Dermot O’Dowd is one of a growing number of calf-to-beef producers who have installed computerised calf feeders in recent years.
He installed the Volac Urban Alma Pro feeder last spring and is delighted with his decision.
“It is a great labour-saving tool. Calves were healthier, more content and overall performance was excellent,” said Dermot.
Dermot manages the beef and sheep enterprises on Broadleas Farm at Stamullen, Co. Meath. Run by Ivan and Frances Curran, the large-scale Broadleas operation consists of some 500ha of cereals, 260ha of potatoes and 44ha of grassland, devoted to a calf-to-beef enterprise and a ewe flock.
A big labour saver
He buys bull calves, predominantly Hereford and Angus crosses, and brings them to slaughter, mainly as bull beef. Cutting down on labour was the chief reason why he looked at computerised feeding.
“I was spending valuable time bucket-feeding calves, which I could use to much better effect in other areas.”
He had seen how well an Urban Alma Pro feeder was performing for his cousin Damien O’Dowd who runs a replacement heifer contract-rearing business in Roscommon.
Following discussions with Volac business manager Tomás O’Reilly, he decided to install an Urban Alma Pro himself. The availability of a grant from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine under the Calf Investment Scheme was also a significant factor in making the decision.
He reared 80 calves on the feeder last spring and plans to increase the number to 100 next year.
Healthy and contented calves
“As well as being a great labour-saver, I was really impressed with how content the calves were.
“Knowing exactly what each calf is drinking is very important. It also ensures that slower drinking calves get their full allocation of milk replacer, which was not the case with bucket feeding.
“The fact that I can increase the daily allocation of milk replacer at the push of a button for particular types or breeds of calves is another aspect I like,” said Dermot.
When a calf is off form and not drinking its full allocation, its tag number will appear on the screen. This enables us to take quick action and, if necessary, treat the calf before any serious symptoms appear.
“As a result of this, we had very little health problems. In fact, the overall health of the calves fed last spring on the computerised feeder was better than in previous years,” he added.
Dermot highlighted the smooth weaning off the feeder as a major advantage. The gradual reduction in the level of milk replacer in the weeks before weaning encourages increased intake of concentrate.
“We found that calves were eating a lot more concentrate coming up to weaning. This led to very smooth weaning and calves were very content when they went to grass.”
Gain Easi-Mix milk replacer
Dermot used Gain Easi-Mix milk replacer, produced specially for Glanbia by Volac.
Based on concentrated whey protein, Gain Easi-Mix contains 25% protein and is packed with the vital amino acids, immunoglobulins and lactoferrins, which are vital for healthy calf growth and development. He is committed to using the product again next year.
A native of Croghan, Co. Roscommon, Dermot spent some time working in Australia, where he met Sarah, the daughter of Ivan and Frances Curran. They are now engaged and are planning to get married next year.
Latest technology in computerised feeding
The Volac Urban Alma Pro has the capacity to feed up to 120 calves at four feed stations and represents the latest advances in computer feeding technology.
It features the most up-to-date touchscreen technology with full control and alarm functions and can be operated through an iPhone, iPad, Android and Windows smartphone as well as via a laptop or desktop computer.
It enables users to have full access to calf drinking behaviour and calf health, even when not in the shed. An App., which enables tracking from mobile devices, is also available.
The Urban Alma Pro also features the option of a retractable fully automatic teat cleaning process that is carried out after each calf drinks.
Another optional extra is an electronic calf scale which enables continuous monitoring of calf weight. It can add value especially when rearing top quality replacement heifer calves.
Una Hickey, Volac national sales manager
Leaders in scientific developments in milk replacers
Since its establishment as a family-owned company 50 years ago, Volac has led the field in the science and technologies around milk replacers.
“Our mission is to ensure that farmers have access to milk replacers that have the highest nutritional and health attributes, thereby delivering the maximum performance in calves during the critical birth to weaning period,” said Una Hickey, national sales manager with Volac in Ireland.
The company’s seven high-performing calf milk replacers – Blossom Easy Mix, ImunoGard®, Triple A Golden Maverick, Golden Maverick Hi-Spec, Maverick Once a Day, Heiferlac and Olympian – all contain high levels of Imunopro®, the highly nutritious bioactive complex produced from liquid whey.
Imunopro® is unique to Volac and contains high levels of immunoglobulins, amino acids and lactoferrin, which has been shown to reduce scours.
The seven milk replacers are marketed under the Lifeguard milk formula range and all can be used in bucket-rearing systems as well as in computerised feeders.
Achieving top calf performance
“Research has shown that calves fed 900g/day of a high-quality milk replacer can gain 0.75kg/day from birth to weaning. A growing number of Irish farmers are currently feeding 900g/day of milk replacer and are achieving growth rates of at least 0.75kg/day.
For example, Heiferlac, the Volac replacer tailor made for replacement heifers in high EBI herds, is formulated to deliver growth rate of 0.9kg/day when mixed at 150g/L and fed in conjunction with ad lib concentrates and fresh water.
“Calf growth rates of 0.5kg/day and even less are still far too common. Inadequate milk replacer levels of 500-600g/day are a major contributor to this poor performance, which is proven to have a negative impact on lifetime performance and profitability of both replacement heifers and beef cattle,” said Una Hickey.
Feed for growth programme
The Volac Feed for Growth programme provides expert advice on every aspect of calf rearing.
In particular, it highlights the key performance milestones in rearing replacement heifer calves and puts particular focus on nutrition and management in the critical period from birth to weaning.
Nutrition and management of heifer calves during the first 12 weeks of life is proven to have a massive impact on rumen development and body frame which are crucial factors in producing animals that go in calf at 15 months and calve down at 24 months.
For more, visit: www.feedforgrowth.com.
