Injections of vitamins A, D, and E are recommended for purchased calves or calves that have not received adequate intakes of colostrum. Calves usually start eating a small amount of dry starter mix at about 3 to 5 days of age. A small amount rubbed into their mouths or placed in the bottom of the milk pail will encourage consumption of dry starter mix. Fresh palatable starter mix should be offered each day. Corn, molasses and vitamin and mineral premixes are good ingredients to use in starters.
Starters can range in quality and type.
Grain starters are based on grain and serve as supplements to hay, while complete starters have the forage component ground, pelleted and included with the grain. No forage is provided to calves fed the complete starter. A range in nutrient specifications for low and high quality grain starters and complete starters is in the following table. Commercially prepared starter mixes seem to produce best results, however, standard dairy rations for lactating cows are used successfully. Recommended average daily intake of calf starter for the first 12 weeks of age is shown in the following figure.