While the initial days/weeks of calf rearing may appear to be the most labour-intensive stage for farmers, the first season at grass can prove a more difficult phase for them to manage.

Nutritionally, success is measured by developing the calf as best as possible prior to introducing grazed grass. Given that newborn calves are born with undeveloped rumens, the initial objective is to assist such rumen development prior to being weaned off milk. This enables them to become cost-effective forage consumers.

Rumen development begins within the first few days of life and is advanced by exposure to healthy bacteria from the environment and the consumption of solid feeds. Introducing a palatable calf-starter ration/nut from 3 days of ages (18% Crude Protein) is important, along with access to fresh, clean water and high-quality clean straw ad-libitum (no haylage/silage).

Weaning on a weight basis alone can create a false sense of security in terms of how ready calves are for the next stage of nutrition. Weaning shouldn’t be considered until calves are intaking a minimum of 1.5kg concentrate/day in grouped pens – which indicates that the calf’s dry matter intakes can cope with the transition to a 100% solid diet.

Year-on-year, cases of calves suffering from setbacks following their introduction to grass can also prove a major influencing factor.

Nutritionally, spring grass can be high in oils like conjugated linoleic acid, sugars and potentially nitrogen, which young, underdeveloped rumens can find it hard to adjust to. Low covers of grass also have very little fibre, which is a key substrate for good rumen health.

Calves aren’t fully functioning ruminants, which is why additional care and attention is required at so critical a phase in their development.

Greater rumen development in early life can help combat such issues, alongside the following: offering concentrates post-turnout, grazing slightly heavier covers until calves having adapted to grazing, offering a fibre source to ease the transition and/or strip grazing calves to ensure stem content is also being grazed.

For more information and calf rearing advice, contact your local Agritech Sales Advisor here.

With the recent improvement in growth rates, there will be a trend towards zero grazing over the coming weeks. The lush leafy grass that exists on farms at this time is even more pronounced this year due to the rapid uptake of nitrates. This grass is generally of the very highest digestibility and if consumed by the dairy cow in adequate amounts, it will contribute to improved milk yields and milk protein yields.

Despite having numerous benefits, this highly digestible forage is extremely low in structural fibre and low in dry matter content which can leave the cow prone to bouts of Sub-Acute Rumen Acidosis (SARA). SARA significantly reduces rumen pH which thereby negatively affects rumen efficiency and herd performance.This condition also has a significant impact on the yield of milk solids and consequently milk price.

Solutions to alleviate SARA

What measures can be implemented on farms to combat this condition?

The addition of a structural fibre source such as straw to the diet has traditionally been a worthwhile consideration, however due to current straw prices, this is an expensive solution.

Alternative options such as Rumen buffers are recognised worldwide as an excellent remedy for this condition. In Ireland, the use of rumen buffers is highly recognised in the formulation of purchased rations but not as much as an antidote to correcting low pH levels in grazed grass. Here at Agritech, we have been involved in the production of rumen buffers through our Rumicare range.

Rumicare Rumen Buffer

Rumicare was developed to help counteract rumen acidity and promote adequate rumen protozoa populations in intensively fed animals and animals consuming low fibre diets such as highly digestible grazed grass. Rumicare is on the market for almost ten years now and is widely used on Irish farms and also enjoys worldwide reputation as it is exported to countries as far away as Australia.

Rumicare is a totally unique blend of phased released rumen buffering minerals and Rumigest Yeast in the one bag. These minerals have strong alkaline properties which counteract rumen acidity right throughout each 24 hour period. The addition of Rumigest Yeast further contributes to healthy rumen protozoa populations.

The tell-tale signs of SARA are sometimes difficult to detect, however our Agritech technical team have listed some of the most common symptoms which they have witnessed on farms.

• Bubbles on dung.
• Cows swishing their tails (due to passing acidic manure).
• Animals performing 5-10% below capacity.
• Increased lameness levels.
• Less than 80% of animals which are lying down were observed chewing the cud.
• Mildly depressed demeanour.

Note: Using Rumicare at 150 grams per head per day will help counter this underlying condition.

For further assistance or advice do not hesitate to contact your local Agritech distributor or Agritech Technical Advisor.