Short communication: Milk meal pattern of dairy calves is affected by computer-controlled milk feeder set-up

Abstract

Ninety-six calves housed in groups of 8 were fed either a high milk allowance (heavy breeds 9.6 L/d; Jerseys 7.2 L/d) or a low milk allowance (heavy breeds 4.8 L/d; Jerseys 3.6 L/d) via a computer-controlled milk feeder. Half of the calves on each allowance could ingest the milk in 2 or more daily milk portions, whereas the other half could ingest the milk in 4 or more daily portions. Data were collected during 3 successive 14-d periods, the first period starting the day after introduction to the feeder at minimum 12 d of age. High-fed calves ingested their milk in 4.0 and 4.9 meals for a minimum of 2 and 4 portions, respectively, whereas low-fed calves ingested their milk in 2.4 and 4.4 meals for a minimum of 2 and 4 portions, respectively. Calves on a high milk allowance had fewer milk meals over time, whereas calves on a low milk allowance had the same number of milk meals throughout. Thus, the development from small and frequent milk meals to fewer and larger meals reported by studies of natural suckling was also found among high-fed calves on a computer-controlled milk feeder. Irrespectively of minimum number of milk portions, the low-fed calves had more unrewarded visits to the computer-controlled milk feeder, indicating that they were attempting to get more milk. The results of the present study suggest that offering a high milk allowance and avoiding restriction on meal pattern may result in a feeder use that more closely resembles natural suckling.

Effect of milk feeding level on development of feeding behavior in dairy calves

“…Milk meals have been found to increase in size and decrease in frequency over time in calves suckled by their dam (Odde et al, 1985;Vitale et al, 1986;Day et al, 1987) and in group-housed calves fed by an automated milk feeder (Jensen, 2009). Similarly in the present study, ADL milk meals became larger over time due to fewer pauses during meals and greater rate of intake, suggesting that calves were feeding more efficiently.…”

“…This stability of daily meal frequency may relate to calves being individually housed. In the absence of social factors, such as maternal influence (Reinhardt and Reinhardt, 1981) or peer competition and displacement at the teat (von Keyserlingk et al, 2004;Jensen, 2009), less pressure may exist to reduce meal frequency as calves become physically capable of consuming more milk per meal.…”

The association between daily average feeding behaviors and morbidity in automatically fed group-housed preweaned dairy calves

“…We accounted for this by controlling for the random effect of farm in our models. Both rewarded and unrewarded visits to the feeder can be influenced by meal size, total volume offered, and day in the group pen (Jensen, 2009). Total milk offered can also affect feeding behaviors, as limit-fed calves have been shown to visit the feeder 40% more than calves fed an ad libitum amount (Berberich and Grimm, 2013).…”

Feeding behaviour of artificially reared Romane lambs

“…Actually, because most calves are artificially reared, a large literature about their feeding behaviour exists in this species. Performances, behaviour and welfare of calves have been studied depending on the way in which they are offered milk (Appleby et al , 2001; Jasper and Weary, 2002; Jensen and Budde, 2006; Jensen, 2009; Miller-Cushon et al , 2013a) or concentrate and forage (Montoro et al , 2013; Miller-Cushon et al , 2013b), the type of milk replacer (Hill et al , 2013), the type of housing (Jensen, 2004; O'Driscoll et al , 2006; De Paula Vieira et al , 2010; Faerevik et al , 2010; Duve et al , 2012), the health status of the animal (Borderas et al , 2009b). As for cattle, detailed information about milk consumption and feed conversion efficiency in sheep would help to improve the management of artificially reared lambs.…”