Time saving ideas for block calvers

[Rossymons]

We use individual pens here, then take the dividing hurdles out after a week or so, if I was doing the calf feeding myself I would go straight into groups of 5 on ad lib colostrum, they learn to suck from watching each other this way

Same here with hutches rather than pens.

 

[Rossymons]

Resurrecting this thread rather than starting a new one; what's everyone's preferred system for housing calves in the first days prior to group feeding? Do you train in individual pens and clean after every one or hand rear in groups holding off the bold one you fed 2 minutes ago whilst trying to get colostrum into a fresh one just arrived?

Genuine question from someone about to embark on the early stages of transition to autumn calving and hoping to shortcut to best practice without the schoolboy errors.

Those schoolboy errors are essential though - we've all made cockups so don't feel you're alone! Almost embrace them - knowing the flaws within yourself and your farm is what will ultimately guide you where you want to go.

 

[Jamer]

Those schoolboy errors are essential though - we've all made cockups so don't feel you're alone! Almost embrace them - knowing the flaws within yourself and your farm is what will ultimately guide you where you want to go.

Have no fear; I'll still make all the cock ups even when they are flagged up with neon lights flashing whilst all and sundry suck through their teeth, shake their heads and walk off muttering "I told you so".

 

[Rossymons]

Have no fear; I'll still make all the cock ups even when they are flagged up with neon lights flashing whilst all and sundry suck through their teeth, shake their heads and walk off muttering "I told you so".

Just don't make the same mistake twice and you'll get there.

This lot on here - we ain't a bad bunch and we'll help you on your way

 

[O'Reilly]

Resurrecting this thread rather than starting a new one; what's everyone's preferred system for housing calves in the first days prior to group feeding? Do you train in individual pens and clean after every one or hand rear in groups holding off the bold one you fed 2 minutes ago whilst trying to get colostrum into a fresh one just arrived?

Genuine question from someone about to embark on the early stages of transition to autumn calving and hoping to shortcut to best practice without the schoolboy errors.

Get a load of sheep hurdles, the interlocking ones, and fiddle around as necessary- difficult calf, on its own, easy calves together and on a group feeder asap, or have group pens with a couple of hurdles across the corner and grab them one at a time to bottle feed them. Definitely get plenty of group pens set up before you start, minimum of 8 calves using a ten teat feeder, or larger if you prefer. We have a couple of shoof speedy feeder bottles, two teat feeders, a six teat feeder, and a ten titter on the go at the moment, which allows plenty of flexibility.

 

[Kiss]

First feed on the bottle straight into a group of upto 6, from the last 12 hours then when going better shuffled about a bit when bulls go etc

 

[Dairyfarmerswife]

If they are coming thick and fast, straight into a pen together - I did groups of 15 here, easily filled in two days. Odd days when there weren't many they went into the next empty pen then shuffled along to fill the pen as soon as they were strong enough - usually next day. Three groups of fifteen, pushed together made 45 ready to go on the trailer feeder, biggest time saver ever! 5 spare teats on the feeder means it is easier to make sure everyone has one, and as the calves get bigger size means you wouldn't get 50 on anyway.

 

[Devon lad]

If they are coming thick and fast, straight into a pen together - I did groups of 15 here, easily filled in two days. Odd days when there weren't many they went into the next empty pen then shuffled along to fill the pen as soon as they were strong enough - usually next day. Three groups of fifteen, pushed together made 45 ready to go on the trailer feeder, biggest time saver ever! 5 spare teats on the feeder means it is easier to make sure everyone has one, and as the calves get bigger size means you wouldn't get 50 on anyway.

Very similar here they are fed first bottle of colostrum in calving shed, them moved just into 2 pens that hold 10 each, first pen they go to on compartment teat feeder fed 3 litres twice daily, once they know what the teat is moved to 2nd pen with 10 teat feeder fed twice a day once they compete well on feeder moved to shed with 200litre barrel with teats on it in groups of 16 fed 7 litres once a day. After 2.5 weeks put on milkbar mobile feeder in field in groups of 36 in February fed on 5 litres once a day.

 

[Sid]

After 2.5 weeks put on milkbar mobile feeder in field in groups of 36 in February fed on 5 litres once a day

Wouldn't like to see calves out here in February full time!

 

[Devon lad]

Wouldn't like to see calves out here in February full time!

