Milking the Potential of Beef-Cross Calves

The use of beef semen on dairy cows has changed the playing field and redefined the meaning of “dairy beef.” Historically, purebred dairy calves that were sold into the beef production system had relatively low value and weren’t always given top-tier treatment at their dairies of origin. But today, beef-cross calves have a significantly higher value at birth (currently around $800/head or more), so greater emphasis needs to be placed on supporting the health and reducing death loss of these calves.

Just as most male dairy calves traditionally left the farm within hours or days of birth, many beef-cross calves do not receive colostrum or have adequate care near the time of birth. As has been our message for decades, cleanliness and attention to colostrum feeding for these calves is still a story that needs to be told today.

When a beef-cross calf arrives at the farm where it will be raised, a protocol should address hydration. Transportation stress and diarrhea lead to dehydration, which is a major cause of death in young calves. Rescue fluids are necessary, because calves do not know how to drink water from a pail in their first few weeks of life. Orally, subcutaneously, or intravenously administered electrolytes are needed when calves have watery diarrhea. A 2-quart bottle of electrolytes administered in addition to the milk ration from approximately day 5 to 20 of life is an excellent, proactive way to prevent severe dehydration and reduce death loss. Strauss Feeds offers several electrolytes including Star Lyte® and Econo Lyte® that are effective when fed proactively or for treatment of sick calves.

Farmer preparing bottles for calves

Milk feeding programs should promote consumption of starter feed and development of the calf’s rumen. Feeding 1.25 to 1.5 pounds of milk solids per day typically supports early starter feed consumption that increases incrementally. These calves transition through weaning more easily than those fed larger amounts of milk. Depending on the farm and source of calves, many beef-cross calves are born weighing less than 75 pounds. These small calves do not handle a 3-quart meal of milk as well as larger calves. If approximately 1.5 pounds of milk solids are desired using a 3-quart bottle, starting calves on a 2-quart bottle at 12% solids for approximately a week works very well.

Feeding some colostrum for the first couple of weeks of life to mimic transition milk has been shown to improve calf health and growth, plus reduce death loss. A recent on-farm trial with nearly 5,000 calves evaluated daily feeding of 2 ounces of Bravo-PD1® colostrum fraction from Strauss Feeds. The practice was found to reduce death loss by 2-5% and increase 10-week calf weight by approximately 10 pounds per head. Bravo PD-1 blended into milk or milk replacer also serves to increase the protein concentration of the milk solids, possibly benefiting the calf, too. A reduction of 0.5% units death loss more than pays for the cost of supplementing with Bravo PD-1.

Supplementing with plasma for the first couple of weeks of life has also been shown to improve calf health. Feeding 1 ounce of Smart Start® from Strauss Feeds provides plasma, fructooligosaccharides, microbial probiotics, plus a partial daily dose of vitamins and chelated trace minerals.

Farms bringing in calves from multiple sources will also sometimes benefit from mass medication under veterinary care. Early diarrhea beginning at or soon after arrival can be a problem impacting a large percentage of calves at once. Neomycin-terramycin (Strauss Feeds NT 10g®) added to the milk for 2 weeks, or the use of other broad-spectrum injectable drugs, have been shown to improve calf health and growth in some instances.

Dairies currently derive more income than ever from the sale of calves. Providing optimal care and nutrition to those calves helps ensure their health, welfare, performance, and profitability.

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