Newly weaned calves often don’t eat and drink enough for the first few weeks after entering a feedlot.
Unfamiliarity with feed and water locations and fear of their new surroundings are considered to be the causes.
The use of a “trainer cow” has been proposed as a way to settle calves in more quickly.
Though studies have been done, the merits of this approach remain in question.
The calf, prior to weaning, is in continual contact with its dam, which not only shows it where to find water and food, but also provides protection.
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In a new environment, the weaned calf no longer has its mother to give it cues about where and when to eat.
The concept behind a trainer cow is simple – it is a cow that acts as a replacement for the calves’ dams.
On arrival at the feedlot, an adult cow is housed with each pen of calves. It is accustomed to the surroundings, so it can assist the calves in getting feed and reduce their fear.
As well as boosting feed performance, trainer cows reportedly promote better overall calf health.
The cows are thought to minimize stress-induced immunity reduction commonly seen in new feedlot animals.
In an Ohio trial, calves went to the bunk more often to feed when trainer cows were present. Compared to control calves that gained 1.5 pounds per day, calves with a trainer cow gained 2.5 lb.
Final weight gains at 28 days were the same in both groups, which meant the control calves experienced a compensatory gain.
Another trial revealed that trainer cows had a positive effect on eating behaviour, but a variable influence on health and performance.
Further study suggested that illness decreased, but only when trainer animals improved gains.
Because of confusion over the benefits of trainer cows, Saskatoon researchers designed a large feedlot study.
Trainer cows were assigned to half the pens. Body weight, feed bunk attendance, temperature, and several blood parameters were measured in more than 1,200 study calves.
The data demonstrated that trainer cows did not affect calf health. Rectal temperatures and the need for antibiotic therapy were the same in both groups.
Trainer cows did not appear to affect feeding behaviour.
The number of times that calves went to the feedbunk and the time spent at the trough were similar for all calves.
As well, the calves did not follow the trainer calves to the feed bunk.
It took almost two weeks before the calves would eat at the same time as the cows.
These results did not support the notion that trainer cows have a positive effect on feed performance. Over the 28-day trial, calves housed with trainer cows did not have superior weight gains.
In fact, researchers found calves were less likely to lie down if a cow was present, so they spent more time standing and walking.
The failure of trainer cows to assist newly weaned calves was probably because these cows were not related to the calves.
