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Download our informative Farmer’s Guides, covering everything from dealing with common health problems to feeding and housing your calves.
Blossom Trial - Objective: To generate calf performance data for heifer calves reared on Blossom Easymix Calf milk replacer.
Flourish Calf Trial - Objective: To generate calf performance data for heifer calves reared on Flourish Calf milk replacer.
Olympian Beef Trial - Objective: To generate calf performance data for dairy origin beef calves reared on Olympian milk replacer.
Blossom AFBI Trial - Objective: To generate calf performance data for heifer calves reared on Blossom Easymix calf milk replacer.
In this video learning series from Volac Milk Replacers Limited, Dr Jessica Cooke explores important calf management and nutrition topics – highlighting best practice advice to rear better heifers.
Dr Jessica Cooke discusses the benefits of calving replacement dairy heifers at 24 months of age. Calving heifers at 24 months of age reduces the number of non-productive replacement stock, boosts lifetime milk production potential, minimises management time, cuts feed and bedding costs, and reduces farm greenhouse gas emissions.
Ensuring heifers are big enough at first calving reduces calving difficulties and improves their subsequent fertility. Dr Jessica Cooke explains how to calculate and set body weight targets based on mature cow body weight and highlights the importance of monitoring growth rates.
If processed correctly, calf milk replacers containing concentrated whey protein or a high level of good quality skim milk powder as the main protein source will deliver good calf and heifer performance to weaning and beyond – right through to third calving. Dr Jessica Cooke discusses the independent trial work that confirms this conclusion.
Feeding young calves more milk will maximise feed efficiency, prevent early weight loss, maximise early life growth potential, improve calf health, enhance organ growth and development and boost lactation performance. Dr Jessica Cooke discusses how much milk to feed.
Dr Jessica Cooke explains why it is important to encourage calves to eat more starter feed alongside their milk feed to ensure they reach weaning with a well developed rumen. A calf with a well-developed rumen at weaning will continue to grow and thrive with no setbacks.
Bloat is a sporadic but serious disorder affecting young calves. Dr Jessica Cooke explains the main causes of abomasal bloat, including the role of milk volume per feed and osmolality, and outlines practical steps to reduce the risk on farm.
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