feeding systems for group-housed dairy calves- dr. mark thomas

Grouped-Housed Feeding SystemsHow To Get It Right!

DAIReXNET Webinar12/7/2012

Mark Thomas, DVM, DABVP-Dairy

Countryside Veterinary Clinic, LLP

Dairy Health & Management Services, LLC

315-376-6563

mthomas@countryside-vet.net

mthomas@dairyhealthmanagement.com

Outline

• Benefits of optimal nutrition & growth• Practical systems for ad-lib feeding• Acidified, ad-lib feeding systems• Research summaries• Practical aspects of feeding acidified milk• Summary

Poll: How do you currently feed calves?

• Twice daily• Three times daily• Automated feeder• Ad-lib acidified

Poll: What do you feed calves?

• Pasteurized whole milk• Unpasteurized whole milk• Milk replacer

Poll: Do you weigh calves and track average daily gain?

• Yes• No

HPN

CN

Nydam, 2011

High (HPN) vs. Conventional (CN) Plane of Nutrition

AD

G (

kg

/d)

0.6

0

-0.2

-0.4

0.2

0.4

HPN CN

Average Daily Gain

P<0.001

Conclusions

High plane of nutrition (HPN) reduces the effect of disease due to Cryptosporidium parvum in neonatal dairy calves.

HPN improves ADG and feed efficiency.

What about future milk production?

• Miner Institute, Chazy, NY • 1.25 v. 2.2 lb of MR powder per day• Cows which were fed 2.2lb/d as calves produced

+1,543 lbs 1st lactation– JDS, 2005

Cornell T&R Herd- Mike VanAmburgh

• 1998, started feeding for 2lb ADG• >1000 weaning weights• >725 1st lactations• Any relationship between calf performance and

1st lactation performance?

Cornell T&R Herd- Mike VanAmburgh

• Range in ADG to weaning: 0.52 to 2.67 lb/d

Milk yield increased by 900 lb (1st lactation) for every 1lb gain above 0.5lb/d

Summary of Data:Doubling birth weight w/ liquid feed by weaning

Study Response (kg)

Bar-Peled et al., ’98 +452

Foldager and Krohn, ’94 1,403

Foldager et al., ’97 519

Miner Inst., ’05 700

MSU ’06 500

Drackley et al., ’07 836

U. Minn ’08 998

Cornell U., ’09 792

Average Response +840

Summary of Early Nutrition Effects

• Nutrient intake early in life impacts lactation performance• All data is positive or neutral – no negative effects• Mechanisms are not completely understood• Bottom Line: There is future milk in early life colostrum

and nutritional management!

Group Housing Facilities

• New designs• Remodeled facilities• Outdoors

Group Housing Challenges

• Ventilation• Bedding• Space availability• Feeding systems

Group Housing & FeedingHow do we deliver milk?

• Gang feeders• Automated feeders• Ad-lib acidified

Gang Feeders

• Inexpensive• Hygiene issues• Not ad-lib

Automatic Feeders

• Computerized-data• Greater investment• Maintenance• Not always ad-lib

Acidified Ad-lib Systems

• Basic or sophisticated.

• Milk replacer• Whole milk

(pasteurized or not)• Chemical

pasteurization (acid)

pH 2.5

pH 4.2pH

4.2

CitricFormic

Courtesy of Neil Anderson

Social aspects?

Group housing & feeding

Source: N. Anderson

Group housing & ad-lib feeding

Group housing & ad-lib feedingA seasonal set-up for acidified whole milk

Group housing & ad-lib feedingFacility designed for grouped housing

High Line System

Midline System

Weaning System

Ad-lib & Group Housing Research Summaries

Mark J. Thomas, DVM, DABVP-Dairy

Countryside Veterinary Clinic, LLP

Lowville, NY

mthomascow@hughes.net

Frans Vokey, MS, PAS

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Lewis County

Daryl V. Nydam, DVM, PhD

Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine

Overview• Late spring/summer 2011• Three collaborating dairy farms (Lewis &

Jefferson Counties)• Objectives:

1. Group vs. individual housing with ad-lib feeding.

2. Citric vs. formic acid as a preservative for milk replacer.

Group vs. Individual• Pasteurized/formic acid acidified whole milk• Ad-lib feeding• Group housing (8 calves/pen, 3 nipples/pen)• Individual housing (clusters of 8- 4x8 pens

with solid sides, 1 nipple/calf)• Alternating group and individual pen clusters

within same barn.

