Milk powder

[Ford5610]

I was thinking about trying once a day calf milk replacer, is it any good if so which are the better brands to try, thanks

 

[In the pit]

I was thinking about trying once a day calf milk replacer, is it any good if so which are the better brands to try, thanks

Very good stuff

 

[HarryB97]

We don’t feed once a day but have used Shine once a day before and were very pleased with it and how easily it mixed etc.

 

[Enry]

Very good stuff

What age can they gon on oad feeding?

 

[Sandpit Farm]

What age can they gon on oad feeding?

28 days

• Dunne stated that under EU law, calves must be fed twice-a-day. A new-born calf’s abomasum is not large enough to deal with the recommended volume of milk if given in one feed. Therefore, he added, farmers should feed calves milk twice-a-day at the start and up until 28 days of age. When a calf is consuming concentrates and has developed rumen capacity, one of these daily feeds can be a dry feed in the form of calf starter pellets.

 

[Colliepup123]

As recommend by a nutritionist we move them to once a day at three weeks of age. However, we double the concentration so they are getting the same amount of power that they would be getting in two feeds, in just the one. (volac gold) Was sceptical at first, but actually glad we tried it. Less labour and hitting growth targets earlier due to increased concentrate intake. Must have ad lib water though, as they’d easily dehydrate. I just wean gradually, by decreasing concentration. As with all these things, it won’t suit everyone

 

[In the pit]

Yes oad at three weeks and then powder at kilo a day and 4 ltrs of water and pellets and as said plenty of clean water

 

[Enry]

so legally 28 days but people are doing it from 21 days?

 

[Radio]

so legally 28 days but people are doing it from 21 days?

Longer days in the summer

 

[Sandpit Farm]

There is a fair bit of research on this now. I am not convinced about OAD milk feeding but I believe it will be very farm specific and would rely on rumen development and the presence and ability to digest pellets.

It is illegal pre 28 days mainly down to an inability for a calf to obtain enough nutrition from a single feed. Much of the research concentrated on younger calves. Some of the research on older calves from Ireland (remember that regulation is different there) suggests that there is no issue with a single feed. University of Nottingham have done further research with Ginny Sherwin which shows the role of fibre on the development of the rumen and that a one size fits all doesn't work for weaning management.

It seems there are farm meetings on this through August https://ahdb.org.uk/events

 

[In the pit]

There being fed milk oad but access to pellets and straw so they have two feeds aday
Proof is in the pudding double birth weight plus 10/15 kgs at 50 days says it work
I used to rear calves on grass from 2 weeks old , that used to be wrong calves being outside in February

 

[In the pit]

It is illegal pre 28 days mainly down to an inability for a calf to obtain enough nutrition from a single feed.

So feeding a kilo of powder oad is worse than feeding 750 grams split between two feeds

 

[Enry]

As recommend by a nutritionist we move them to once a day at three weeks of age. However, we double the concentration so they are getting the same amount of power that they would be getting in two feeds, in just the one. (volac gold) Was sceptical at first, but actually glad we tried it. Less labour and hitting growth targets earlier due to increased concentrate intake. Must have ad lib water though, as they’d easily dehydrate. I just wean gradually, by decreasing concentration. As with all these things, it won’t suit everyone

Calf feeding statement

Ruminant Health and Welfare (RH&W) would like to reiterate the legal requirement for providing calves with at least two milk feeds a day until 28 days of age. The reminder from the RH&W steering group comes at a time of severe cost pressure in the sector, leading to debate on social media about...

thefarmingforum.co.uk

 

[Colliepup123]

so legally 28 days but people are doing it from 21 days?

Ah my mistake for saying ‘3 weeks of age’ they are more than 28 days old when we switch to OAD, dont panic. We usually have them for 3 weeks before the switch, and get them in at 10 days old.