Are You Giving Your Replacements the Best Start?
Rearing dairy heifer calves is the second-largest annual expense for dairy farms. Yet heifers produce no income until they reach first lactation, therefore it is important to achieve first calving at 24 months of age to reduce rearing costs. In addition, it will contribute to lowering your carbon footprint and ensure that improved genetics are introduced into the herd sooner.
The Importance of Colostrum
At birth calves do not have antibodies, therefore have no resistance to disease, the calf can only obtain these antibodies by drinking sufficient colostrum. It is crucial that they receive 3-4 litres of good quality colostrum as soon as possible, ideally within 1 hour of birth, with a further two litres fed 6 hours later. The ability to absorb antibodies present in colostrum reduces within the first 24 hours of life. If you want to check the quality of the colostrum being fed a Brix refractometer should be used.
Which Powder Should I Use?
Whilst most milk powders visually look the same and have declared amounts of fat and protein on the label; the price, nutritional value and quality of the ingredients vary tremendously. It is very difficult to distinguish the difference between a good quality powder, and one made to a price! Therefore, it is important when selecting a milk powder to look at the manufacturers’ label as this can give an indication of the quality of the ingredients used.
A wide range of ingredients can be used including skim, casein, buttermilk, whey, whey protein concentrate, soya, and wheat, potato and pea protein concentrates together with a wide range of fats and oils.
Skim, casein and buttermilk powders with 100% dairy proteins are most likened to cows milk are the easiest for the calf to digest, due to their ability to form a clot in the abomasum . Generally, the higher the level of dairy products, the better quality the powder. The main protein sources should be skim or whey protein.
Vegetable proteins, including wheat and pea proteins are difficult for the calf to digest due to them effectively being a monogastric rather than a ruminant during the first weeks of life, powders containing higher quantities of these ingredients tend to be poorer quality and cheaper.
The investment in feeding a high quality milk replacer will pay off, with overall reduced rearing costs, higher milk production, a longer productive life, and a decreased disease risk, in particular Johnes disease. Calf milk replacer has a lower cost per litre than saleable whole milk.
With the cost of ingredients firming, some of our suppliers will be increasing their milk powder prices at the end of June, if you are looking for milk replacer for this Summer/Autumn please contact Louise Cox on 07943 684215 or e-mail louise@dblbuyinggroup.co.uk to discuss your requirements and we will recommend the most suitable powder for your needs.
