Housing and Management for Milk-Fed Dairy Calves

Methods of housing and managing the milk-fed dairy calf have changed considerably in recent years. We review key developments and how these affect calf welfare. Limit feeding of milk is recognized as both a welfare and production risk. Conventional limit feeding methods (i.e. approximately 10% BW/d) result in signs of chronic hunger, abnormal behavior, poor weight gains and poorer lifetime performance. A series of studies have shown benefits of feeding at least 20% BW/d (i.e. > 8L/d of whole milk). Calves benefit most from increased rations when these are fed earlier in life (at less than 4 wk of age) when they are less able to digest solid feed. High milk rations earlier in the milk-feeding period can be followed by a step-down procedure (after 4 wk) that provides less milk and encourages solid feed intake. Such procedures allow for excellent calf performance before and after weaning from milk. Feeding high volumes of milk, especially by a teat that slows drinking speeds, reduces the risk of cross sucking and other abnormal behaviors, and thus facilitates social housing. Calves receive multiple benefits from social housing during the milk feeding period, including reduced neophobia, improved cognitive abilities, increased solid feed intakes before weaning and reduced responsiveness to management stressors. Groups should be kept small (as small as 2 or 3 calves) to minimize the risk of disease and to aid management. In summary, calves benefit from increased milk rations, improved weaning methods, and housing in small groups.