day at week 5 then increase to 2kgs till week 9.
● Its ready for weaning once it consumes 2kgs calf starter pellets so stop milk/milk
replacer completely.
● Continue with the mineral brick and water.
Remarks
● Calf starter-Is high in fibre content, highly digestible, highly palatable,18%CP,vitamin
A,D&E.
● Hay-High quality and fine texture. Can give wilted sweet potato vines.
● Milk-feed 10% of body weight, reduce when it starts to consume other solid feeds.

VACCINATION SCHEDULE FOR CALVES

Age Vaccinate against Application Remarks

3-8 months for heifers Brucellosis S/C - Once in a lifetime During threats of
outbreak the whole
breeding herd may be
vaccinated. Use
vaccine with care. S19
live vaccine can cause
brucellosis in humans.

3 months to 3 years   Anthrax and S/C - Yearly or upon Vaccine is cheap, SO

Blackquater warning of impending USE IT. Anthrax is
outbreak deadly for humans and
animals.

2 weeks and above   CBPP Yearly in endemic Consult your veterinary

areas. In other areas authorities. To be
only upon warning of administered by trained
impending outbreak. veterinarians. Animals
Vaccinated through tail can loose their tails
tip. from this vaccination.
1 month and above   ECF S/C under the ear. Only to be used by
Vaccine is licensed Veterinarians
commercialized in who are trained on
Tanzania and under Infection and treatment
trial in Kenya methods.  

2 weeks and above   Foot and Mouth S/C - Every 6 months in Different strains exist.
disease endemic areas. All of Consult you
East Africa is endemic veterinarian on the
in 2010 choice of vaccine.

3 months   Rabies I/M or S/C - Cattle can This is the only vaccine
be that can protect

and vaccinated annually and already affected herds if it is done within

above   must be vaccinated when maximum of a week after the outbreak.
there is an outbreak Report suspected cases immediately

6 months Rift Valley S/C - Preventive after heavy Killed vaccinate should be used in pregnant
and Fever rains or when there is a risk animals - they may abort if the vaccine is
above   of outbreak. live. Some vaccines are live vaccines so
HANDLE WITH CARE. RVF in humans can
be deadly so control is very important

1 month Lumpy skin S/C - Preventive when there If using live vaccine, separate cattle from
and is a risk of outbreak. sheep and goats, as the vaccine is derived
above   from modified sheep poxvirus, which can
cause pox in sheep and goats.