Acid treated milk for calves

[HasthorpeGrange]

Hi everyone, after a bit of advice. I read on here somewhere that people acid treat milk for calves. Just wondered if anyone could help me with a few questions.
1. what’s the process of treating it? Is it just a matter or pouring the acid into an ibc of milk?
2. can it be stored like that and how long for?
3. what’s the acid that is used?
4. what’s the ratio of acid to milk?
5. what does it cost?
6. Are there any benefits or disadvantages towards the calves development and growth?

Thanks for any information your able to give.
I think I read you had tried it @som farmer?

 

[som farmer]

Hi everyone, after a bit of advice. I read on here somewhere that people acid treat milk for calves. Just wondered if anyone could help me with a few questions.
1. what’s the process of treating it? Is it just a matter or pouring the acid into an ibc of milk?
2. can it be stored like that and how long for?
3. what’s the acid that is used?
4. what’s the ratio of acid to milk?
5. what does it cost?
6. Are there any benefits or disadvantages towards the calves development and growth?

Thanks for any information your able to give.
I think I read you had tried it @som farmer?

stirring the acid in
couple of weeks
formic acid
leave that to you, just in case we are doing it wrong !
formic acid, isn't readily available, at the moment, we got ours in Highbridge somerset, £82 25litres, its a case of 'tracking' it down.
beneficial to both pocket and calves, calves do very well on it, some claim it will kill johnes, if left min 3 days, I don't the truth in that, but sounds good, as the calve 'acidifies' the milk when on it, the a/milk helps that process.
we do find it a 'bit' hit and miss, needs to be stirred regularly, but apart from looking awful, caves do really well on it, and, as we block calve, its all colostrum, which means reduce amount fed ! All our info came of the internet, and trial and error, which is why we don't suggest amounts!
As a student in hants, farm there, just stored the colostrum in barrels, nothing added, not the best of jobs, mixing it with hot water to feed, especially after a night out, but the calves did well on it.

 

[Beef farmer]

stirring the acid in
couple of weeks
formic acid
leave that to you, just in case we are doing it wrong !
formic acid, isn't readily available, at the moment, we got ours in Highbridge somerset, £82 25litres, its a case of 'tracking' it down.
beneficial to both pocket and calves, calves do very well on it, some claim it will kill johnes, if left min 3 days, I don't the truth in that, but sounds good, as the calve 'acidifies' the milk when on it, the a/milk helps that process.
we do find it a 'bit' hit and miss, needs to be stirred regularly, but apart from looking awful, caves do really well on it, and, as we block calve, its all colostrum, which means reduce amount fed ! All our info came of the internet, and trial and error, which is why we don't suggest amounts!
As a student in hants, farm there, just stored the colostrum in barrels, nothing added, not the best of jobs, mixing it with hot water to feed, especially after a night out, but the calves did well on it.

As you touched on at the end, why not just make yoghurt. Just fill an ibc with colostrum and leave in the shade. Make sure no antibiotic milk is in it, as it kills the bacteria

 

[som farmer]

As you touched on at the end, why not just make yoghurt. Just fill an ibc with colostrum and leave in the shade. Make sure no antibiotic milk is in it, as it kills the bacteria

dry cow tubes ?

 

[vantage]

@Spudley does yoghurt milk.

 

[Beef farmer]

dry cow tubes ?

As long as out of withdrawal should be good to go

 

[Spudley]

Yes we do yogurt milk. I do it in 200 gallon drums in a little room next to the dairy. I have learned now to only make 1 or 2 days worth, if you keep it longer, especially in warm weather, it is rank. Dry cow tubes don't seem to bother it, I put colostrum into it no problem. Mastitis milk is a definite no no though, it will ruin it straight away. It's fabulous stuff, I could go on abouT it all day but it's that time!

 

[HasthorpeGrange]

I was thinking saving c litres now to feed heifers in two months time when seasonality is the opposite way around. Save the high SCC milk and it would eliminate the johnes risk. Thanks for your inputs. Do you have any pictures of how the yogurt turned out?

 

[Spudley]

I can get some pictures tomorrow. I never keep it that long I have to say! Although the batch is constantly on the go, I try to replace half every day.