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BRADEN START BOTTLE

 

The following is based on North American research. In New Zealand where we normally rear calves in larger groups, it is more cost and labour effective to use 1 or 2 Milk Bar Braden Start Bottles and a Bird Proof Meal Bar in each pen of calves.

Optimum nutrition during the first weeks of a calf's life is based not only on liquid feeds, but also on dry feeds. Getting calves to consume dry feed early in life is a key in decreasing rearing costs.

Dry feeds have two functions in the nutrition of young calves: providing nutrients and the development of rumen function. The latter is the most important because a calf can get the nutrients it needs for rapid growth; there is no rumen development from liquid feeds. A calf fed only milk will not develop a normal rumen even if it's several months old. Reason: Liquid feeds are diverted around the rumen, because the calves esophageal groove is closed.

Conversely, consumption of dry feed by a calf less than a week old causes three factors to begin in the rumen: size increase, absorptive ability, and microbial fermentation.

Because the rumen is the primary site of digestion in mature cows, development of a functional one is critical to developing the digestive capability of older calves.

Calves may be weaned from milk when they are consuming 1.5% of their body weight of starter grain. Early weaning, better health, more daily gain and early rumen development all go together to make the BRADEN START DRY FEED BOTTLE the best buy of the season. Dr. Gerald Higginbotham and Dr. Donald Bath of the University of California Cooperative Extension conducted trial B-92-1 using 80 holstein calves from birth to 41 days of age. All calves received colostrum at birth and were housed in individual wood hutches. Dr. Higginbotham and Dr. Bath found that "calves consumed significantly more grain when started on the Braden Start Bottle with pellet type feed" compared to other feeding systems.

This is important for calf health and growth rate. Research conducted at the Carnation Research Farm has shown that early consumption of dry feed enhances earlier rumen development. It is well known that earlier rumen development is associated with less scours, healthier calves and better average daily gains. Braden Research Farms are getting a 2.5 to a 3 pound gain per day.

University of Arkanas research conducted by M.W. McGahee, Dr. W. Kellogg, P.R. Webb, and Z.B. Johnson, shows a 22 percent savings in feed and labour per calf. The calves using the Braden Start Bottle consumed significantly more grain during week one compared to the conventional bucket method group of calves.

 

QUESTIONS and ANSWERS on the BRADEN BOTTLE
QUESTIONS ANSWERS
How long should I keep the calf on the BRADEN START BOTTLE? We keep our calves in pens until they are six weeks old. Calves are fed milk replacer twice a day until they are four weeks old. They are then given milk replacer once a day until they are five weeks old, then weaned from milk completely. At six weeks of age we remove the calves from the hutches and place them in groups in small pastures. I hang an old bottle of any kind (empty) over their feed trough to attract their attention. Calves are used to getting their feed from a bottle or bucket. This visual aid will attract them to the large trough. You will find calves do not lose weight when weaned when they have been started on the BRADEN START BOTTLE.
Should water be given to new born calves? Yes. Fresh water is very important and should be available at all times.
Will nursing the bottle keep calves from eating out of a bucket? No. If you hang the bottle over a bucket what little fails out of their mouth they will eat it out of the bucket. They just eat more out of the bottle.
Can I take the BRADEN START BOTTLE away from the calf once I get them eating feed, say at two or three weeks? You will lose the advantage of the early weaning and less stress at weaning. You will find the calves will eat less feed from the bucket and will tend to lose weight at weaning. Weight gain will also be less.
Do I have to use pellet type feed? No. Most types of grain will flow through the bottle. Feeds that contain corn which has been flattened out larger than the end of the nipple will not work. Feeds with molasses are too sticky and will not flow.
How do I hang the bottle? Pull the bottle firmly against a 2X6 board and secure with a nail or screw in the slotted key hole in the rubber strap. On cattle panels or wire attach a 2X6 one foot long to the wire with one inch fence staples then hang bottle normally.
Does it matter how high or low I hang the bottle? Yes. Hang the bottle in the corner of the pen with the nipple approximately 34 inches from the ground. The calf should reach up slightly for the nipple. If the bottle is hung to low the calf will not go to it as often therefore reducing feed intake.
The nipples are not lasting 2 or 3 calves, what am I doing wrong? The bottle should be hung in the corner of the pen so that the calf won't get the nipple in it's mouth sideways. The bottle should always have feed in it to keep the calf from chewing on the nipple because nothing comes out.
How will I know when it is time to replace the nipple? The nipple must be replaced when the end is no longer flexible and does not retain its shape or the nipple loses the soft feel of the natural mother's teat. When the nipple becomes hard and coarse feeling the calf does not go to the nipple as often.
When should I put the bottle in the pen with the calf? The bottle should be hung the first day the calf is brought to the pen because the nursing instinct is strongest during the first three days of life.
What if I have an older calf, will the bottle still work? Yes. You will have to show the calf the bottle the first few days, most will take off on their own.
We group our calves. How many calves can use one bottle? We recommend no more than two calves per bottle. If there are not enough bottles, they will always be empty, and the smaller, less aggressive calves may not be getting enough, (if any) feed.