Dairy Welfare Auditor Training
  • Home
  • Training & Homework
  • Learn how to assess
  • Test your repeatability
  • Thank You
  • Contact

Opportunity to Suck

Picture

Calves are motivated to perform natural sucking behavior and are motivated to drink approximately 20% of their body weight in milk or milk replacer in a series of meals, spread out over time. 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.
Examples of continuous milk access:
Picture
Automated calf feeders, such as the Lely feeder, provide milk meals via a teat throughout the day
Picture
Teat bucket feeders can also prolong milk availability depending on the volume of the bucket and number of calves feeding from it

There is currently no repeatability test for this measure.
<< Back
Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • Training & Homework
  • Learn how to assess
  • Test your repeatability
  • Thank You
  • Contact