Group vs. Individual Pens

Group (n=40) Individual (n=32) p-value

ADG (lbs.) @ 50 days

1.51a 1.32b 0.01

Serum Total Protein 5.9a 5.8a 0.61

Birth weight (lbs.) 88.3a 89.4a 0.66

Disease Events

Event Group (n=40) Individual (n=32)

Scours 0 0

Pneumonia 1 0

Other 0 0

Total disease events 1 0

Conclusions• No apparent detrimental effects of group

housing as compared to individual pens given similar nutrition.

• Disease events (scours, pneumonia) were negligible throughout study (1 case of pneumonia).

Citric vs. Formic Acid

• 24/17 Citric acid acidified (commercial) milk replacer vs. 24/17 milk replacer acidified (on-farm) with formic acid.

• pH of 4.2 (Some issues with product pH for ~2 weeks)

• Two facilities.• Identical feeding management within each

farm.

pH is Important!

• A two week period of high milk pH (~5) had significant effects on disease incidence and weight gain.

• Important to consider this issue in regards to data analysis and conclusions.

Citric vs. Formic Acid

Citric acid (n=38) Formic acid (n=35) p-value

ADG (lbs.) @ 40 days

0.92a 1.14b 0.03

Serum Total Protein

5.54a 5.39a 0.29

Birth weight (lbs.) 88a 95b 0.01

Disease Events

Event Citric acid (n=43) Formic acid (n=36)

Scours 3 (7%) 0 (0%)

Pneumonia 7 (16.6%) 4 (11%)

Other 4 (9.5%) 0 (0%)

Death 5 (11.6%) 0 (0%)

Total disease/death events 19 (39.6%) 5 (13.8%)

Conclusions• Statistically higher ADG in formic vs. citric

groups. • Subjectively, no apparent negative effects

of citric vs. formic acid for the acidification of milk replacer. (Currently in wide use)

• Two week period of high pH and following disease make data analysis difficult for citric group.

How to acidify?Formic vs. Citric (others?)

Formic Acid 85%must be diluted before use

Not approved in the USA

…dilute the acid

• safe handling• ease of mixing

• safe handling• ease of mixing

1 L into 9 L = 10 L dilute acid

1 L into 9 L = 10 L dilute acid

Dr. Neil Anderson, OMAFRA December, 2011

…add dilute formic acid to milk

~30 ml (1 oz) of dilute acid to 1L whole milk or milk replacer

Important Points:1. Aggressive agitation2. Temperature (<75oF)3. Rate of acid addition to milk (slow!)

pH Goal= 4.0-4.2

Aggressive agitation

Feeding Temperature is very important!

• At least 75 degrees F• Preference of 90+ degrees• How do we keep it warm?

Whatabout

intersuckling?

Keys to Success 1. Stocking density- at least 30 sq ft (3 m2) lying area per

calf. Dry, dry bedding.

2. Excellent ventilation using positive pressure ventilation tubes. Most barns just don’t have it right! Be aggressive. Remember air exchanges/hour.

3. True ad-lib (don’t limit intakes)

4. Age range- try and fill a pen in 7-10 days.

5. Cold milk (<75F) really discourages intakes. Cold milk (<75F) really discourages intakes. Offer milk at 85-90+ degrees F.

Keys to Success6. Proper pH is very important. Ideal range=4.0-4.2. Too

low discourages intakes, too high allows for bacterial growth.

7. Maintain consistent total solids. Monitor with Brix refractometer.

8. Acidify cool milk (<75 degrees) to prevent curdling. Add diluted acid slowly while agitating.

9. Concentrated acid is dangerous! Be careful.

Questions?