The management of calves in the first weeks of life has a significant impact on their lifetime production, and with replacement heifers, impact their long-term profitability. The average cost of rearing a heifer to 24 months is estimated to be circa €1,553, with a significant percentage of that cost incurred during the start of life/calf-rearing period. However, regardless of spend, the first 6 months of life is crucial as during this short time a calf will reach ~ 25% of its mature weight – highlighting the importance of ensuring optimal nutrition.

Research has shown that calves reach similar weight gains on milk replacer as they do while being fed on whole milk. However, this is on the basis that the milk replacer is formulated, using high quality dairy ingredients and that feeding instructions are followed. Milk replacer labelling can, at times, be confusing, with large differences in specifications and price available on the market. However, it is important to keep several factors in mind when selecting a milk replacer to fit your system and to avoid any confusion.

The first 6 months of life is crucial as during this short time a calf will reach ~ 25% of its mature weight – highlighting the importance of ensuring optimal nutrition.

Protein Sources

Many questions centre around the percentage of protein on the label of a bag of milk replacer, which is important, but more emphasis needs to be placed on the origin of said protein %. As we are trying to replicate the role of whole milk, as much of the protein as possible should be coming from a milk/dairy-based source, relative to vegetable/plant-based sources. In a young calf’s first few weeks of life, dairy sources are much more digestible and result in greater performance. Plant-based or vegetable protein sources are cheaper alternative sources of protein and where inclusions are high, similar levels or performance to whole milk should not be expected in early life. Increased fibre content can often be indicative of plant derivatives being used in milk replacers.

Manufacturing Processes

Another often less considered factor in overall digestibility of a milk replacer is the quality of the raw dairy materials used. Low heat-treated milk powders will have natural immunoglobin content available in the product and have no protein denaturisation, relative to high heat-treated skim or whey. Low heat-treated milk products are often more expensive on the market, but again lead to increased performance/digestibility.

Fat Sources

Fat percentage and sources of fat in milk replacer are also important, as fat is the main source of energy to the calf. Coconut and palm fat are the more common sources, with great digestibility and energy respectively for young calves.

Feeding Rates

The percentage of solids in whole milk is typically 12.5% (approx), hence it is also the most common feeding rate of milk replacer on farm. This is calculated by adding youe % fat, protein and lactose in the bulk tank analysis. Fed at 6L, a calf will be consuming 750g of milk replacer daily, replicating milk solids intake from typical whole milk.

Accelerated feed programmes are often used on farm where higher Average Daily Gain (ADG) is being targeted with replacement heifers – this would include feeding a higher concentration of milk replacer (15% milk solids) or increased volumes. Once-a-day feeding schedules are becoming increasingly popular. However, once a day feeding should only ever be considered once calves are greater than one month old.

Weaning should be gradual and only ever considered once a calf is consuming more than 1.5kg/hd/day in group pen scenarios. At this point, a calf is independently consuming enough dry matter from straw & concentrate to allow for a stress-free weaning period.

For more advice on calf milk replacers, contact your local Agritech Sales Advisor here. 

Early autumn reseeding is the preferred option for many to reseed grazing ground due to reduced pressure on grass availability and the increased availability of grazing ground after second cut silage.

After several months of poor grass growth this year, many reseeds were delayed so it’s important to get back on track when the opportunity presents itself.

However, timing is crucial so the earlier you plan on completing reseeding, the more flexibility they’ll have regarding grazing and weed control.

The target turnaround with a reseed should be 50 to 60 days. Therefore if spray-off is completed by mid-August, target first grazing should be approximately the same date in October. Ideally, one more grazing before winter should create a more established sward for the following spring.

Taking the reseeding opportunity earlier will also help with clover establishment. With clover high on the agenda for those reseeding grazing block ground, its important to get the basics correct to aid in its establishment. Clover has a high pH requirement, favouring soils at a pH of 6.5, and index 3-4 for P&K.

Avoid jeopardising your investment in reseeding by skimping on weed control or missing the ideal window. Post-emergence spraying is always your best chance to control weeds, typically applied approximately 5-6 weeks after sowing. Where clover was incorporated in the seed mixture, use a clover-safe spray (take care to use a clover-safe spray at the three-leaf stage).

One of the most common issues seen with reseeds where conventional ploughing has not been used is inadequate rolling of new reseeds/poor firmness.

Rolling is essential to create good soil–to–seed contact and also helps to maintain moisture within the seedbed.

New plants emerge quickest where the tractor tyre marks are, or in the headlands due to greater contact. So roll the seed bed prior to sowing to increase firmness.

For more information contact your local Agritech Sales Advisor. 

The ultimate goal of calf rearing is to set up a heifer to achieve target weights over her lifetime in order to maximise profitability. These targets will include doubling her birthweight at the point of weaning, achieving 60% of her mature weight at breeding, and calving down at 24 months at 90% of her mature body weight.

