Frequency and quantity of milk feeding to dairy calves

Council Directive 2008/119/EC requires that calves must be fed twice a day with an appropriate diet adapted to their age, weight and behavioural and physiological needs, to promote good health and welfare. Nevertheless, it is becoming popular to feed milk to calves only once a day to reduce labour which may restrict behavioural and physiological needs of a calf. In this Indicator Factsheet methods for assessing whether a calf is fed adequately and recommendations for inspection are described.