Switching to Once-A-Day (OAD) Feeding: How to Save 30% Labour Without Losing Daily Liveweight Gain

During the busy spring calving period, workload on farms can quickly become overwhelming. Between managing calves, yard work and daily routines, time is one of the most limited resources on the farm.

That’s why more farmers are turning to once a day calf feeding as a practical way to reduce pressure without sacrificing performance.

The key question is simple:
Can you reduce calf feeding workload without losing calf thrive or daily liveweight gain?

The answer is yes—when the system is set up correctly.

 

Why Farmers are Moving to Once-a-Day Feeding

Labour-saving is the main driver behind the shift from calf feeding twice a day vs once a day.

Moving to an OAD calf feeding system can reduce calf-related labour by up to 30–35%, making it one of the most effective calf feeding labour saving ideas available.

But the benefits go beyond just saving time:

• Simpler daily routine – removing one feed reduces pressure during busy periods
• More flexibility – easier to manage workloads across the day
• Earlier starter intake – calves begin eating meal sooner, supporting development

For many farms, it’s a practical way to make calf rearing more manageable without compromising results.

 

The Biggest Mistake with OAD Feeding

Switching to OAD isn’t about feeding less—it’s about feeding smarter.

A common mistake is reducing milk volume without adjusting the system. This often leads to:

• Poor thrive in calves
• Reduced daily liveweight gain
• Calves falling behind target weights

To maintain performance, calves must receive the same total nutrition—just delivered in one feed.

 

How to Make an OAD System Work

1. Start at the Right Time

Keep calves on twice-a-day feeding for the first 3–4 weeks. This ensures strong early development and prepares them to handle a larger single feed.

 

2. Increase the Concentration

In a once a day milk replacer system, concentration must increase to maintain energy intake.

• Standard feeding: ~12.5% solids
• OAD feeding: typically ~18–20% solids

This ensures calves continue to achieve strong daily liveweight gain and maintain calf thrive.

 

3. Use a High-Quality Milk Replacer

When feeding once a day, ingredient quality becomes critical.

A high-spec milk replacer:

• Forms a stable clot in the stomach
• Releases nutrients gradually throughout the day
• Keeps calves satisfied and reduces stress

This is essential for avoiding the issues often seen with poorly managed once a day milk replacer calves.

 

Maintaining Growth and Target Weights

One of the biggest concerns with OAD feeding is performance—but when managed correctly, calves can maintain excellent growth rates.

In many cases, OAD systems:

• Encourage earlier intake of starter feed
• Support faster rumen development
• Lead to smoother weaning transitions

The result is healthier calves that continue to hit target weights without the setbacks often caused by inconsistent feeding.

 

Is Once-a-Day Feeding Right for Your Farm?

An OAD calf feeding system is not a shortcut, it’s a structured approach to reducing labour while maintaining performance.

If your goal is to:

• Reduce calf feeding workload
• Simplify your daily routine
• Maintain consistent calf thrive

Then once-a-day feeding is well worth considering.

 

Plan Your OAD System Properly

Success with OAD feeding comes down to consistency, planning and using the right nutrition.

If you’re considering making the switch, speak to the Eringold team to review your current feeding programme and build a plan that works for your farm. You can also explore our Eringold Extra calf milk replacer to see how you can reduce labour without compromising performance this season.