To reach such targets, replacement heifers need to achieve a steady gain of approximately 0.75 kg/day from birth. Interruptions to performance over the calf-rearing period may offset such target weights being achieved. Therefore, adopting best practice calf rearing advice and protocols are of key importance over the next few vital weeks.

3-2-1 Rule

Good colostrum management is the most important factor in calf health and survival. Over the last 3-5 years, 70% of calves that presented for a post-mortem at regional veterinary laboratories, were found to have received either poor quality or insufficient quantities of colostrum.

When feeding colostrum, it is essential that the 3-2-1 rule is adhered to. This includes providing the calf with at a minimum of 3 litres (or 5-6% of a calf’s birth weight), within 2 hours of birth, using colostrum from the cows first milking. This process should then be repeated 8 hours later, however it is important to note that by the second milking, the dam’s immunoglobulin content will have halved.

Cleanliness of colostrum is a huge dictating factor, as the amount of dirt particles or contamination to the colostrum before entering the calf will limit the amount of immunity absorption available. Feeding pooled colostrum to calves is also not recommended as it can lead to major risk factors including increased disease risk and poor-quality colostrum entering the pool.

With this in mind, it is essential to ensure that all utensils are sterile and that milking protocols and good colostrum harvesting hygiene are applied.

Calf Hygiene and Facilities

Facilities ideally should be clean, dry, draught free, with good ventilation. A new-born calf will spend over 80% of their time lying down, therefore it is imperative to provide a deep, warm, dry bed always.

Calves should spend minimal time periods in the calving-pen to avoid picking up infection or disease. To avoid carrying disease into the calf shed over the peak calving months, set-up a wash point at the entrance to the calf shed for staff, vets, etc. Early detection of sick calves and isolation to avoid spreading bacterial infections, is also of high importance.

Rumen Development

Once a calf starts to intake water and starter concentrates/ration, we introduce healthy bacteria into the rumen which will kick-start rumen development. Starter concentrates and ad-lib fresh water should be available to the calf from three days of age. A clean source of long roughage/fibre (e.g. straw) should also be available at all times to promote dry matter intakes This forage should be offered above ground level in racks/mangers.

Weaning should only ever be considered once calves are consuming 1.5 kg of concentrates/day. Weaning calves on a weight basis, compared to an age basis, will result in a more uniform batch.

Milk Replacer Choice

When it comes to milk replacer, the three main benefits include:

1. Cost effectiveness
2. Reduced risk of disease transfer in the herd
3. Consistency in the calf’s diet

Milk replacer should be dairy derived and contain a high dairy content. Dairy proteins are more easily digestible and available to the calf compared to plant-based proteins. Both Vitalac Red and Blue Calf Milk Replacers contain a 90-95% dairy content.

Milk replacer should replicate the role of good quality whole milk, typically offered at 12.5% milk solids (E.g. 125 g powder, into 875ml clean water to make 1 litre of milk). Feeding a calf twice-a-day at 6 litres/day would result in offering the calf 750 g of powder/day.

When mixing, adhere to the milk replacer guidelines outlined below using fresh clean, warm water and sterile mixing and feeding utensils. The optimal drinking temperature of the calf milk replacer is 39°C. To prepare the milk, dissolve the powder in two-thirds of the amount of water at 55-60°C and add the remaining water at room temperature until the optimum drinking temperature is reached.

See typical milk replacer feeding guidelines below:

More Information:

For more information, browse our Vitalac Calf Milk Replacer page or download the Agritech-Milk-Replacer-Brochure (2.5MB).

As we approach calving 2021 the focus should be on final preparations that will result in a spring free from any upsets, nutritional issues or metabolic diseases during an already busy time on farm.

Several key factors will correlate directly to the success of calving 2021, including:

• A planned and well executed dry cow mineral programme
• Calving down the cow in the correct body condition score
• Excellent husbandry in the weeks pre- and post-calving
• Careful transition diet planning

It is always worth remembering at this time in the year, that key decisions made over the next number of weeks will have a direct e­ffect on the performance of the herd, especially herd fertility – submission and conception rates, ultimately a­ffecting the longevity of the cow within the herd.

Negative Energy Balance

In the weeks post-calving, cows will produce more milk than their feed intake can provide for, resulting in Body Condition Score (BCS) loss due to Negative Energy Balance. Research has shown NEB will firstly, reduce milk protein and if prolonged, have detrimental consequences on the breeding season.

The milking cow should receive an adequate diet to optimise milk solids production and keep body weight loss to less than 0.5 BCS between calving and breeding. Cows that lose < 0.5 BCS over this time (approx. 25 kg) typically ovulate 15 days earlier than those cows that lose 1 BCS during this period.

