Calf rearing practices have evolved over the years, but the fundamental goals remain the same: build immunity, develop the rumen and maximise growth, all at minimal cost. There’s no denying that cost will be at the top of the agenda this year. Focussing solely on the price of calf milk replacer or concentrate though, is likely to cost more in the long run. A 24 month heifer is 104 weeks old, and the first 8 weeks of her life are the most important in mapping her future production. That’s less than 8% of her life, and if that heifer makes it into her third lactation it’s just 5%. So instead, I would consider the cost-benefit of the investment being made, and when doing so consider the costs and benefits we cannot see.
Why is the pre-weaning period so important?
Although much of the concept of metabolic programming still needs to be understood, research indicates that nutrient intake pre- and post-natal, and health status in the first two months of life can alter gene expression and lifetime productivity. We know that a single case of scour or pneumonia can reduce growth rates, increase days to first service, wipe hundreds of litres off a lactation and reduce longevity, when compared to a calf that didn’t take sick. It’s difficult to calculate the exact cost of this, but when it comes to health, prevention is always better than cure and much more cost effective too.
There’s a wealth of evidence to show greater growth pre-weaning positively influences the capability for milk production throughout the animal’s lifetime. Providing more energy to calves through milk replacer not only increases DLWG but also enhances organ development, notably the liver, mammary gland and parenchyma (milk producing tissue). Crucially, this can only be influenced in the first two months of life. Increasing the plane of nutrition after 8 weeks of age will not enhance organ growth.
As the only opportunity to influence gene expression and organ development is pre-weaning, which is primarily influenced by milk consumption, due to the cost of calf milk replacer (CMR) 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. In the first month or two of life calves can have a feed conversion efficiency (FCE) of between 40 and 60%, i.e. for every 100g consumed they gain 50g in bodyweight. By 11 months of age FCE drops to 10%, so you need to feed 5 times the energy to gain the same 50g. If heifers need to play catchup at this stage to reach their pre-breeding target of 55-60% of their mature bodyweight, it is much less cost effective than earlier gains.
Although calf challenges are multi-factorial, we know through local and global research that energy is the most limiting factor in calf nutrition, and the leading cause of health issues in pre-weaned calves centres around gut health, and from 1-5 months it’s respiratory issues. At United Feeds we’ve focussed on developing our CMR range to specifically target these challenges. Our customer have enormous confidence in our Advance CMR as a product that grows healthy calves. Using Advance as our proven foundation we have built upon this by further improving the formulation and are pleased to launch our new Advance Fortified.
Advance Fortified
In Advance Fortified we have raised the energy density by increasing the content of highly digestible fat, bringing the oil level to 22%. At 23% protein, it contains an optimal balance of essential amino acids to support growth pre-weaning. To fortify gut development we’ve included inulin, a pre-biotic which stimulates growth of beneficial bacteria (Bifidobacterium and Lactobacilli) to positively manipulate the gut microbiota to improve gut health. Inulin has been shown to improve feed efficiency, and support gut health in challenging circumstances. To further strengthen gut health we’ve also included probiotics Enterococcus faecium and Lactobacillus rhamnosus. This addition of live bacteria strains will positively manipulate the diversity of gut microbiota, limiting pathogen invasion of the gut lumen. These will be particularly effective during times of high disease/stress risk.
To further strengthen the gut’s defense EMX includes plant extracts saponins and terpenoids which improve the integrity of the intestinal wall and attack the membrane of protozoa aiding in the control of coccidiosis and cryptosporidiosis. The anti-inflammatory properties reduce issues occurring and quicken recovery time in the event of an infection, helping maintain nutrient absorption and feed conversion improving DLWG.
The inclusion of Pulmosure supports respiratory health. Eucalyptus oil increases mucus secretion, broncho-dilation and the beat frequency of the cilia in the respiratory tract, aiding in the removal of foreign bodies and clearing airways. It enhances localised immunoglobulin production within the lungs and provides specific antibacterial activity enabling the calf to respond faster to an infection. The surfactant effect on the surface of the lungs acts as a decongestant, facilitating easier breathing.
Finally, the Greenline health pack nutritionally stimulates intakes, assists in the maintenance of a healthy immune system, optimizes performance, and promotes rumen development. The flavour link between our Advance Fortified and Advance calf starter range also promotes intakes of starter feed.
A resilient cow starts with a resilient calf. Advance Fortified supplies optimal energy and protein balance to support growth while fortifying the calf’s natural immune defences to support health. Today’s actions affect your herd’s future performance – invest wisely.
