While we can't complain about the temperatures we're experiencing, that may be different for calves.  With night time temps dropping below freezing, Marylynn Collins with Cornell Cooperative Extension  says it's time to up the energy in your young one's diet.

Once the temperatures drop below 32 degrees month old calves will require more energy from their diets. Your newborn calves will need more energy when temperatures fall to 50 degrees. Ensuring they get off to the best possible start on your farm may require you making some seasonal feeding changes. Keep in mind the goal of trying to double the calf’s birth weight by the time it is weaned off of milk or milk replacer.

How can you increase the energy content? There are multiple approaches, work with your veterinarian or nutritionist to decide on the best approach for your situation. One option is to add a fat supplement to the milk replacer. Too much fat can suppress starter grain consumption, so be mindful of this. Other ways to bump up the energy content is to fit in an additional feeding of milk replacer, feeding more volume of milk replacer, or increase the total solids fed in one meal. Total solids should not be greater than 15% to avoid dehydration and other health risks. Providing fresh water and starter grain as early as two days of age is also recommended. Now that we are pulling out our winter gear, the long johns, gloves and insulated boots, isn’t time to prepare our calves for a successful winter?

SOURCE: Cornell Cooperative Extension - Marylynn Collins

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