The dairy industry has seen a large trend towards high-level milk feeding programs for calves in the past decade. This has allowed producers to realize the growth potential of young animals and improve welfare.

The first part of a calf’s life is spent as a monogastric, as the rumen is not fully developed at birth. As such, calves rely heavily on nutrients obtained from milk and, to a lesser degree, on nutrients from solid feed in the first few weeks of life.