Metabolic plan in pre-ruminant calf: a review

Abstract

One of the main problems encountered by farmers is the rearing of their own animals, and in this respect artificial lactation is one of the most widely used, most controversial methods and the one to which most effort is devoted. Many authors have demonstrated the importance of this period not only for the viability and success of the calf's health, but also for the profitability of the f uture mother in terms of production. In early lactation, adequate colostrum intake affects the health, growth and future production of the calf. Evidence indicates that an adequate nutrition programme during early life leads to increased milk production of the future cow in production. Several studies carried out in recent years in the field of metabolic programming in ruminants provide interesting data on the nutrition of pre-weaned calves (average daily gain) and the effects it produces (litres of milk) in the first two lactations. In the current review, we will give an overview of recent developments in the analysis of colostrum intake in relation to the metabolic status of dairy cows and how it af fects their future milk yield.