S.C. Loerch1 and F. L. Fluharty
The Ohio State University Department of Animal Sciences
Abstract
Two trials were conducted to determine the efficacy of using trainer cows to improve the health and performance of newly arrived feedlot calves. For both trials, trainer cows were given 3 week to adapt to the feedlot before arrival of the feeder calves and initiation of the trials. Trainer cows were present with newly received feedlot calves for 14 days after calf arrival and then were removed from the pens for the remaining 14 days of the experiments. Newly received calves were allotted to 24 pens with 8 or 9 calves/pen. Twelve pens contained a trainer cow and the remaining 12 pens had calves without a cow.
In Trial 1, overall gains were 10% greater (P < 0.06) and final body weight (BW) was higher (P < 0.10) for calves with trainer cows than for those without trainers. Trainer cows resulted in a substantial reduction (P < 0.01) in calf morbidity compared with calves housed alone (45 versus 65% morbidity, respectively). In Trial 2, trainer cows did not improve performance or health of newly received calves. A higher (P < 0.07) percentage of calves were eating 5 min post-feeding on days 1, 2, 4 and 8 for calves with trainers vs those without. In these trials, trainer cows had a significant effect on eating behavior of newly received calves, but health and performance benefits were variable.