Boosting Rumen Development in Dairy Calves: The Role of Calf Starter

Calf rearing is the process of raising a calf from birth to 12 weeks of age to ensure it is healthy, strong, and well-grown. The main goal of calf rearing is to transition the calf from a milk-based diet to a solid feed-based diet. When dairy calves are born, they are essentially monogastrics or simple stomached animals with a non-functioning rumen and reticulum. They rely on the nutrients supplied from milk for their nutrition. The nature of solid feed and the amount consumed can influence rumen development. Highly palatable “starter” feeds, containing easily fermentable carbohydrates, are thought to stimulate rumen development, including changes in the epithelium of the forestomach.