Are your Calf Rearing Vet & Medicine costs too high? One simple solution we found -

[Baldrick]

FEED MORE MILK!
We reared calves on contract for 20 years, mainly on cold ad-lib milk and on warm restricted when temperatures were low. We noticed that the groups on ad-lib milk had less mortality and lower vets bills compared to restricted batches. We used 2 bags/calf but they grew more quickly and more content.

When they were growing quickly on ad-lib, they seem to fight disease much better. It takes energy to fight a disease, so having plenty of milk/energy, they cope much better. Obvious now when you think about it.
Anyone else find this?

 

[Hummin-Cummins]

Which brand of milk powder do you sell ?

Interesting to hear as usually find calves on ad-lib usually have a higher mortality rate.

 

[had e nuff]

A baldrick imposter @Bald Rick

 

[Baldrick]

Which brand of milk powder do you sell ?

Interesting to hear as usually find calves on ad-lib usually have a higher mortality rate.

I don’t sell milk powder, but I would be interested to know what was the cause of your higher mortality?

A baldrick imposter @Bald Rick

Yes, sorry about that. I didn’t know @ Bald Rick existed when I joined a few years ago. I can change handles if it is a problem For you?

 

[Sandpit Farm]

There has to be a bit more to it than that. Some people feed ad lib well some feed 2-3 feeds well. I don't think method of feeding is the golden nugget.

Quality and quantity of colostrum, manage the energy requirements of the calf and manage the environment (air quality, air speed, hygiene, moisture and temperature) and I would have thought you'd have it nailed. I reckon 5 days of transition milk is even better (if Johne's free) as it is low in lactose and lactose is not a calf's friend in the first days of life.

Make surfaces cleanable, maintain biosecurity, vaccinate where possible.

 

[Bald Rick]

Yes, sorry about that. I didn’t know @ Bald Rick existed ..........

TBH it's you I feel sorry for.
Any number of posters tag the wrong BR and you must dread logging in and then thinking WTF, why I am being tagged and then sent to the nether regions of TFF.

 

[kp_n_plghng]

All other things being equal extra milk may help. But I agree with others, it's never that simple.
The main things is to have a well drained and well ventilated pen and also maintaining hygienic conditions where the calf suckles and feeds. Keeping group sizes small is also beneficial.
Colostrum is of course essential but even calves with adequate immunity can easily get pneumonia in the wrong conditions.
I really don't see feed volume as a major factor in health of calves. In fact calves on vast quantities of milk can actually be harder to keep dry. I suppose when its very cold there is a possibility some people are underfeeding but I wouldn't say that's a widespread issue. JMO

 

[Baldrick]

Agree with all the above management points. There is no quick fix, and many factors come into play. I just think it is an interesting observation over many batches of calves, reared in the same building, that we had less problems and vet bills when feeding more energy, (milk) more frequently, than when we fed 2.5L twice a day.

 

[kp_n_plghng]

2.5L twice a day is low so i'm not surprised.

 

[Anymulewilldo]

2.5L twice a day is low so i'm not surprised.

Yep. alright too about 2 weeks then they want more! By 5 weeks I like our calves too be clearing 3.5/4 litres each feed. Especially in winter as mentioned before.
The best thing we’ve done is swap from shed reading calves too Calf Kennels until a week after weaning. Then batch up and put in the sheds. Not used a fraction of the drugs since we bought the kennels.

 

[Baldrick]

Yep. alright too about 2 weeks then they want more! By 5 weeks I like our calves too be clearing 3.5/4 litres each feed. Especially in winter as mentioned before.
The best thing we’ve done is swap from shed reading calves too Calf Kennels until a week after weaning. Then batch up and put in the sheds. Not used a fraction of the drugs since we bought the kennels.

Yes, group rearing in kennels and Calf Igloos is a huge improvement on our purpose built calf sheds!

 

[Norfolk Hill Farmer]

Best thing I have done for calf rearing is build " dens " in the bigger yard out of pallets, tin etc for when the weather gets cold. It's a coat warmer inside them and the calves can go in and out as they choose. Calves have done much better since I've started doing this.