Health risks associated with the use of automatic milk feeders in calves

The objective of the present article was to summarize available evidence of the economic benefits and health risks associated with the use of automatic milk feeders (AMFs) in calves. Although AMFs are increasingly used in cattle production, clear evidence of their economic benefits (increased average daily gain, gradual weaning and reduced labor time) for the typical Belgian farm size and management is not available. Especially in smaller farms, where labor time is not a limiting factor, a careful economic consideration should be made. Regarding the association of AMFs with calf disease, studies have only been performed for bovine respiratory disease and confirmed an increased risk. However, since the use of AMFs is strongly related with several other risk factors (group housing at young age, large groups, age difference in a group, continuous system versus all-in/all-out), it is difficult to unequivocally identify the risk associated with AMFs alone. A group size of less than ten calves on a single drinking point, an all-in/alloutb grouping system and a minimum age at introduction to the automat of three weeks are recommended for farms with AMFs. To the authors\textquoteright knowledge, no scientific evidence supporting the presumed association of diarrhea and tongue ulcers with AMFs is available to date.