April & May 2012 Newsletter

This months linked article's:

HEIFER REARING - THE FACTS

The art of heifer rearing for dairy replacements is a very precise and 'attention to detail' job. Latest figures available show that the true cost of rearing a heifer is around £1300 to £1400 which will take the average dairy cow almost 1½ lactations to recover the cost. It is vitally important that throughout the rearing process, from birth to giving birth herself, the heifer is managed within a strict regime.

Stage 1

Over 5% of all dairy calves born in the UK each year will die, and others who have diseases in the first 3 months of life could also cause significant financial losses throughout their lives. Figures show that around 15% of heifer calves don't make their first lactation with another 19% culled during their first and 24% culled during their second lactations.

It is critical that all calves receive colostrum followed by a milk substitute or whole milk. Figures show that by feeding milk powder rather than whole milk is more cost effective, and you can also put the whole milk in the tank for a better return. There are numerous types of milk powders on the market but we concentrate on selling the VOLAC products (see fig 1). Solid food in the form of a coarse mixture or pellet should be made readily available from 2 - 3 days after birth along with ad lib water and hay or straw. When the calf is eating 1kg of dry food it can be weaned (usually 6 weeks) but not before as it is less resistant to disease (fig 2). Straw is preferred to hay due to higher fibre levels being better for the development of the rumen.

Stage 2

After weaning it is vitally important you maintain optimum growth rates up to twelve months of age when the mammary cells are increasing in number and size. This is easier to control whilst heifers are housed but when turned out to grass you can lose track of intakes and nutritional values. One suggestion is by control of stocking rates using small paddocks and restricting intakes so they do not get too fat. Daily livewight gains of 0.7 To 0.8 kgs per day are essential to get to the correct weight at the bulling stage (fig 3)

Age at calving is a personal choice but the best time financially is around 24 months old. If you decide on 30 months it will mean you have to have 25% more animals to maintain replacement rates, which in turn means 25% more feed is used. If you follow all the basic steps, but above all grow your heifers like beef animals, aiming for maximum growth rates, you should end up with a heifer calving at 2 years old, in good condition which will them go on to produce good lactations in the future.

VOLAC RANGE OF MILK POWDERS

NAME USES COST PER LITRE MIXED

Blossom Easymix
(18% Oil, 23% Protein)

Bucket & cold ad lib systems. Can be fed through certain feeding machines

22.1p

Blossom Freeflow
(18% Oil, 23% Protein)

Machine feeding

22.5p

Enerlac Freeflow
(20% Oil, 20% Protein)

Machine feeding

19.0p

Enerlac Instant
(20% Oil, 20% Protien)

Once or twice a day feeding and some ad lib systems where an instant powder is required

19.6p

Heiferlac
(16% Oil, 26% Protein)

Mixes instantly in warm or cold water. Bucket feeding, cold ad lib systems and certain feeding machines

23.4p

Maverick Once A Day
(20% Oil, 24% Protein)

For once a day feeding. Bucket feeding and automatic feeders. Feed @ 125gms / litre twice a day for first 2 weeks then 155gms / litre once a day up to 3½ litres / day

21.3p

Maverick Healthy Start Rearer
(20% Oil, 20% Protein)

Instant mixing in cold or warm water, in bucket, cold ad lib systems or certain automatic machines

17.8p

*All products mixed at 125 gms / litre unless once a day feeding

GP FEEDS DRY FEEDS

NAME USES

Coarse Calf 16 Mixture

2 days up to 10 / 12 weeks

Coarse Calf 18 Mixture

2 days up to 10 / 12 weeks

Calf Starter 18 Pellets

2 days up to 10 / 12 weeks

Heifer 18 Nuts

10 / 12 weeks onwards

Supergro Heifer 20 Nuts

10 / 12 weeks onwards

Excel Pre Calver Rolls

4 weeks prior to calving

WEIGHT FOR AGE (kgs)

NAME USES

Three months

110

Four months

140

Five months

165

Six months

190

Seven months

215

Eight months

240

Nine months

265

Twelve months

340

Fourteen months

400 - Serving period

Fifteen months

430 - Serving period

Eighteen months

480

Twenty four months

620

Total gain 510 kgs (over 640 days equivalent to 0.8kgs / day)

For further information and prices on products please call the office and speak to Gareth on 01948 661602

Regulation of Silage Additives in the EU

By Dr Shirley Heron, Ecosyl Products Ltd, Stokesley, North Yorkshire, UK.

A number of agricultural health issues over the past decade have resulted in the European agricultural industry facing huge increases in legislation. Feed additives is one area that is getting a lot of attention, the main focus being on food safety and security. This has led to the creation of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), an independent body tasked with risk assessment of food and feed.

Regulation 1831/2003 is explained here by Dr Shirley Heron, Ecosyl Products Ltd...

If you haven't already booked your silage additive yet - give the office a call to discuss ECOSYL. Our sales of Ecosyl have continued to increased tenfold over the last 2 years - surely those customers who choose to use it can't be wrong. We would like you to join our increasing list of very happy and satisfied customers.

ECOSYL 100

  • For treating all grass and legume silage
  • Available for liquid or dry application in bigger 100 tonne packs
  • Liquid can be applied from 20mls up to 2 litres per tonne
  • Can be applied with any applicator, on any harvester
  • Recommended for conventional or organic use
  • Applies at least 1 million MTD/1 per gram of forage treated
  • 2 year shelf life in a cool, dry place
  • Proven to increase Milk Yield and LWG
ECOSYL 66

For more details ring the office on 01948 661602 or speak to your local GP agent - WELL WORTH THE CALL!

If your silage is looking wet or may be contaminated you may want to consider:

ADD-F NON-CORROSIVE

One of the best known and respected of all acid silage preservatives, Add-F, is now available in a non-corrosive formula from us, called Add-F NC (for non-corrosive). Originally developed by BP forty years ago, Kemira Chemicals have now taken over production and have made it far safer by using their proven gaseous ammoniation buffering process to remove the adverse effects that the old Add-F had on machinery and skin.

Add - F NC is ideal for: All silages that are low in sugar and/or have a high nitrate level and/or wet and contaminated grass...

CLAMPFILM

They said it would never work, but Clampfilm IS now the accepted way to STOP top and shoulder waste!...

AMINO PRO-TEK

In order to maintain high yields in the Spring producers need to fine tune the overall ration, but this must be cost effective. One route that has worked well for many dairy farmers is to add Amino Pro-Tek to the diet...

 

QUALITY PRODUCTS FOR QUALITY PRODUCTION

Contact

Gareth or Rachel (Office)
01948 661602 Fax 01948 871776

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