Low quality colostrum,could animax boluses at drying off help?

Nyvlingen

Member
Since i started testing all colostrum, i was suprised to see how few cows who give good quality. Everything else around the dry and fresh cows is working good. Today i bought some animax boluses, the salesman said it could make it better. What do you all think?
 

Sylution

Member
Location
Carmarthenshire
How are the calves performing? I have never tested colostrum before this year. However I had colostrum balls from forfarmers when buying transition cow cake. And like you I was surprised at the quality, over half the cows calved are 3 or 4 balls floating which means average colostrum. I do give animax bolus at drying off. So i would not count on better colostrum. However cows are cleansing much better an calf vigour seems to have improved.
I try to give the best colostrum to dairy replacements now, but if they suckle the cow they get what they get.
If you did not test you would not know. Si you have a good starting point.
 

Nyvlingen

Member
Calves are good, i save from the best colostrum and they get 4 ltr. But it is hard to put up a storage in the freezer when so few of the cows give any quality.
 
Location
East Mids
We use Lifeline pre-calver buckets but I appreciate that may not be suitable for larger herds and are also not suitable for outdoor use in TB areas. Most seem to lick from them and as long as they have had about 2-3 weeks on them, colostrum quality is usually OK. We do notice a difference if a cow or heifer has only had 1-2 weeks on them, then when tested the colostrum is not worth saving / feeding (or labelled as only for second feeds)
 

bovine

Member
Location
North
1. How soon are you testing?
2. How are you testing colostrum? Please be very specific as temperature matters with some methods.
3. Have you done any bloods to establish mineral status?
4. Have you had your vet test calves to see if they are getting enough antibodies?

A bolus might help, but there are many factors to this that need teasing apart, rather than chucking in a magic pill.
 

SFI - What % were you taking out of production?

  • 0 %

    Votes: 79 42.9%
  • Up to 25%

    Votes: 63 34.2%
  • 25-50%

    Votes: 30 16.3%
  • 50-75%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 75-100%

    Votes: 3 1.6%
  • 100% I’ve had enough of farming!

    Votes: 6 3.3%

Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

  • 1,287
  • 1
As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
Top