Optimizing weaning strategies of dairy replacement calves

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate whether performance could be improved and incidence of respiratory problems decreased either by allocating 6 additional days of individual housing after weaning or by moving calves in groups before weaning at 2 different ages. The first experiment involved 320 female calves that received 2 L of milk replacer (MR) twice daily until 49 d of age, and then 2 L of MR once daily until weaning at 56 d of age. Half of the calves were allowed to remain individually housed for an additional 6 d after weaning, and the other half were moved immediately after weaning to a different pen holding 8 calves. The second experiment involved 240 female calves that received 2 L of MR twice daily until 49 d of age, and then 2 L of MR once daily. Half of the calves were moved at 49 d of age to superhutches holding 8 calves with an elevated trough that was used to continue delivering MR; the other half remained individually housed until the age of 56 d and were then moved to the superhutches, where they also continued to receive MR. Growth and incidence of respiratory problems were recorded in both experiments, and feed intake was recorded in experiment 2. Calves moved to groups immediately after weaning reached the target BW 6 d earlier and experienced a lesser incidence of respiratory afflictions than those grouped 6 d after weaning. From experiment 2, calves grouped at 49 d of age had a greater average daily gain and BW at 56 d of age as a result of a greater total solid feed consumption compared with those grouped at 56 d of age. Calves grouped at 56 d, however, had a greater average daily gain between 56 and 64 d of age (the week following grouping for the calves in the 56-d treatment) than those grouped at 49 d of age. Overall, the proportion of animals affected by a respiratory problem between 49 and 112 d of age did not differ between treatments. However, calves grouped at 49 d of age had a lower number of respiratory cases than those grouped at 56 d of age. It is concluded that moving calves from individual hutches to groups of calves in superhutches immediately after weaning is preferable to waiting an additional 6 d. In addition, moving calves from individual hutches to groups of 8 in superhutches at 49 d of age and starting to reduce MR offering once grouped is preferable to starting to reduce MR while calves are individually housed.