Automated calf feeders have now been commercially available in the United States for roughly two decades. By design, autofeeders can be an excellent tool, as they allow calf-feeding patterns that most closely mimic those of a nursing calf in nature (Mother Nature’s way).

The choice of vessel to deliver milk to preweaned calves is an individual decision for every operation. There are dairies and custom calf raisers that achieve excellent results using either buckets or bottles to feed their calves.

If we want to deliver calves the nutrients their dams would provide, protein and fat levels need to be about 50% higher than the 20:20 recipe we fed for decades.

When the mercury eases down, calves’ nutritional needs go up. So, before those colder days arrive, we need to pre-condition those calves.

Virtually everyone who has adopted a higher feeding rate will tell you their calves now are healthier.

Numerous research studies over the last decade or so have shown that replacement heifers fed more closely to their nutrient needs for higher proteins and fats in the liquid-feeding phase become more productive adult animals.