Adequate nutrition of dairy calves is fundamental for efficient production of replacement heifers. Colostrum feeding protocols have changed in the past few years, and together with feeding of transition milk, present a great opportunity to decrease health problems and increase performance. Liquid diet feeding programs explain most of the preweaning performance. However, intensive liquid feeding leads to a challenging weaning process due to its impact on solid feed intake. Health problems also affect calf performance, but several feeding and management strategies may help to mitigate these. An understanding of animal microbiome is also a chance to improve health and performance, and the advancement of research techniques have improved our understanding of nutrition and metabolism effects on the microbiome. Together, these issues lead to a better understanding of calf biology, growth, health and behavior.
The aim of this Special Issue is to publish recent and valuable research with nutrition, metabolism, housing, behavior, and health of dairy calves.
This special issue welcomes contributions that address or explore the following topics:
• Colostrum feeding programs
• Transition milk feeding strategies
• Liquid diet composition and feeding program
• Non-fiber carbohydrate and fiber requirements or constraints during the preweaning phase
• Effects of diet on the pre-ruminant to functional ruminant transition
• Effect of additives in calf growth and health
• Weaning protocols and effects on behavior
• Effects of housing on performance, behavior, and growth
Adequate nutrition of dairy calves is fundamental for efficient production of replacement heifers. Colostrum feeding protocols have changed in the past few years, and together with feeding of transition milk, present a great opportunity to decrease health problems and increase performance. Liquid diet feeding programs explain most of the preweaning performance. However, intensive liquid feeding leads to a challenging weaning process due to its impact on solid feed intake. Health problems also affect calf performance, but several feeding and management strategies may help to mitigate these. An understanding of animal microbiome is also a chance to improve health and performance, and the advancement of research techniques have improved our understanding of nutrition and metabolism effects on the microbiome. Together, these issues lead to a better understanding of calf biology, growth, health and behavior.
The aim of this Special Issue is to publish recent and valuable research with nutrition, metabolism, housing, behavior, and health of dairy calves.
This special issue welcomes contributions that address or explore the following topics:
• Colostrum feeding programs
• Transition milk feeding strategies
• Liquid diet composition and feeding program
• Non-fiber carbohydrate and fiber requirements or constraints during the preweaning phase
• Effects of diet on the pre-ruminant to functional ruminant transition
• Effect of additives in calf growth and health
• Weaning protocols and effects on behavior
• Effects of housing on performance, behavior, and growth