You do have to be sensible about it, I think plenty of milk Adlib first 3 weeks is key, they are strong and onto grass straight away, always keep eye on weather, and put them out in nice weather, sheltered fields, they are extremely healthy calves.

 

[Sid]

sheltered fields,

600ft and looking down on all of Devon from Haytor to Torrington doesn't give us sheltered fields sadly

 

[Kiwi Pete]

BBQ breakfast at "the office" each morning, so you can sort "the plan" with everyone's attention.
Stretchy bands with letters on so you can identify calves as they drop and tag later if you get pushed.
Run your mongrel mob separate and just milk them in the PM, paint up the red cows well, and use a dot system on your fresh calvers- one dot per PM milking- so you only need to test up the 3 and 4 dotters to go with the big girl herd.
Then you have warm colostrum each night for the bubbas
Someone gets the cows in in the PM and then feeds the calves- drinkers first and can either wait for colostrum, or make a start and come back

That should buy you enough time to get on the forum @multi power

 

[multi power]

BBQ breakfast at "the office" each morning, so you can sort "the plan" with everyone's attention.
Stretchy bands with letters on so you can identify calves as they drop and tag later if you get pushed.
Run your mongrel mob separate and just milk them in the PM, paint up the red cows well, and use a dot system on your fresh calvers- one dot per PM milking- so you only need to test up the 3 and 4 dotters to go with the big girl herd.
Then you have warm colostrum each night for the bubbas
Someone gets the cows in in the PM and then feeds the calves- drinkers first and can either wait for colostrum, or make a start and come back

That should buy you enough time to get on the forum @multi power

Definitely agree on the breakfast thing with all staff together, but I'm not sure how it would work here, I go home for a proper cooked breakfast, the rest of the lads have microwave porridge in the hut in the yard, i point blank refuse to give up my proper fried breakfast, and the state of the mugs in the hut I'd rather starve

 

[multi power]

BBQ breakfast at "the office" each morning, so you can sort "the plan" with everyone's attention.
Stretchy bands with letters on so you can identify calves as they drop and tag later if you get pushed.
Run your mongrel mob separate and just milk them in the PM, paint up the red cows well, and use a dot system on your fresh calvers- one dot per PM milking- so you only need to test up the 3 and 4 dotters to go with the big girl herd.
Then you have warm colostrum each night for the bubbas
Someone gets the cows in in the PM and then feeds the calves- drinkers first and can either wait for colostrum, or make a start and come back

That should buy you enough time to get on the forum @multi power

Can you please explain more about this for system, and what is this testing certain cows ?

 

[Ducati899]

Good call be miserable and over worked all 52 weeks or the year instead of 8weeks.

i'm neither of the above

I've no sympathy for anyone who says they cant take time off,whatever system they are on

 

[Cows 'n grass]

Kiwis just love CMT (RMT) testing. Everything here just goes in the herd after 8 milkings, I only ever test suspect quarters.

 

[PREES]

We have hard plastic strips that we put around fresh calves necks with mother's number, move calves to individual pens and have plastic disc on the hurdle, one per colostrum feed, each time a calf is fed colostrum we remove a disc. When calves are drinking well remove the hurdles to make a bigger pen and they go on the machine in groups of 20 - 25. Just need some simple mobile tank to bring waste milk over from the Parlour and to pump into buckets and troughs. Bull calves on individual buckets longer and then moved to group pens of 9. Any slow feeders get a different colour disc to remind us at the next feeding.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Kiwis just love CMT (RMT) testing. Everything here just goes in the herd after 8 milkings, I only ever test suspect quarters.

Not this Kiwi!!
Hate it, I just used those gloves with the dotty palms that any clots cling to. RMT is a waste of time and money for fresh calvers imo. Takes some cows weeks to settle down so no real point testing them all. Can soon test and mark a suspect to keep checking. SCC soon tells you how many fresh ones you can chuck in, anyway
"dilution is the solution"

 

[Clay52]

I just paint the mothers number on the calf with tail paint, then tag when I get time.

Don't do any special test for fresh cows for mastitis. I paint the number on the udder of fresh cows for the date they can go with the herd.

 

[Kiwi Pete]

Can you please explain more about this for system, and what is this testing certain cows ?

Dot system?
Give them a dot their first milking up on the rump where they dont get muck on it
Next day, a dot below it
Next day, one on the other side
Last day, paint all 4 dots again and check her milk properly

Then if you have a random cow show up somewhere silly, you know if she's a milker or not, without writing numbers on boards etc.