Opportunity to suck |
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Calves are motivated to perform natural sucking behavior and are motivated to drink approximately 20% of their body weight in milk or milk replacer. They may perform abnormal oral behaviors like non-nutritive sucking when opportunities to suck or milk access are limited.
Which animals to assess:
Evaluate milk-fed calves based on the sampling guidelines.
How to assess:
Calves must be fed with a nipple, teat, or from a cow for the majority of the milk-fed period.
Calves must be fed milk or milk replacer at least twice a day or offered milk continuously before weaning begins.
Calves must be fed milk or milk replacer at least twice a day or offered milk continuously before weaning begins.
Examples of continuous milk access:
Automated calf feeders, such as the Lely feeder, provide milk meals via a teat throughout the day
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Teat bucket feeders can also prolong milk availability depending on the volume of the bucket and number of calves feeding from it
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There is currently no repeatability test for this measure.