Teagasc Calf Rearing Manual

• Introduction to calf rearing
• Care of the newborn calf
• Colostrum feeding of the newborn

Section 2 – Calf procurement and transfer (PDF)

• Sourcing the calf
• Transporting the calf from farm of origin
• Habituation to a new environment

Section 3 – Milk feeding (PDF)

• The liquid diet
• Milk feeding systems
• Milk feeding methods
• Milk replacer feeding
• Milk replacer nutritional specification

Section 4 – Rumen development (PDF)

• Development of the calf digestive system
• Concentrate feeding and feed additives
• The importance of water and fibre

Section 5 – Calf accommodation (PDF)

• Calf house management
• Individual and group housing
• Calf house ventilation

Section 6 – Calf health (PDF)

• Calf diagnosis and disease prevention
• Diarrhoea (scour)
• Pneumonia
• Other common conditions

Section 7 – Routine calf management practices (PDF)

• Tagging, castrating and disbudding calves
• Successful weaning of calves
• Monitoring calf growth and performance

Section 8 – Welfare And Safety on Farm (PDF)

• Animal welfare
• Health and safety around calving and calf facilities