Growth Rate and Health in Dairy Calves Allowed to Suckle
Author Information
Author(s): Grøndahl Ann Margaret, Skancke Ellen Margrete, Mejdell Cecilie Marie, Jansen Johan Høgset
Primary Institution: Norwegian School of Veterinary Science
Hypothesis
Does allowing dairy calves to suckle their mothers for 6–8 weeks improve their growth rate and health?
Conclusion
Dairy calves that suckled their mothers for 6–8 weeks showed increased weight gain and no observed illness.
Supporting Evidence
- The mean daily growth rate for calves was 1.2 kg.
- No illness was observed in calves or young stock.
- The mean daily gain of bulls was 1.4 kg, higher than the population average.
- Natural suckling was preferred by the farmer and easy to manage.
Takeaway
Calves that get to drink milk from their moms for a while grow faster and stay healthier than those that don't.
Methodology
Calves were weighed weekly from birth to 13 weeks, and health data was collected over a 6-year period.
Limitations
Some weight registrations were missing for certain calves.
Participant Demographics
The herd included approximately 15 cows and 31 calves.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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