FORT WAYNE, Ind. — The advantages of group feeding of dairy cows include improved labor efficiency and social development of calves, according to a recently retired Virginia Tech professor.

 

“(Group feeding) allows for labor that’s more than bucket and bottle washers,” noted Robert James, president of Down Home Heifer Solutions. “Labor can develop special skills such as disease detection and prevention.”

 Animal welfare, which includes a calf’s social development, is a concern because of consumer perceptions, he said. “Who defines welfare?” James asked. “What is normal (cow) behavior and what is abnormal behavior? Is the cow comfortable?”

 

The former professor of dairy science at Virginia Tech spoke April 18 during the 26th annual Tri-State Dairy Nutrition Conference in Fort Wayne. The prerequisites for a group feeding system include an aggressive colostrum program, along with an excellent dry cow program, he said. A strong calving environment is also important.

 

“A group housing facility should have excellent ventilation, be well-drained and have a good sanitation system,” he said. The facility design should include air conditioning, a large sink, hot water supply, refrigerator, internet connection and drainage. There should be an adequate amount of bedding and enough space, 35-45 square feet, per calf.

 “A positive of using automated feeders is a controlled feeding plan,” James explained. “Also important is the abilityto note feeding behavior information on how much is consumed and the feeding  speed. The concerns of such a system include the availability of technical support, operator skills and cost.”

 There’s work involved to properly condition a calf to move to a group feeding  environment, James said. Five or sixdays might be enough time depending on the calf.

 

“If it has a good appetite, put it in the system,” he said. “Training has to be a pleasant experience for the calf. Don’t just grab them by the ear and move them. You should also set maximum and minimum meal sizes.”

 Other considerations for group feeding include growth rate and feeding times. “How much growth do we want for a calf and when do we want to have that growth?” James asked. “You definitely want to start seeing significant growth in weeks two and three.

 

“Do you want to have feeding times in the morning or afternoon? Some calves might consume food at one feeding but not the other, due to limited stomach capacity.”