Tagged with 'Calf Rearing'

It finally feels like summer is here and hopefully a break from what seems like the longest and wettest winter!

In the first months of life, it is well understood that calves can be very efficient at converting feed to gain, but are equally very susceptible to digestive upsets that can reduce performance and survivability. 

Whole milk is still fed to calves routinely on dairy farms in some capacity or another. But what constitutes “whole milk”?

We have reformulated Start n Wean formula to increase the starch and energy content, helping to further promote rumen development and maintain gut health.

Weaning is one of the most important transitions for calves due to the increased reliance on rumen function.  The transition to ruminant digestion is a complex process that relies on water, concentrates and forage for microbial and physical rumen development. Calf Starter consumption is the most important factor for initiating rumen papillae development as the rumen relies on the end-products of bacterial fermentation from the concentrates.

With spring calving fast approaching, kickstarting one of the busiest, most demanding time of year, being properly prepared can relieve some of the stress for farmer, cow and calf.

Manipulating photoperiods and light for the milking cows is a fairly well researched and discussed topic. However, often we forget to consider the benefits this could have for dry cows. 

It is important to monitor performance of heifers in order to meet goals to get the heifer developed and grown well to optimise lifetime performance. Calving at 24 months has been shown to be the optimum for economic and lifetime performance but it is important that heifers meet key targets at critical stages in the rearing programme.

It is well known that the early introduction of starter feed is essential for rumen development, but often forage is not offered until close to or post-weaning. Many recent studies have shown that offering forage during the pre-weaning phase has benefits in pre-weaning growth rates as well as aiding the transition from a milk-based diet to solid feed.  

As calf and youngstock specialists, we often discuss different rearing systems and technological advances that can help improve your current calf-rearing system. We work closely with a network of engineers to ensure the machine is installed in the right position, with alternative feed programmes in order to benefit your rearing system.