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In April, more than 60 farmers congregated at Wedfield Farm, Pudford, home to Steve and Katherine Pomeroy and their 180 Holstein Friesians, to get expert advice from a number of local vets and youngstock nutrition experts.

Getting the most efficient growth out of your herd is a goal for any productive, profitable and sustainable farm, and one of the best ways that you can make your farm more efficient is by focusing on the growth of your heifer calves.

The summer months are a peak risk period for outbreaks of coccidiosis in spring born suckled calves and dairy youngstock.

Bloat is an over-expansion of the abomasum (abomasal bloat; typically, in calves 5 to 10 days old) or rumen (ruminal bloat; typically, in calves over three weeks of age) soon after milk feeding. It is due to gas (produced by the normal fermentation of feed) building up and being unable to escape.

To meet target calf daily growth rates consistently during the pre-weaning period it’s important to implement a rigorous, six-step routine to ensure milk feeding equipment and utensils remain clean and hygienic and, importantly, free from biofilms.

Bacteria and viruses are prevalent in large numbers on all farms and the diseases these and other germs cause in calves are common and costly. Without proper cleaning and disinfection, the pathogen load will increase in calf buildings and on feeding equipment. This means disease can easily spread from calf to calf from contamination in their environment. Ideally, all-in-all-out pens (and buildings as well) should be utilised.

Watch our 90-minute webinar, created with the dairy farming community in mind, which akes a look at feeding for growth through effective calf nutrition as well as touching on the benefits of computerised feeding and practical tips on improving the rearing environment.

We believe that dairy nutrition can be transformative and create a more sustainable and healthier world. For us, that means helping farmers to maximise the efficiency of their dairy herd (beginning with dairy calf nutrition), and paying closer attention to the production and ingredients that we use in our milk replacers.

After almost two years without any in-person events, the Volac team headed to UK Dairy Day on Wednesday 15th September 2021. From showcasing some of our products and spreading our message on sustainability, to getting to see our customers face-to-face, here are some of our highlights from the day.

In Ireland, most dairy farms operate a block calving system whereby most calving takes place in a specific time period. This allows them to take advantage of seasonal peaks in grass growth and the resulting high milk yields.

We caught up with Peter Hynes, who operates a spring calving system, for the lowdown on ‘calving 2021’.

Meeting the needs of livestock is at the heart of everything a good dairy farmer does. The provision of providing healthy housing for your herd is important in maintaining the productivity and profitability of your stock.

We decided to put a Feed For Growth spin on this year’s Hydration and Nutrition Week on 14th-20th June by sharing some of our insights into calf development.

Obviously, hydration and nutrition are important factors for human health, but they are also vital for calf health and development. Here’s what we shared for the week.

When it comes to maximising farm productivity, sometimes there’s more opportunity than meets the eye. Many a UK and Irish dairy farm is peppered with under-utilised space that, with a little thinking outside the farming box, can quickly turn over a pretty penny for your business.

There’s no disputing the rising consumer demand for alternatives to dairy products over recent years, and indeed there’s a multitude of motivational factors behind this move. For some, there’s a genuine need for dairy-free alternatives, but for others, it’s a matter of choice.

Here at Feed For Growth, we think it’s vital to consider the whole picture...

The humble farm shop is enjoying something of a renaissance for producers and consumers alike. Far from humble in fact - the contemporary farm shop is often home to an abundance of locally sourced, native produce from the wider farming community and thus supports more than just the farm it is sited on and its local population.

With the Internet so accessible for most, there’s a world of information at our fingertips and, since the rise of social media, it’s easier than ever to be able to share the knowledge gained.

What does technology mean for you? When it comes to farming, technology’s purpose must surely be to make life easier. To make operations more efficient. To facilitate enhanced productivity with a little less effort. And if it allows you to spend an extra five minutes enjoying your tea and toast in the morning, so much the better.

Dairy and beef farming: no matter how stringent your hygiene and cleaning protocols, there are always places for bacteria to blossom. That can cause problems for the health and productivity of your herd. But now there’s a brand-new, breakthrough milk replacer that is scientifically proven to help calves develop strong, healthy immune systems and reach peak productivity.

Too much stress among youngstock will translate directly – and negatively – to the wellbeing of your calves and your business profits. Here are some practical calf stress management tips for calm, comfortable and profitable youngstock.

In case you missed it, catch up with our webinar recording here on how high-quality whey and skim milk replacers are comparable when it comes to calf performance.

Decision-making is a major aspect to any dairy farmer’s life. One of these decisions includes whether you choose the Irish-favoured block calving system, where all calving takes place in a specific time period, or the approach most commonly adopted in Britain, of all-year-round calving where of course calving takes place consistently all year round.

How we make your Calf Milk Replacer, The full story.

In dairy farming, profitability relies on productivity. Gathering key data on the development of your calves can reveal new ways to boost the productivity of your entire herd. But what metrics should you be monitoring, and how should you measure them? Here’s some insight.

Quality housing during the first eight weeks of a calf’s life is crucial. Here are some tips to make sure your calf housing is up to scratch.