What milk and concentrates should be in the diet of the calf?

As part of the Animal Health Ireland & Teagasc Calf Care Virtual Week, Teagasc researcher Emer Kennedy & Joe Patton, Teagasc nutritionist, join Catherine Egan on the latest Beef Edge podcast to discuss the guidelines for feeding milk and concentrates in the diet of the calf. Emer outlines the importance of feeding six litres of milk to the calf. She highlights the importance of following the correct guideline for making up the milk replacer by following the guideline of the product being used. Purchasing in dairy calves Emer advises on feeding electrolytes after transport for the first feed and depending on distance a second feed of electrolytes may be required. Once per day feeding can be introduced from one month of age but Emer warns of the need to check calves twice per day. Joe highlights that although consumption of concentrates is low it is important to introduce calves to it in the first week. Feeding good quality concentrates makes management post weaning easier. He also advises on the importance of measuring and monitoring the concentrate intake of the calves to ensure they are meeting their requirements. Introducing fibre is necessary to allow this to happen also. Clean good quality straw is preferred to hay. For further information of feeding milk click here: https://youtu.be/lyhwegNyjls And for further information on feeding concentrates click here: https://youtu.be/EJ9Sa7CCg3w You can tune into the Dairy edge podcast this week to hear about the 1,2,3 of colostrum management, colostrum quality & managing Johnes disease at calving here: https://share.transistor.fm/s/d073ad20 For more episodes and information covered on the Beef Edge, visit the show page at: teagasc.ie/thebeefedge