Calf Farmers: Use Special Teats for Optimal Sucking & Health
Calf farmers are advised to use special starter teats that encourage active sucking and stimulate saliva production. This natural drinking behavior benefits calves' health and development.
Calves typically suck 6 to 8 times a day, each session lasting about 10 minutes, totaling up to 80 minutes daily. Kubus, a manufacturer, offers particularly effective short, slim calf teats without a check valve, promoting active sucking and reducing damage from unwanted mutual sucking.
In many calf stalls, the standard is two meals with 6 to 8 liters of milk. However, this disrupts natural sucking behavior and can lead to mutual sucking. Calves with a milk mustache and saliva under the teat have an optimally stimulated sucking reflex. Saliva, rich in germicidal and digestive enzymes, supports the immune system and stabilizes the abomasum.
An ad-libitum milk offer of 10 to 14 liters per day, combined with active behavior, aligns more closely with natural drinking behavior. The optimal drinking speed is about 200 to 250 milliliters per minute, with four to five minutes of sucking time for one liter of drink.
To ensure optimal calf health and development, farmers should consider using special starter teats that encourage active sucking and saliva production. This natural drinking behavior supports the immune system and promotes overall well-being.
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