Calfs on milk powder

Smokey16

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
North devon
Hi every year i buy in calves to rear on milk powder for are selfs and this year I took on another farm and decided to rear calves for someone else I asked him how much milk he wants us to feed them per a feed and he said 2litres each so Iv got 34 calves from him atm so I'm mixing 8.5kg of powder to 59.5litres of water I'm pretty saw that's right mix ration but I spoke to the chap and he said I was using to much powder
 

Smokey16

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
North devon
I feed 3 litres twice a day at 125 grams per litre or same amount on auto feeder which I'm happy with
Thanks. Do you think iv got the milk ration right 59.5litres of water and 8.5kg of milk powder to fed 34 calves 2 litres each twice. I'm judging myself cuz the chap said I was using to much powder
 

Anymulewilldo

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Cheshire
Thanks. Do you think iv got the milk ration right 59.5litres of water and 8.5kg of milk powder to fed 34 calves 2 litres each twice. I'm judging myself cuz the chap said I was using to much powder
He will complain next that you haven’t grown them how he wants them and quibble over paying. 😒 personally I don’t think they are having enough milk at that and as said at this time of year I feed powder at 1.5 of recommendation.
 
What does the bag say? Some powders are 180g made up to 1L, others are as low as 125g to the litre. 2L at recommended strength isn't a lot really, I've tried a higher ratio mix at 2x2L and currently do standard ratio at 2x3L. It's more about mill solids than volume of liquid at the end of the day.
 

Zippy768

Member
Mixed Farmer
Location
Dorset/Wilts
Your feeding 500g per calf per day. Imo that's not enough.
We do 750g (2x375g) fed a total of 2.5 litres of mix.
Tbh probably should be even more with colder weather

Better clarify with farmer exactly what he wants and expects.

Then next time fill the shed yourself and sell the them off your own back.

Out of interest-
Does he provide straw and grub.
What's the deal with any deceased.
What happen if - God forbid - u go done at tb testing?
 

Smokey16

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
North devon
We are using this powder
 

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Smokey16

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
North devon
Your feeding 500g per calf per day. Imo that's not enough.
We do 750g (2x375g) fed a total of 2.5 litres of mix.
Tbh probably should be even more with colder weather

Better clarify with farmer exactly what he wants and expects.

Then next time fill the shed yourself and sell the them off your own back.

Out of interest-
Does he provide straw and grub.
What's the deal with any deceased.
What happen if - God forbid - u go done at tb testing?
The chap said that he wants them on 2litres per feed. Yes he provides everything. For Tb it doesnt matter as it a tb isolation unit for calves
 

ImLost

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Not sure
The chap said that he wants them on 2litres per feed. Yes he provides everything. For Tb it doesnt matter as it a tb isolation unit for calves
If he provides everything and pays you to do the job, I would do what he asks.

However, there is the animal welfare side if things to consider. Is there anyone else you could offer the same arrangement to who might care more about how much their stock are fed?
 

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

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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/
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