Ensure the growth of your young cattle
After weaning, calves do not yet have a fully functional rumen. They become ‘true’ ruminants between four and six months, by which time the rumen makes up 75-80% of their entire digestive system. During this stage, it is important to provide an easily digestible ration rich in digestible fibre and carbohydrates. A balanced ration is crucial for good growth!
From the age of four months, the growth potential of the rumen is very high. At that time, however, the rumen is not yet able to digest much in the way of roughage. Rations for young cattle should therefore best be made up of a palatable concentrate feed combined with an easily absorbable source of fibre. It is also important that calves have easy access to clean drinking water.
Good growth in the first six months is crucial:
Any growth deficit in the first six months cannot be made up.
A 20 kg live weight deficit at six months means 200 litres less milk per lactation period
At six months, you should be aiming for 30% of adult weight, i.e. between 200 and 210 kg live weight.
After considerable growth over the first six months of life, heifers should experience moderate growth around puberty (between 7 and 11 months in Holstein cows) to counteract udder fattening and ensure their milk production potential, as well as to respect their milk production potential. The target for prepubertal growth should stand at 700 grams per day, followed by a period of more intense growth after puberty. Depending on the target age at first calving, this ranges from about 750 grams per day for non-infused animals to about 850 grams per day for inseminated heifers.
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