Table 2 Farm description, management, and weaning procedures on CF and NCF
From: Summer scour syndrome in weaned dairy calves: case series
Description/management | CF | NCF | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CF 1 | CF 2 | CF 3 | NCF 1 | NCF 2 | |
Farm type | Dairy | Dairy | Dairy | Mixed dairy and dairy-beef | Dairy-beef |
Calf breed | HO × FR | HO × FR | HO × FR | HO × FR; AA × HO, LM × HO; BA × HO | AA × FR |
Calf source | Homebred | Homebred | Homebred | Homebred | Purchased (at 3 weeks of age) |
Dam diarrhoea vaccination | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | N/A |
Calves vaccination status | BRD | BRD | BRD | BRD | Clostridia |
Coccidiostata | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Anthelmintica | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Water pre-weaning | Yes, ad libitum | Yes, ad libitum | Yes, ad libitum | Yes, ad libitum | Yes, ad libitum |
Age water offered | 1 day | 7 days | 7 days | 1 day | At arrival (3 weeks) |
Concentrate pre-weaning | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Age concentrate offered | N/A | N/A | 2 weeks | 2 weeks | At arrival (3 weeks) |
Forage pre-weaning | Yes, straw | Yes, straw | Yes, straw | Yes, hay | Yes, straw and silage |
Method of milk feeding | Automatic feeder | Automatic feeder | Manual | Manual | Manual |
Type of milk feeding | Milk replacer | Milk replacer | Whole milk | Transition milk; Milk replacer | Milk replacer |
Amount of milk feeding | Gradually reduced milk feeding (amount at the start phase N/A) | 3 L TAD at the start phase, and gradually reduced over the last 10 d to wean | 5 L divided into two feedings for 4 weeks, then 5 L OAD and gradually reduced to 3 L and 1 L OAD over the last 10 d to wean | 2 L TAD for 1 week (transition milk), then 3 L TAD (milk replacer) | 3 L TAD, and then 3 L OAD over the last 7–10 d to wean |
Decision for weaning | Age | Age | Age | Age | Age |
Target weaning age on farm | 10–12 weeks | 10–12 weeks | 10–12 weeks | 10 weeks | 11–12 weeks |
Weaning procedure | Gradualb | Gradualb | Gradualb | Gradualb | Gradualb |
Indoor weaning | Yes | Yes | Yes | Weaning at grassc | Yes |
Immediate turnout post-weaning | Yes | No, stay indoor for 3 weeks | No, stay indoor for 2 weeks | Weaning at grassc | No, stay indoor for 1 week |
Mineral supplementation at turnout | No | Yes | No | No | No |
Concentrate at grass (amount) | Yes (1 kg/h/d) | Yes (1.5 kg/h/d) | Yes (1–2 kg/h/d) | Yes (1 kg/h/d) | Yes (2 kg/h/d) |
Forage at grass | No | Yes, straw | No | Yes, straw | Yes, hay |