The Nutrition of Calves

Abstract

Obtaining a calf from a cow every year in dairy cattle farms is very important for the future and profitability of the farm. In addition, it is necessary to raise young animals with high productivity to replace the aging or non-productive animals in the herd due to various reasons. For these reasons, it is important to care and feed calves from birth to weaning. When calves are born, their stomach functions are different from adult cattle, they show preruminant characteristics and they gain ruminant function over time depending on nutrition. In this respect, the physiology and nutrition of the digestive system differ. In this respect, the type of diet and the content of nutrients to be applied in this period, which is kind of similar to the transition period, are effective on the development of the forestomach of calves. Key aspects common to all calf feeding systems include the composition and amount of liquid feed, the availability of water and the first starter feeds offered. In this study, information was given about the feeding of calves from birth to weaning age.