Dry matter intake typically increases by 0.75 – 1.0 kg/week for the first 8 weeks of lactation, therefore being 8 weeks post-calving before maximum intake is reached – highlighting the need for an energy-dense transition diet.

Every farm scenario is different, and tailored advice should be given where issues arise. However, early preparation and planning is vital to avoid added stresses on farm

On farm support during COVID-19

In order to keep our customers and staff as safe as possible, our sales team and distributors we will be minimising the number of on farm consultations. We are however, as always, available for FREE delivery direct to farm and over the phone consultations. Contact your local Agritech sales rep/distributor to place your order or click here.  

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Maeve Regan as Head of Ruminant Nutrition.

Maeve brings a wealth of experience to the role, both practical and academic. She holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Science from University College Dublin (UCD), where she specialised in Animal Science, as well as a Walsh Fellowship Research Masters, focusing on grass-based beef production, which she completed in collaboration with Teagasc Grange and UCD.

Having grown up on a pedigree beef farm in Co. Roscommon, as well as having spent time working on dairy enterprises in both Ireland and the US, Maeve has extensive experience with modern beef and dairy production systems, and is well known with farmers throughout the country from her time working with Glanbia as a technical support advisor.

Maeve’s primary role with Agritech will be to provide technical support to our national and international customers. Speaking about the appointment, Managing Director, Brian O Slatarra said, “We are delighted to appoint someone of Maeve’s calibre to this newly created senior position in the company. Her talent and knowledge will add a further dimension to helping to ensure that our customers get the best return from our products and their animals.”

Agritech’s business has grown significantly in the past number of years, both domestically and internationally, and now distributes products in a number of countries across Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Brian concluded, “We look forward to Maeve’s contribution as we plan for future growth and innovation across the business.”

Increased stocking rates particularly on dairy farms has meant that herbage output is more critical now than ever before. The recent Teagasc Moorepark Open Day highlighted that the anticipated further growth of the national dairy herd must be achieved in an environmentally sustainable way .

The application of biological seed stimulants is a key step in exploiting the potential of grass; something which has been adopted by Agritech from early on. Every grass seed mixture in the Tipperary Grass Seed Range is treated with a unique germination dressing called GroQuik®.

GroQuik® is a biological seed stimulant which accelerates germination and especially root growth in both grasses and clover. Environmental sustainability is very much at the forefront as the ingredients used in its manufacturing are 100% non-chemical and they even qualify for inclusion in grass seed mixtures for use on organic farms.

The application of GroQuik® is especially beneficial to clover establishment as it has a more extensive and complicated root structure. This is critical for Irish farmers, with research by Teagasc continuing to highlight that clover has a central role to play on all farms, whether the farming system is intensive or extensive.

Improved root structure

The benefit of an enhanced and more developed root structure helps to ensure that the grass plant has access to more nutrients from the soil, thereby ensuring improved efficiency and extra herbage yield.

Recent on farm experiments have highlighted the benefits of an improved root structure by comparing dressed and non-dressed grass mixture plots. Despite both plots receiving the same management in the same field at the same time, it was found that dressed plots showed a significant increase in herbage yield compared to the non-dressed plots.

Initially, it was thought that this benefit would last for a few months post sowing, however it is now very clear that the benefits last for years. Commenting on this, Agritech Sales Director, John Kenny states, “Going forward, stimulants such as GroQuik® will play a vital role in Irish Agriculture by increasing herbage output in an environmentally sustainable way. The benefits of the technology can be seen by farmers long after sowing by facilitating healthier plants and improved yields.”

For any further advice on autumn reseeding or to choose a suitable grass mixture from the Tipperary Grass Seed Range, contact your local Agritech distributor or click here.

Now is the time of year that grass quality is the most difficult to manage. However, those who make swift management decisions at this stage will be rewarded in the long term.

All grasses are programmed to ‘head out’ in June. As grasses ‘head out’, there is less leaf area for the remainder of the growing season. Animal performance is dependent on a high leaf to stem ratio in our farm grass swards, therefore it is highly recommended that farmers assess the ryegrass content of their swards now.

Paddocks should be grazed as they reach 1250 to 1350kg/dm/ha and all surplus growth above this should be conserved for silage bales at 1800kg/dm/ha and fertilised quickly to return to the next grazing rotation. Fields that have a poor clean out or reduction on animal performance should be assessed and if they contain less than 50% ryegrass, they should be identified for immediate reseeding.

Reseeding

Once old wild grasses head out, their response to fertiliser reduces. As a result, many Irish farmers will reseed now as recovery post grazing or cutting.

The conventional system of full reseeds on intensive dairy farms has reduced in popularity in countries like the UK, New Zealand, Finland and other pasture-based milk producing countries. Their system is simple; cut or graze the sward tightly and use a special grass seed mixture like our Tipperary Grass Rejuvenation/Overseeding Mixture.

