Heifer calves reared on a two-step milk replacer system on a Welsh dairy farm are doubling their birth weights before weaning.

The Jamieson family trade as Hendre Eynon Farm Ltd at Penberry Farm, St Davids, where they run a spring block calving herd.

The 300 strong herd have been milked once-a-day for many years and are only housed just prior to calving.

They calve their heifers at two years so daily liveweight gains are crucial to achieving growth targets at bulling.

Maintaining a high herd health status

Maintaining the high health status of the herd is also important, in particular measures to safeguard animals from the performance limiting disease, Johne’s.

Eileen Jamieson, who is in charge of calf rearing on the farm, says two products manufactured by Bonanza Calf Nutrition allow both goals to be achieved.

All heifer replacements are born within a three-week window and a hired marquee, attached to an existing shed, provides additional housing for the calving and rearing period.

Calves in the marquee on the farm

Calves in the marquee on the farm

The male calves are reared in the marquee and are sold on, after weaning, to one or two regular customers.

The marquee is rented for three months and ensures calves have ample space and heifers can be reared separately.

Managing calf nutrition with Transformula

When calves are born their first two feeds are three litres of colostrum.

After that, for up to 10 days, they get Transformula, a product designed specifically for use after colostrum feeding.

According to Dr Christine Cummins of Bonanza Calf Nutrition, feeding transition milk especially from vaccinated cows can help to control disease and Transformula is an alternative to transition milk.

Transformula is made with over 60% skim milk and buttermilk along with five plant oils and whey protein so it is easily digested by the calf.

transformula

It also contains a range of egg antibodies, plant extracts, pre and probiotics all at elevated levels.

The product is dried under low temperatures to ensure the calf is not exposed to high bacterial counts found in stored raw cows milk.

These bacteria remove antibodies from the milk and can have pathogenic effects as well.

“Before we used Transformula we were feeding the calves cows milk but by doing so we were risking exposing the calves to Johne’s,” Eileen explains.

Transformula gives us control of the situation and we don’t get any issues with scour. We haven’t lost a single heifer calf this season.

The Jamiesons buy Transformula through CCF Ltd.

Ed Roberts, of CCF Ltd, describes the product as a fantastic way of transferring calves from colostrum to milk.

“It allows for a slow and steady change and that is good for the health of the calf,’’ he said.

Eileen Jamison and Ed Roberts

Eileen Jamison and Ed Roberts

Switching to Shine Once-a-Day milk replacer

After 10 days on Transformula, the calves at Penberry Farm are given Shine Once-a-Day milk replacer fed twice-a-day initially.

The same product is then fed once-a-day until calves are weaned at eight weeks. Calves also have access to straw, calf pellets and clean water at all times.

shine once a day

Eileen says the calves have performed well on Transformula and Shine Once-a-Day.

“Their coats are glossy, we don’t get scour and they are growing extremely well. What more could we ask.’’

Dr Christine Cummins added that Transformula costs about €4 per week to use compared with standard calf milk and should be fed for 10 days.

Also, Shine Once-a-day, in independent trials, reduced weaning age by around five days, saved an hours work per calf and increased growth before and after weaning.

Eileen Jamison calf 1

In Cummins’ view the system operated by the Jamiesons is perfect for calves and is, at the very least, cost neutral compared to other alternatives. More information on Bonanza Calf Nutrition