Calf Rearing Guide: Introduction

Calf rearing is the foundation for the lifetime productivity of your cattle. Doing it well will give you the best chance to have a profitable cattle. Many farmers have their own unique way of calf rearing with successful outcomes. In this article, I'm discussing the ‘once-a-day’ and ‘twice-a-day’ system known as being widely accepted calf rearing practices.


However, whatever system you use or have developed to fit your own circumstances, all calf rearers have the same common goal - to rear the best calves possible. 
The purpose of this article is to promote the key principles and goals of calf rearing;

1. Ensure the calf gets the right start in the first 3 days
2. Rumen development is maximized
3. Target weights attained as cost effectively as possible

For the beef farming, larger, faster growing calves will reach slaughter weights earlier and arrive at slaughter dates heavier. For the dairy farming with bigger heifer calves will maximize size and condition at first calving, leading to improved fertility and higher milk yields. The financial profits are obvious.


The key point to remember when raising calves is that damage done in the first weeks of life can never be undone, setting back your investment for life. During this guide I will discuss the challenges faced and give tips to rearing calves profitably.