Why Are Calves Not Gaining Weight? 7 Feeding and Management Mistakes Farmers Should Check

A calf that grows slowly can affect the future productivity of a dairy farm. NDDB says proper nutrition and management during early life help calves gain weight, mature earlier and reach first calving sooner. Poor feeding can increase the age at first calving and raise the cost of rearing.

The problem is not always the quantity of feed. Timing, feed quality, clean water, hygiene, housing and disease control all influence growth. Farmers can check several basic practices before spending more money on feed or assuming that the calf has a serious health problem.

Colostrum is the first milk produced after calving and provides antibodies that help protect the newborn calf. NDDB recommends feeding colostrum within the first half hour after birth, while its dairy husbandry guidance stresses giving adequate quantities during the first hours.

Delayed or inadequate colostrum intake can leave a newborn more vulnerable to infections. Farmers should make sure the calf actually drinks enough rather than assuming it received sufficient colostrum while suckling from the mother. Hand-feeding can help confirm the amount consumed.

Young calves need a regular milk-feeding schedule suited to their age and body weight. NDDB’s feeding schedule reduces milk quantities gradually while increasing calf starter, hay and green fodder as the calf grows. Requirements can vary with breed and body weight.

Farmers should avoid sudden changes in milk quantity or feeding times. Overfeeding can also cause digestive problems. The feeding plan should change gradually as the calf develops its rumen and begins consuming more solid feed.

Are you delaying calf starter?

Calf starter provides concentrated nutrients while the young calf’s rumen develops. NDDB recommends introducing calf starter or good-quality grain from the second week onwards and gradually increasing the quantity as the calf grows.

Farmers should offer fresh starter regularly and monitor whether the calf is actually eating it. A calf that refuses starter for several days may need closer observation of health, feed quality, cleanliness and overall management rather than simply receiving more milk.

Water is often overlooked when farmers focus on milk and solid feed. Young calves need access to clean drinking water as their intake of starter and other feed increases.

Water containers should remain clean and should not become contaminated with manure, feed or bedding. Farmers should refresh water regularly and place containers where calves can reach them easily without contaminating the supply.

A calf’s surroundings affect disease risk and growth. NDDB recommends attention to hygiene and newborn care, including proper navel management. Poorly maintained housing can expose calves to pathogens and increase the risk of illness.

The calf area should remain dry, clean and adequately ventilated. Bedding should be changed when wet or heavily soiled. Farmers should also prevent overcrowding because close contact and poor hygiene can increase the spread of infections.

Diarrhoea can cause rapid loss of water and electrolytes in calves. NDDB advises replacing lost fluids and electrolytes early and consulting a veterinarian to determine the cause and treatment. Severe dehydration can become life-threatening.

Farmers should watch for loose stools, weakness, sunken eyes, dry gums and reduced activity. A calf that becomes severely dehydrated, cannot stand or stops drinking needs prompt veterinary attention rather than relying only on home treatment.

Are deworming and vaccination being ignored?

Parasites and infectious diseases can affect calf growth and health. NDDB includes deworming and vaccination among important parts of calf management and advises farmers to follow veterinary guidance for disease prevention.

Farmers should maintain records of treatments and vaccinations instead of relying on memory. The timing can vary with local disease risks, age, animal health and veterinary recommendations. A local veterinarian can prepare an appropriate schedule for the herd.

There is no single feeding quantity suitable for every calf. NDDB’s schedule changes milk, calf starter, hay and green-fodder quantities as calves grow from birth through 26 weeks. It also notes that requirements vary according to breed and body weight.

For example, NDDB lists 1.5–2 kilograms of colostrum daily during the first two days and introduces about 100 grams of calf starter from the second week. Farmers should use such figures as guidance and adapt feeding to the animal’s size and local veterinary advice.

Scientific calf feeding can affect how quickly animals reach maturity. NDDB’s Calf Rearing Programme reported higher daily weight gain and lower female calf mortality in participating groups compared with control groups across Kankrej, Murrah and crossbred calves.

The programme reported average daily weight gains of 442 grams for Kankrej, 528 grams for Murrah and 653 grams for crossbred calves during the first 12 months in the programme groups. These figures came from specific programme conditions and should not be treated as universal targets.

What should farmers monitor?

Farmers should track body weight or body measurements at regular intervals and record feed intake, illness, treatments and vaccination. These records can reveal whether a calf is growing consistently or losing ground.

A sudden drop in appetite, weight gain or activity deserves attention. Comparing calves only by appearance can be misleading because breeds and individual animals naturally differ in body size and growth pattern.

ICAR-NDRI research has examined different approaches to calf nutrition. Its research highlights report that surplus colostrum, whole milk diluted with curd and probiotics improved growth rate while reducing morbidity and mortality in studied calves.

ICAR-NDRI has also studied milk replacers. In Friesian crossbred calves aged one to six months, replacing skimmed milk with a soya- and maize-based milk replacer reduced rearing costs without adversely affecting growth under the study conditions.

Farmers should seek veterinary help when a calf has persistent diarrhoea, refuses milk, becomes weak, develops breathing problems, shows severe dehydration or stops gaining weight despite adequate feeding.

A veterinarian can examine the calf and identify problems that cannot be diagnosed from feeding records alone. Treating the underlying disease is more useful than simply increasing feed when illness is responsible for poor growth.

Good calf growth starts with basic management. Early colostrum, age-appropriate milk feeding, calf starter, clean water, dry housing, disease prevention and regular monitoring all contribute to healthy development.