Water is the most important feedstuff for young calves. A calf must therefore always have an adequate supply of clean water. If no, or insufficient, water is available, feed intake and with it growth, decreases considerably.
See also the article Water supply of vital importance.
Fluid requirement
With both controlled feeding and storage feeding, calves are given water alongside Sprayfo calf milk replacers. Water will end up (unlike Sprayfo) in the rumen and not in the abomasum. A calf’s daily water requirement is around 10% of its body weight.
In addition, the following should be noted:
- water stimulates the intake of roughage and concentrates
- the water should be fresh and clean
- calves should be able to find and reach their water easily; it should be simple to carry out checks
- ensure calves do not drink too much cold water
- the transfer from a limited to an unlimited water supply is best undertaken gradually
Methods of water supply
Automatic drinking facility with valve
- learning to drink using an automatic drinking facility sometimes causes problems if the valve is difficult to open
- the trays become very dirty quite easily
- the height should be ± 50 cm for calves up to the age of four months
Automatic drinking fountains with tanks fitted with floats
- water intake is easy
- pay attention to soiling of the water
- the height should be ± 50 cm for calves up to the age of four months
Drinking nipple
- easy for calves to learn
- clean water is always available
- both high and low temperature possible
- a lot of water may be dispensed, resulting in a wet pen
- calves up to the age of four months need a height of 80 – 100 cm. The best arrangement will be one where the nipple height can be adjusted
Open tank / bucket
- it is easy to check the intake
- it is more difficult to keep it clean
- it is inexpensive
- requires more work
Place of water supply
- for easy control of operation and cleaning, it is best to place the water supply near the feeding fence
- in view of the relationship between water intake and the intake of milk, roughage and concentrates, it is important to supply these feedstuffs as close as possible to each other, and in easy reach of the calves
- in the case of storage feed, the water dispensing unit should be located between the milk feed and the roughage and concentrates supply
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