Off the back of our calf conference, here are a few tips that will hopefully make calf rearing a little easier for you this winter:

1.Feed quality milk in the right quantity

  • Good quality milk powder: making sure you feed dairy proteins to younger calves is essential as they can’t use non dairy protein sources until around 4 weeks of age!
  • Ensure you are feeding the correct volumes- can increase in the cold temperatures
  • Ensure you are feeding at the optimum temperature (39-41 degrees).
  • Ensure you know how much each calf is drinking, so consider compartment feeders

2. Make fresh water, forage, and cake available as early as possible

  • It has been proven that providing fresh water and a quality starter pellet to calves from birth helps support feed intakes and rumen development.
  • Water must be clean, and food must look palatable! Don’t just keep topping the bucket up… it’s like using a dirty plate for your Sunday roast!

3.Aim for a score 3 with your bedding

  • Calves have a relatively large surface area from which to lose body heat and so bedding them deeply is essential – you are aiming for score 3 on the nest scoring system. Ensuring their legs are not visible when they lie down indicates that they have enough straw.

4.Store up quality colostrum so you can feed it quickly

  • Measure colostrum quality using a brix refractometer before giving to calves – you are aiming for over 25% if possible, and most definitely over 22%! This ensures you are providing adequate immunoglobulins (antibodies).
  • Make sure you get colostrum in quickly! Ideally within 2 hours and definitely within 6, as absorption capabilities reduce over time.
  • Make sure to use separate calf feeding equipment for newborn calves and follow a strict but simple cleaning protocol.

5.Always carry a thermometer

  • Disease is easier to control with early diagnosis. If you find a calf is slow to drink , has isolated itself away from others, or its’ behaviour is just a bit off, make sure to take its’ temperature. Anything over 39.2°C indicates there might be a problem. Reviewing what do what to do in each situation with your vet allows for both prompt and correct treatment.

6.Cold water rinse your equipment first

  • Before washing with hot water you need to rinse the equipment that has had milk in with cold water to reduce biofilm build up. A biofilm is the perfect place for bacteria to cling on to.
  • You also need to ensure the feeders are hung upside down to dry properly as stale water is another bacteria breeding ground.
  • Making sure you hot scrub with an appropriate disinfectant will also reduce contamination levels.
  • We have the 3M machine available for swabbing your equipment to find out just how effective your cleaning protocol is!