A resilient calf is an investment in the long-term health and productivity of your herd. Ensuring calves grow into optimal, high-performing cows sets the foundation for efficient production cycles — from breeding and pregnancy to lactation. This journey begins with a solid foundation from day one.
Building resilience starts early
The path to a high-performing cow begins with building resilience in the calf. A resilient calf is raised with the highest standards of care, including proper sanitation, housing, clean water, and balanced nutrition. This ensures optimal gut development, a healthy microbiome, immunity, and growth potential. A strong foundation early in life helps the calf manage future challenges, such as diet changes, transport, breeding, and lactation.
Calves that receive strong early-life nutrition tend to have lower disease rates, more efficient growth and are more likely to reach their full genetic potential. For instance, studies show calves with fewer illnesses and reduced antibiotic use often produce more milk. Calves with efficient preweaning gains are more likely to have higher milk production as adults, contributing to long-term sustainability by reducing illness treatment needs.1
Building blocks of a resilient calf
Like building a house on a solid foundation, raising a resilient calf depends on four key components: Nutrition, microbiome development, immunity, and gut integrity. Proper nutrition supports not just growth but also energy for a thriving immune system and a rapidly changing gut. The gut barrier, immunity, and microbiome work together to support the calf’s development. In the first few weeks, the gut undergoes significant remodeling as it shifts from colostrum absorption mode to nutrient absorption mode and all the way to developing rumen tissues. During this “window of opportunity,” the calf’s immune system and gut begin to mature, building critical defenses to protect and establish lifelong digestive and immune health.
The role of nutrition in raising resilient calves
Nutrition is fundamental in building resilience. A balanced diet with the right fatty acids, amino acids, and fat-to-protein ratio provides essential energy for growth, immune function, and gut health. Ensure calves receive high-quality colostrum within hours of birth, maintain clean housing, follow vaccination schedules, and monitor health closely. Using pre- and probiotics further supports immunity and microbiome development.
Milk replacers, probiotics, and high-quality, nutrient dense starter feeds are especially important during stressful times, such as weaning, transportation, or environmental changes. Stress demands more resources from the immune system, but good nutrition, along with probiotics, supports health and growth during these periods.
Benefits of raising resilient calves
Raising resilient calves leads to long-term benefits: Healthier cows that adapt to stressors with properly functioning immune systems can yield higher-quality milk and stay in the herd longer. By focusing on early-life nutrition and care, you can ensure a productive, healthy herd for years to come.
To learn more about Purina Animal Nutrition’s offerings for raising resilient calves, reach out to your local Purina representative or visit purinamills.com.
References
1 Soberon, F., E. Raffrenato, R. W. Everett, and M. E. Van Amburgh. "Preweaning milk replacer intake and effects on long-term productivity of dairy calves." Journal of Dairy Science 95, no. 2 (2012): 783-793.
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