This mixture is specifically formulated to extend the life of an existing sward and maintain yield and quality. The inclusion of larger late tetraploid seeds will allow it to establish and compete with the existing sward and it is also GroQuik dressed to ensure faster germination.

In addition to using a high quality grass seed mixture, following the below management practices will be critical in achieving a good reseed:

• Using a stitching machine (Moore, Vergo Drill), cut a slot in the existing sod and drop the new seed into it.
• Spread two bags of 10:10:20 and two bags of granulated lime or one tonne of ground lime after sowing.
• The ground should also be rolled with a land roller to give excellent soil to seed contact and to help prevent pest attacks.
• Keep a close eye on the emerging grass plants and graze at 14 day intervals to get maximum results.

For more information, contact your local Agritech distributor or view our Tipperary Grass page

1. Sowing arable silage or whole-crop silage and under sowing the grass seed
2. Sowing a nurse crop of cereal (reduced rate) along with the grass
3. Sowing fodder rape or Typhon along with the grass
4. Sowing Westerwold grass with perennial ryegrass, to achieve early yields in the first season

While all the above options will give extra yield in the year sown, there are many associated pitfalls which will need to be considered:

1. Whole-crop will be cut first, therefore you cannot early graze to promote tillering.
2. Heavy whole-crop can smother young grass and block out light required to grow properly. This will result in very disappointing crops of grass.
3. Post-emergence weed control is not possible on reseeds without killing all brassicas (kale, rape, Typhon and turnips). The same will apply to whole-crop containing peas in the mix. Heavy crops may help to discourage annual weeds, however docks are very resilient.
4. If Westerwold is being added to the mix, while it is not persistent, it has the capacity to reseed itself from dropped seeds and heading will be earlier than with perennial ryegrass. If these seeds mature and drop off, a new crop of Westerwold can grow, which can be worse than weeds. To avoid this, seed heads must be cut or topped before they mature.

Before making any decisions, it is important to weigh up the pitfalls based on your own situation and see if you can manage them. Always bear in mind that you are sowing a crop of grass for 6 to 8 years, therefore do not take too much risk.

The most important thing is to establish the grass properly. Always pay attention to the detail around achieving a good reseed:

1. Soil test and use results to develop a fertiliser program.
2. Apply required lime. Min-till requires lime in every situation and follow the soil test recommendations otherwise.
3. Apply 3 bags of 10-10-20 per acre or follow soil test recommendations.
4. Make sure post-emergence weed control is carried out 4-6 weeks after emergence. (Clover leaf needs to be unfolded). Use Legumex DB and add Triade if chickweed is a problem.
5. Watch out for slug and insect damage and treat accordingly.
6. If possible, graze lightly to promote tillering when grass is ready.

Tipperary Grass Seed in conjunction with good decisions will give excellent results. For any further advice on reseeding or to choose a suitable grass mixture from the Tipperary Grass Seed Range, click here or contact your local Agritech distributor. 

Although temperatures are beginning to rise, calves are still at risk of contracting pneumonia. Take a look at some of the common causes as well as our effective solutions below:

Causes

• Variation in high day temperatures and low night temperatures. If greater than 13°C, animals are at a higher risk of pneumonia
• Poor shed ventilation, i.e. leaving doors open in the late evening
• Overstocking sheds. As calves grow, they require more ground and air space

Solutions 

• Treat all symptoms immediately
• Provide shelter, space and keep calves rehydrated at all times
• Boost calf immunity by feeding Vitameg in both milk and feed

Vitameg

Vitameg is a feeding supplement with prebiotic and Omega-3 for young ruminants.

Vitameg’s combination of ingredients when fed to young ruminants will:

• Increase feed intakes.
• Stimulate rumen development.
• Increase daily live weight gain.
• Support calf natural defence mechanism.
• Improve digestibility

View our Vitameg brochure 

To find out more, contact your local distributor 

VIV Asia is the leading international feed to food trade show in Asia and attracts up to 1,250 international exhibitors. This three day show takes place from the 13th-15th of March and will present the latest solutions, trends and technologies for animal husbandry, breeding and processing.

The Agritech team are delighted to attend this event as it is a unique opportunity to meet with current and potential partners from across the world and showcase our wide range of feed supplements for ruminant, pig and poultry markets, which are enriched with essential omega-3 acids and salmon oil. On the day, visitors will have the opportunity to learn more about our products, including Agromega and Salomega for monogastric animals such as pigs and poultry and Rumate, Rumicare, Vitameg, and Optimate, which have been developed for ruminant animals.

We will be exhibiting at Hall 105, Stand 806, so be sure to drop by to learn more about our product range or to simply chat to our team of experts!

For further updates, check out our international page here.