Due to the cost of milk replacer versus starter feed it’s not unreasonable to assume that feeding more milk replacer is expensive. However, if you consider cost per weight gained, then pre-weaning is in fact the cheapest period to obtain growth. The first 12 weeks of a calf’s life is also the period of highest feed conversion efficiency (FCE). It starts off between 50 and 60%, i.e. for every 100g consumed they gain 55g in bodyweight. By 11 months of age FCE drops to 10%, so you need to feed 550g of feed to gain the same 55g of bodyweight. With the aim of having heifers in calf by 15 months, breeding should begin at 13 months, where they should be 55-60% of their mature body weight. If heifers need to play catchup to reach this target it is much less cost effective than earlier gains.
Enhanced early nutrition optimises the rapid growth potential of young calves. A target of doubling birth weight by weaning is the first to achieve. As milk is the primary nutrient source pre-weaning it’s important to select the correct product for your system.
Calf Milk Replacer Range
United Feeds have four calf milk replacers available, ranging from 20-25% protein, 18-25% oil, skim or whey based. We have chosen quality protein sources formulated to an optimum amino acid balance required by the calf for optimal growth. Energy sources are selected to be highly digestible for the pre-ruminant calf. Calf supplements (Greenline/Gardion) are included for their ability to not only encourage intakes but aid digestion. They stimulate gut wall development and activate the calf’s natural immunity, with the aim of reducing the incidences of intestinal disorders and optimising growth rates.
To achieve a minimum growth of 0.8kg/day pre-weaning, a minimum of 800g – 1kg of milk solids per calf/day should be fed in at least two feeds. Your local United Feeds adviser can offer guidance on feed programmes and the milk replacer range.
Rumen Development
A functional rumen is critical to an efficient and economic calf rearing programme. As the calf is born with a non-functional rumen, nutrients from milk are digested in the abomasum and intestines. The rumen must be sufficiently developed by weaning so that it can digest and utilise concentrates to replace the nutrients previously supplied by milk. Rumen development can start within the first week of life, the transition time from non-ruminant to functional ruminant is influenced primarily by the diet. The rumen needs to develop in two ways: Size i.e. physical capacity and wall thickness/papillae formation i.e. absorptive capacity. Forage increases size by stretching the rumen wall and promoting growth of the muscular layer. Concentrate increases the absorptive capacity by stimulating papillae development from butyrate and propionate production.
Crucially water is needed for rumen microbes to grow. Concentrate intake drives water intake and vice-versa. Milk is a feed, not a drink and calves should be provided with clean, fresh water along with fresh calf starter feed from day 3 of age to encourage early starter intakes and kick start rumen development. Although calf starter intake isn’t considerable in the first few weeks of life, calves are curious and will nibble. Intakes will gradually increase; aim for a minimum of 0.5kg daily by 5 weeks of age, 0.7kg daily week 6, 1kg daily week 7 with calves being weaned only once eating 1-1.5kg daily.
Concentrate Range
United Feeds offer a wide range of youngstock rations from calf starter pellets to heifer and grower rations, available in pellet, nut or blend form. Bespoke blends can be formulated to desired specification with inclusion of any of the additives listed below.
Across our youngstock range we include a high cereal content to provide an energy-dense diet, driving live weight gain and rumen development. Ingredients are selected to provide optimal levels of protein for young calves supporting frame development and muscle growth. Specific calf supplements supply vitamins, minerals and trace elements required to boost a developing immune system and support calf growth.
By 6 months of age calves should be 30% of their mature bodyweight.
Additives
We work with a range of suppliers to source technical products, backed by scientific research that yield results on farm.
Pulmo+ is a combination of essential oils and plant extracts. The ‘Pulmo’ element supports respiratory tract health while the ‘+’ part is more widely known as EMX, which maintains gut health. Taking pulmonary health first, the balsamic activity of the essential oils increases mucus secretion, aiding in the removal of foreign bodies such as dust or respiratory viruses. The plant extracts provide a specific antibacterial activity, enhancing the calf’s immunity through IgA production in the lungs so the calf can respond faster to an infection. The surfactant effect on the surface area of the lungs decongests the airways, facilitating easy breathing.
Calf scour is a result of damage to the lining of the intestine caused by invasion of bacteria, viruses or protozoa e.g. Coccidia and Cryptosporidium. Intestinal damage reduces nutrient absorption, lowering daily liveweight gain and potentially reducing the lifetime performance of the affected animal. EMX or the ‘+’ part of Pulmo + is a nutritional control available in products from United Feeds to help in the prevention of Coccidiosis or Cryptosporidiosis. As a natural alternative it requires no withdrawal period and no veterinary prescription. It acts by destructing the protozoa membrane, reducing their impact on the calf’s gut. It maintains cell integrity and has anti-inflammatory properties, protecting the intestinal tract, reducing the risk of scour and helping maintain nutrient absorption so the calf efficiently uses the feed provided to grow and develop.
Pulmo + is only available in selected CMRs. EMX is available on request in youngstock rations.
Greenline Calf contains specific sugars and natural products of rumen microbial activity that produce a “mother smell”, proven to stimulate higher intakes and accelerate gastrointestinal tract development. It also contains additives for the nutritional maintenance of the immune system. These stimulate immune cells that are the first line of defence against invading organisms. Greenline calf has a highly effective antioxidant capacity and optimises the nutritional support of a healthy digestive system through an increase in the defensive mucus intestinal lining, inhibition of bacterial attachment and deactivation of mycotoxins.
It optimises calf performance with products that modulate microbial flora and increase gut villi length, resulting in an increase in nutrient digestibility, increase in weight gain, improvement in growth performance and increase in feed conversion ratio. Also contains additives that help growth and development by supporting energy metabolism, protein synthesis, DNA methylation and gene expression. These processes are highly active in growing young calves and benefit from nutritional support.
A combination of sugars, short chain fatty acids & yeast together promote rumen epithelial development and assist with the maturation of a mature functioning rumen, increasing the absorptive capacity. Also contains prebiotics, oxygen scavengers and rumen pH stabilizers that help create an optimal rumen environment for microbial growth and rumen function.
Bio-Mos® is derived from a selected strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast, formulated to feed the gastrointestinal tract by promoting good bacteria. It supports gut integrity by stimulating the calf’s natural immune system and by binding to pathogenic bacteria e.g. E-coli & salmonella, preventing infection.
Amaferm® increases fibre digestion releasing more energy from feed to support growth. Youngstock often aren’t fed the best forage available on the farm, Amaferm increases the digestion of forage, increasing the rate of passage to boost dry matter intakes. Calves fed Amaferm have been shown to have greater rumen microbial activity helping achieve earlier rumen development.
Yea-sacc® is a yeast culture based on Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain. Proven to reduce fluctuation in pH, it keeps rumen microbes steadily active, increasing feed digestion and rumen turnover, allowing greater feed intakes. It stimulates activity of the bacteria that convert lactic acid to propionic acid, aiding rumen development and promotes the growth of fibre-digesting bacteria in the rumen, supporting the rate and extent of forage breakdown, helping the calf convert as more of it’s feed into energy for development and growth.
For more information on milk replacers or youngstock rations to suit your rearing system speak to your local adviser or call 02890 759000.
