Written by Rachel Martin
Cattle youngstock rearers now have a quick and easy way of recording and monitoring individual calf growth rates against pre-set targets, thanks to a new smartphone app.
Launched as a free tool available as a download from Volac’s refreshed ‘Feed for Growth’ website, the new app is one of an innovative range of practical resources available to help farmers rear better cows.
Product manager Samantha Sampson said: “Our new ‘Feed for Growth’ app is designed to help farmers working with youngstock to simplify the process of assessing whether individual animals are on track to meet key performance targets.
‘Roadmap’
“Once you have registered on the new website and key in your growth ‘roadmap’ target data; for example, calf birthweight; weaning weight; age at weaning; mature bodyweight; and desired age at first calving.
“Then simply download the app and get started. The app allows you to set up different holdings and record a calf’s unique ear tag number.
“You then simply record an individual calf’s weight as it develops and instantly see if it is on track against your pre-set roadmap graph, allowing you to make changes to its feeding programme as necessary.”
Herds can be congregated into coloured groups to help you keep track of different batches of calves. What’s more, each calf record contains useful areas for logging adversities and any notes; about its health, for example.
“How you manage a calf during the vital first few weeks of life and beyond has a significant impact on the lifetime performance of that animal,” Ms. Sampson added.
Consequently, our aim is to provide the best package of calf milk formulas, advice and practical management tools we can to make the whole business of successful calf rearing as profitable as possible.
Volac has also refreshed its ‘Feed for Growth’ website, which contains a host of practical advice, help and resources.
The site also holds a range of downloadable calf rearing guides and a calf feeding calculator.
Calf rearers visiting the Volac stand at UK Dairy Day on September 12 can ask for a demonstration of the new calf growth app and claim a free calf weigh tape at the same time.
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