Automatic calf feeders feed curve

[Grassman247]

As per the title what sort of feed curves have people got and what powders are they using?

We keep messing with the feed curve but don’t feel like we are making things any better

Would like a curve that gives good strong calves, not to much on the edge as scours have been a battle in the past

 

[Princess Pooper]

We're not on automatic but ad lib and they take up to 12l/day at peak, judging by how much powder they get through at that stage. We rarely have scours, so perhaps it is more to do with the powder you are using, or an underlying infection problem? We use Mole Maximise, but have previously used Volac Blossom, again with no problems. Have you had the scours tested?

 

[buffalo_soldier]

We're not on automatic but ad lib and they take up to 12l/day at peak, judging by how much powder they get through at that stage. We rarely have scours, so perhaps it is more to do with the powder you are using, or an underlying infection problem? We use Mole Maximise, but have previously used Volac Blossom, again with no problems. Have you had the scours tested?

What mix rate are you using?
Even only 100g/L gives you 1.2kg/day at that feed rate.

 

[More to life]

I run mine at 150g/l start at 4l up to six until week 6 then weaned week 7. They double in weight without a health check.

 

[Princess Pooper]

What mix rate are you using?
Even only 100g/L gives you 1.2kg/day at that feed rate.

125g yes they are taking on a fair amount of powder and most are double their birthweight at weaning about 7 weeks.

 

[CWS]

6lts day until day 7. 8lts from day 17 (10 day rise) start to wean off at day 50 at 0.6lts per day. 156 grams per lt using carrs vitality

 

[bigw]

What make is your machine @Grassman247

 

[Grassman247]

What make is your machine @Grassman247

I’ve got two H+L 100’s wish I’d never bought them now!

 

[Grassman247]

We're not on automatic but ad lib and they take up to 12l/day at peak, judging by how much powder they get through at that stage. We rarely have scours, so perhaps it is more to do with the powder you are using, or an underlying infection problem? We use Mole Maximise, but have previously used Volac Blossom, again with no problems. Have you had the scours tested?

I know exactly what the problem is, we are bulling our heifers at 390kgs and calving down at 23 months. The question wasn’t advice to fix scours it was to see what feed curves others are using without any problems. I’m looking to tweak the system not radically change it

 

[Princess Pooper]

I know exactly what the problem is, we are bulling our heifers at 390kgs and calving down at 23 months. The question wasn’t advice to fix scours it was to see what feed curves others are using without any problems. I’m looking to tweak the system not radically change it
[/QUOTE

Sorry I spoke, the comment 'We keep messing with the feed curve but don’t feel like we are making things any better' and reference to a previous problem with scours suggested you were concerned about too high an intake being the potential issue. I wasn't suggesting you go ad lib.

 

[bean]

What's most people opinion on automatic feeders against bucket feeding?

 

[epfarms]

We have a Holm and Laue machine and it took 3 years of tweeking to get it right but now we wouldn't be without it! We only put our heifer calves on it, feed volac heiferlac, start at 150g and work up to 165g, start 2.4L/12h and up to 3.4L/12hr. Had no problems last year with the calves (3rd year), they thrive on it but the machine did break down once and we did have to get the wydales out which was rather stressful!

Also worth checking the temperature with an external thermometer as ours wasn't accurate in the machine so we fiddled with the temperature a bit. We also found putting the calves on a wydale feeding powdered milk for 3-4 days helped, before putting them on the machine, it gets them used to a teat and we found putting a baby in the stall was stressful for them and really difficult to get them to put their head forward to suck the teat. They now progress onto the machine really well. It's all trial and error to see what works for you. Our biggest lesson was don't scrimp on milk powder.

Had a scour breakdown in first year on it, beef calves on dump milk did not suffer with it, all came down to milk powder. Switched to high quality milk powder and deep cleaned the shed (do this once a year, we're autumn calving). Not had any problems since, wouldn't change much now.

 

[HarryB97]

Our calves are all on ad lib and drink around 12litres a day at peak and scours has never been an issue

 

[bigw]

I’ve got two H+L 100’s wish I’d never bought them now!

We have volac machines and absolutely love them. The chap from volac has changed our feed curves this year but I couldn't tell you what too.

 

[Grassman247]

We have volac machines and absolutely love them. The chap from volac has changed our feed curves this year but I couldn't tell you what too.

Seems Volac have a much better afterservice than holm and laue

 

[JoFarmer]

I know that the Holm & Laue team in n the Uk all went to Germany and all be certificated to do the service in their own area.
next to that, the new CalfExpert is the easiest calffeeder in the market, the only one !! how feeds each calf individual, can feed 4 calves at the same time with (i think Quatdroflex), it has a great overview and is fully controllable over my mobile phone.

 

[Grassman247]

I know that the Holm & Laue team in n the Uk all went to Germany and all be certificated to do the service in their own area.
next to that, the new CalfExpert is the easiest calffeeder in the market, the only one !! how feeds each calf individual, can feed 4 calves at the same time with (i think Quatdroflex), it has a great overview and is fully controllable over my mobile phone.

A member for 6 hours and your on here telling us how good the machines are.

More like your from holm and laue and are selling them.

Your machines are rubbish. And the backup is crap. Maybe if you listened to your customers and gave them the help they needed when the machines let them down people wouldn’t be so pee'd off