Phil_Chris
New Member
Reputable sources estimate average calf losses from birth to four months at 8% (AHDB) or 13% (NADIS). On Tuesday 4 and Wednesday 5 June in Somerset, farmers with calf rearing units have the chance to a see how a unit rearing more than 6,000 calves a year from multiple sources achieves less than 2% mortality.
Long Lane Farm near Frome is operated by the Buitelaar farm-to-fridge beef business. At the open days, Adam Buitelaar says they will be happy for farmers to copy the operation’s “not-so-secret secrets. It’s like cheating in exams and getting away with it,” he says.
“Who wouldn’t want have fewer dead calves, affordably better growth rates, and calves you’re proud to show to friends?”
The unit rears dairy-beef calves including Longhorn, Angus and continentals. The stand-out achievement of 1.1% mortality is despite sourcing calves at 2-3 weeks of age from a wide range of farms. On average 14 weeks later and 150kg minimum liveweight, they move to grower-finisher units.
Across the whole place, manager Dom McKenzie says growth rates average 1.2 kg/day, eased back last year from 1.3kg because the marginal extra 100g was costing too much.
Ben Barber from Synergy Farm Health is Buitelaar’s regular vet at the unit. In addition to the technicalities of high performance calf management, he identifies one more critical aspect that makes the difference between ordinary and extraordinary results.
“It’s the people,” he explains. “Attention to detail and persistence are the critical ones. Whether it’s 8% or 13%, industry averages conceal much worse performance on some farms, This can only be addressed by clear leadership to establish the kind of excellence culture you find here.”
Open day host Adam Buitelaar is keen to welcome more farmer groups to see “through the keyhole” at the unit in action. “There are no secrets here and we want to share proven, ‘evidence-based facts’ about successful, high health calf rearing,” he says.
Places at the open day should be booked at [email protected].
Long Lane Farm near Frome is operated by the Buitelaar farm-to-fridge beef business. At the open days, Adam Buitelaar says they will be happy for farmers to copy the operation’s “not-so-secret secrets. It’s like cheating in exams and getting away with it,” he says.
“Who wouldn’t want have fewer dead calves, affordably better growth rates, and calves you’re proud to show to friends?”
The unit rears dairy-beef calves including Longhorn, Angus and continentals. The stand-out achievement of 1.1% mortality is despite sourcing calves at 2-3 weeks of age from a wide range of farms. On average 14 weeks later and 150kg minimum liveweight, they move to grower-finisher units.
Across the whole place, manager Dom McKenzie says growth rates average 1.2 kg/day, eased back last year from 1.3kg because the marginal extra 100g was costing too much.
Ben Barber from Synergy Farm Health is Buitelaar’s regular vet at the unit. In addition to the technicalities of high performance calf management, he identifies one more critical aspect that makes the difference between ordinary and extraordinary results.
“It’s the people,” he explains. “Attention to detail and persistence are the critical ones. Whether it’s 8% or 13%, industry averages conceal much worse performance on some farms, This can only be addressed by clear leadership to establish the kind of excellence culture you find here.”
Open day host Adam Buitelaar is keen to welcome more farmer groups to see “through the keyhole” at the unit in action. “There are no secrets here and we want to share proven, ‘evidence-based facts’ about successful, high health calf rearing,” he says.
Places at the open day should be booked at [email protected].
