MILK AND MILK REPLACER PERFORMANCE IN DAIRY CALVES

As the future productive units of a dairy herd, calf feeding is important that represent to grow economically and at optimal rate to achieve puberty at lesser age. The first two month are important in rearing calves for replacement heifers that allows a smooth transition from milk to solid feed. In past, different scientist struggles to develop an appropriate feeding method that is more efficient, reduce disease risk and cost effective. To encourage early intake of milk, milk replacer, calf starter and conventional feeding program have a limitation to supply of milk @ 10% of body weight, have many pros and cons. However, calves fed free access of milk critically reviewed the literature and examining that feeding whole milk, milk replacer, and starter ration are needed to exploit more through research. The milk feeding calves should be fed in such a way to have greater body weight, improve feed efficiency, reduced incidence of disease, and have a natural behaviour, weaning methods influences feed efficiency, rumen development, improve growth and have a long term effect on heifer performance and improve lactation performance in dairy cattle.