The Dairy Podcast Show - #52 - Drinking for Growth: The Vital Role of Water in Calf Development
Sep 05, 2023
Water represents a critical, yet often overlooked component in the nutrition and development of young calves. While significant attention is justifiably given to their milk or milk replacer intake, supplying water to neonatal calves should not be underestimated. In this episode, we had the privilege of hosting Dr. Ranga Appuhamy from Iowa State University as our distinguished guest. Dr. Appuhamy, a renowned researcher and educator in Dairy Science, shared valuable insights, including his research on water intake in young calves. His work underscores the pivotal role of water in calf development, shedding light on its influence on milk consumption, gut microbiome, and overall growth.
"We see that providing drinking water increases milk consumption of young calves."
What you’ll learn:
- Testing water's relevance in neonatal cows
- Drinking water provides stimulus for rumen development
- Relevance of water at the time of weaning
- Observations on gut microbiota composition changes
- Problem of providing drinking water to calves during winter
Meet the guest:
Dr. Ranga Appuhamy
Experience:
- Current: Assistant Professor at the Iowa State University
- Past: Post Doctoral Associate at the University of California
Background:
- Ph.D., Animal Science (Virginia State University)
- M.Sc., Dairy Science (Virginia State University)
- B.Sc., Agriculture (University of Peradeniya)
Connect with our guest on Social Media: LinkedIn
