Table 3.
Information given by farmer participants regarding heifer calf milk feeding.
| Farm | Colostrum | Milk Feeding | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Amount Per Day | Feeding Method | Temperature | ||
| F1 | 1 feed of 4 L | CMR | 2.8 L twice daily | Teat bottles filled from mixer | 40 °C set on equipment |
| F2 | 2–3 days: 4 L first feed then 2.5 L twice daily | CMR (26% CP) |
3.5 L twice daily (2.5 L twice daily first week) |
Multi-teat bucket feeder filled from mixer | 40 °C set on equipment |
| F3 | 4 days: 2 L twice daily | CMR | 3 L twice daily (166 g/L) (2 L over 2 weeks) |
Multi-teat bucket feeder | Warm (not measured) |
| F4 | 3–4 days: 3 L first feed, then amount not stated | Waste WM | Not stated | Multi-teat bucket feeder | Warm (not measured) |
| F5 | 4 days: amount not stated | CMR (26% CP) |
400 g milk solids twice daily | Multi-teat bucket feeder | Warm (not measured) |
| F6 2 | 3–4 days: 3–5 L first feed, left with dam for 24 h then 3–4 L twice daily | WM (Johne’s-free only) | 3–4 L twice daily | Via teat | Warm, straight from parlour |
| F7 | “As much colostrum as I can get it to drink” | CMR (26% CP, 20% oil, skim-based) | 3 L once daily (300 g/L) (3 L twice daily 150 g/L until day 7–14) | Teat bottles filled from mixer | Not stated |
| F8 1 | Calves not on farm at this point | CMR (whey-based) | Total amount not stated, 150 g/L | Automated feeders with teat | Warm, set on feeder |
| F9 | 2–3 feeds of 3 L | WM, soon CMR again 3 | Not stated | Multi-teat bucket feeder | Warm, straight from parlour |
| F10 | 2 feeds of 3–4 L | CMR (skim-based) | 3.5 L twice daily (125 g/L) | Not stated | Warm (measured on thermometer) |
| F11 | 1 feed of 3 L | CMR (skim-based) | 6 L over the day (150 g/L) | Automated feeders with teat | Warm, set on feeder |
| F12 | 2 feeds, amount not stated | WM 3 | Not stated | Multi-teat bucket feeder | Warm, straight from parlour |
| F13 | 1 feed of 2 L | Pasteurised waste WM 3 | Not stated | Multi-teat trailer feeder | 40 °C from pasteuriser |
| F14 2 | One feed then left with dam for 24–48 h | Pasteurised WM | 3 L twice daily | Multi-teat bucket feeder | Warm from pasteuriser |
| F15 | One feed of 2–4 L then left with dam for 3–4 days. | CMR | 2.5 L twice daily (100 g/L) (2 L twice daily, 125 g/L until day 9) | Multi-teat bucket feeder | 38–40 °C |
| F16 2 | Left with dam for 24 h | WM | Ad libitum (3 L twice daily first week) | Multi-teat buckets, barrels or trailer feeder according to group size | Warm for first week, then cold |
| F17 1 | Calves not on farm at this point | WM | 3L once daily (125 g/L) from arrival date (14 days of age) | Trough (no teats) filled from mixer | Not stated |
| F18 | 6 L within six hours of birth | CMR | Not stated | Teat bottle for first couple of weeks then bucket (no teat) | Not stated |
| F19 | Left with dam for 24–48 h. Two 3 L feeds if necessary | CMR | 3 L twice daily (150 g/L) | Not stated | 38–40 °C measured using thermometer by interviewee, but not others |
| F20 | 2 feeds of 2.5–3L | CMR (50% skim) | Not stated, but decrease to once daily feeds at 3 weeks | Multi-teat bucket feeder | 35 °C |
| F21 | 1 feed of 4 L | CMR | 6 L over the day (150 g/L (increased from 4.5 L first couple of weeks) | Bucket fed for 10 days then automated feeders with teat | Warm, set on equipment |
| F22 | Left with dam for 3 days. Will feed if necessary | WM | 2 L twice daily | Bottle fed for first few days then bucket fed | Warm (not measured) |
| F23 2 | Left with dam for a week | Waste WM | 3 L twice daily | Multi-teat bucket feeder | Warm from parlour |
| F24 | 1 feed of 2.5–3 L within six hours | CMR | 3 L tiwce daily (166 g/L) (increased fro 2 L first week) | Multi-teat bucket feeder | Not stated |
| F25 2 | 2 feeds of 2–3 L within 24 h | Waste WM | 2 L until 3–4 weeks, then 2.5 L twice daily | Multi-teat bucket feeder | Warm |
| F26 | 2–3 feds within 24 h, amount not stated | CMR | Up to 7 L over the day (137 g/L) | Automated feeders with teat | Warm, set on feeder |
Abbreviations: calf milk replacer (CMR), whole milk (WM), crude protein (CP). 1 Rears dairy bull or beef cross calves. 2 Organic. 3 Price driven decision. Any details not included in the table mean those aspects were not covered during the interview.