Evaluation of a Forefront Weight Scale from an Automated Calf Milk Feeder for Holstein and Crossbred Dairy and Dairy–Beef Calves

Recording of body weights dairy calves may assist producers in monitoring the health status and making feed-related management decisions. Traditional methods weighing can be time-consuming labor-intensive. The objective this study was to evaluate a forefront weight scale on stalls attached an automated calf milk feeder system determine accuracy for measuring Holstein crossbred calves. conducted at University Minnesota West Central Research Outreach Center, Morris, MN, dairy. Eighty-eight were fed either 8 L/d or ad libitum from September 2019 February 2020 March July 2020. Crossbred Grazecross crossbreds composted Jersey, Viking Red, Normande, ProCross composed Holstein, Montbéliarde, Limousin-sired x beef bull calves, heifer dams. Calves introduced Holm & Laue Calf Expert Hygiene Station automatic (Holm GmbH Co. KG, Westerrönfeld, Germany) 5 days age weaned 56 d. Forefront scales four hygiene station feeding feeder, required place both front hooves access milk. compared gold standard calibrated electronic (Avery Weigh-Tronix LLC, Fairmont, MN scale). weighed once per week using scale, those most recent recorded by scale. associations determined with Pearson correlations (PROC CORR SAS) Bland–Altman plots SGPLOT SAS). Furthermore, PROC GLM SAS used regress each calf. A total 600 observations statistical analysis. correlation high (0.991), concordance coefficient (0.987). Correlations individual ranged 0.852 0.999 classified as high. breed groups 0.990 0.994. slope regression line 0.9153, 95% confidence interval between 0.906 0.925. mean bias 0.529 kg observed plots. results suggest that there is potential feeders accurately record support decision-making, identify sick help proper dosage medications based weight.