Guideline Calf Nutri Slide
How to interpret the nutritional status of a calf
Mark van Kleef
Last Update 4 months ago
Purpose:
1️⃣ Young calf (2–7 days)
2️⃣ Protein metabolism (1–10 weeks)
3️⃣ Energy metabolism (1–10 weeks)
4️⃣ Rumen development (before weaning)
1️⃣ Young calf (2–7 days)
- Control of colostrum management (GGT, TP)
- Control of intra-uterine transfer of protein and energy during the close-up period (ALB, CHO)
2️⃣ Protein metabolism (1–10 weeks)
- Control of protein supply before weaning (ALB, BUN)
3️⃣ Energy metabolism (1–10 weeks)
- Control of energy supply before weaning (CHO)
4️⃣ Rumen development (before weaning)
- Control of rumen development before weaning (BHB)
| Age (weeks) | 0 (2-7 days) | 1 | 2 | 3-4 | 5-6 | 7-8 | 9-10 | 11-12 |
| GGT (U/L) | >300 | >200 | >100 | >50 | >20 | >20 | >20 | >20 |
| TP (g/L) | >58 | >58 | >56 | 52-62 | 52-65 | 55-70 | 55-70 | 55-70 |
| ALB (g/L) | >30 | >31 | >33 | >35 | >36 | >37 | >38 | >38 |
| BUN (mmol/L) | 4-5 | 3-4 | 3-4 | 2-3 | 2-3 | 2,5-3 | 2,5-3 | 3-3,5 |
| CHO (mmol/L) | 1-1,5 | >1,5 | >2 | >2,25 | >2,5 | >2,25 | >2 | >2 |
| BHB (mmol/L) | <0,15 | <0,15 | <0,15 | 0,15 | 0,2 | 0,25 | 0,3 | 0,35 |
Remarks
- Colostrum management is best evaluated in calves between 2 and 7 days of age. GGT already starts to decline after one week, and TP becomes less reliable after two weeks. GGT > 300 and TP > 58 is considered good; GGT > 600 and TP > 62 is excellent.
- TP is mainly suitable for evaluating colostrum management, while Albumin and BUN are suitable parameters to assess protein metabolism.
- Albumin and Cholesterol in calves between 2 and 7 days of age provide information about the transfer of nutrients in the uterus, and therefore indirectly about the nutrition of the dam.
- Albumin is a reliable but relatively slow parameter for protein metabolism. Changes become visible in the blood after about two weeks.
- BUN is a fast parameter and may also increase during transport stress (muscle breakdown).
- Cholesterol is a reliable but relatively slow parameter for energy metabolism. Changes become visible in the blood after about one week.
- BHB increases due to butyrate production in the rumen (fermentation of carbohydrates). The above scheme assumes a weaning age of 8 to 9 weeks.