Back To Top Requirements of Newly Received Calves Weaning and shipping stress do not seem to increase the total requirement for most nutrients. But, because feed intake is usually reduced for the first week or two after arrival, the concentration of key nutrients must be increased to ensure that total requirements are met. One exception may be potassium. Research suggests the requirement for potassium may be increased by about 20 percent during stress. Lightweight calves can be received and grown on supplement-roughage programs, but rates of gain may be poor.
Palatability is critical for young calves.
These calves must recognize and begin to consume dry feed very quickly. Because young cattle simply cannot consume enough roughage to make acceptable rates of gain, many nutritionists prefer a complete mixed ration for lightweight, young calves. The real danger of trying to receive and grow very light calves on supplement and free-choice hay programs is that you must offer so much concentrate that many calves may not eat hay. Clinical signs will be brown runny diarrhea, bloating and going off feed. Death may occur in severe cases.