Computerised system requires less labour and results in more ‘content’ calves
Reduced labour and more content calves were just two of the benefits recorded for calves reared using a computerised system in a recent trial.
The work, supervised by Harper Adams University College’s beef specialist and senior lecturer Simon Marsh, also highlighted significant differences in behaviour between machine reared and bucket reared calves, with the former recording significantly higher incidence of body part sucking, play and feeding. The bucket reared calves recorded significantly higher incidence of restlessness compared to the machine reared calves.
“Does the latter indicate that the machine reared calves were ’more content’?” Mr Marsh asked delegates at this year’s British Society of Animal Science annual conference.
“Staff were certainly more content as labour inputs were reduced by 53% with the machine reared calves. The DeLaval CF150 feeder that we used for the trial costs approximately £3,000 and this would be recouped by rearing just 223 calves,” he added.
There are numerous calf rearing systems in use, but the past decade has seen increased interest in the use of computerised machine feeders for group reared calves in place of systems based on bucket rearing with individual housing. “Automated machines are expensive but are becoming more common due to reductions in labour and advances in technology allowing regulation of milk intakes. So the objective of our experiment was to evaluate the effect of rearing dairy-bred bull calves on either a computerised machine or twice a day milk feeding system to weaning at six weeks old,” he said, explaining the rational behind the work.
A total of 36 Holstein-Friesian bull calves were assigned in a randomised block designed experiment to weaning on either a twice-a-day milk feeding system or computerised machine. The calves started the trial at a day old and were individually penned on straw. From days one to four they were fed colostrum. The twice-a-day milk fed calves (bucket) were individually housed and fed a whey based milk replacer mixed at a rate of 125g per litre of water and fed at 40oC twice every day in buckets. From five to seven days they were fed four litres per day and from day eight to 28 milk was fed at five litres per day. Thereafter the milk feeding rate was gradually reduced to weaning at 42 days old.
The computerised machine fed calves were group housed and fed the same milk powder at an identical daily feed rate available throughout the day with a maximum intake of 60% of milk available in the first feed with the remainder available two hours later. From day four the calves on both treatments received ad-lib concentrates, plus straw and water. The behaviour of the calves was recorded by video during a series of 24-hour periods.
“There were no significant differences in live weight, daily live weight gain, feed intakes or health of the calves,” said Mr Marsh.
“But the time spent attending each calf for feeding, bedding and checking was 152 and 71 minutes from start to weaning for the bucket and machine systems respectively. If labour is valued at £10 per hour this costs £25.34 and £11.90 per calf respectively – a reduction of £13.44 in rearing costs for the machine fed calves,” he added.
Presented to the British Society of Animal Science Annual Meeting, March 31 to April 2, 2008, Scarborough, UK.
Full details: Marsh SP and Warnock W: “Computerised machine rearing systems for group housed dairy-bred bull calves.”
summary (pdf) Presentation_129marsh (pdf)
Further information available at http://www.bsas.org.uk/Meetings_&_Workshops/Past_Meetings/ or contact BSAS on 0131 445 4508 bsas@sac.ac.uk
