Transition milk powder.

[Holsteinfriesian90]

Just wondering is anyone using the transition milk powder for the 1st 10 days of life? Is it worth it or is it just another thing to carry away your money? Struggling with crypto at the moment and just wondered what you thoughts are. Cheers.

 

[vantage]

I started powder feeding this Autumn, due to Johnes. I feed Britmilk Defender for a week plus after colostrum on day one, then onto Britmilk Enterprise. I’m pleased how the calves are performing, nutritional scours are negligible, we have had pneumonia in 4, due to TB causing overstocking. We have had crypto previously, at a stage where halocur was a necessity, although now nothing, probably due to good shed cleaning at start and midway through which was a first.

 

[lazy farmer]

I started powder feeding this Autumn, due to Johnes. I feed Britmilk Defender for a week plus after colostrum on day one, then onto Britmilk Enterprise. I’m pleased how the calves are performing, nutritional scours are negligible, we have had pneumonia in 4, due to TB causing overstocking. We have had crypto previously, at a stage where halocur was a necessity, although now nothing, probably due to good shed cleaning at start and midway through which was a first.

Not wishing to hijack a thread. But please speak more about your shed cleaning. We think we do a good job but we still seem to end each season with a dose of crypto.

 

[jerseycowsman]

Not wishing to hijack a thread. But please speak more about your shed cleaning. We think we do a good job but we still seem to end each season with a dose of crypto.

It’s always gets there at the end. We have the same, start well, then the last lot always need halocur

 

[happycows]

Just wondering is anyone using the transition milk powder for the 1st 10 days of life? Is it worth it or is it just another thing to carry away your money? Struggling with crypto at the moment and just wondered what you thoughts are. Cheers.

I used it in my hour of need 3 years ago. It certainly helped.
I suspect Crypto won’t be your only problem.
For me it was Rotovirus then the Crypto would come in.
We started vaccination for scour and feed milk for couple weeks. It’s like home grown transition powder.
Andy Berry has something called Kryptonite that works well with transition powder.
Whatever it is it’s in transition powder but adds heftier dose.
Also does a good disinfectant.
Good luck you have my heartfelt sympathies.

 

[vantage]

Not wishing to hijack a thread. But please speak more about your shed cleaning. We think we do a good job but we still seem to end each season with a dose of crypto.

I haven’t finished yet!
Cleaning of sheds is a hot water washer, also clean the hurdles thoroughly and leave to stand in the sun and mostly rain! The hurdles prevent the calves dirtying the shed walls, hopefully reducing an infect route.

 

[happycows]

I was told steam cleaning can make the situation worse. Warm and damp are 2 things the oocysts need too multiply and then you blow them all around the environment in a warm mist.
We resorted to cold hose pipe and brush then a few doses with knapsack sprayer and suitable disinfectant. Few disinfectants work so check that.
One other thing. Chap called Stuart Fry who works for Shine milk powder came in. He is living in Cornwall (just). Very knowledgeable and had a range of scour testing kits in his car. Within 15 minutes he’d diagnosed exactly what I was dealing with. Taught me how the bacteria works, what the treatments in the Transition powder do to the crypto cells and we had a plan of action to move forward with.
I was doing lots of things right but still had lots of room for improvement.

 

[Cowlife]

You maybe already doing it but I d rotavec. Its a gateway disease.

 

[Jamer]

We put calves into Solway individual pens for 5-10 days before grouping and steam clean between every calf. No crypto since we adopted this regime. Sorry, I don't believe type of milk powder will make any difference. Colostrum and cleanliness.....

 

[coomoo]

milk powder I’m on Trouw’s energised milk powder. It’s expensive but won’t ever change took years to find something that suits my system.

 

[Holsteinfriesian90]

milk powder I’m on Trouw’s energised milk powder. It’s expensive but won’t ever change took years to find something that suits my system.

I tried that couldn’t see any difference using britmilk calf content now and pleased with it.

 

[coomoo]

I tried that couldn’t see any difference using britmilk calf content now and pleased with it.

Hutches and steam cleaning here has got rid of every problem... bar the workload which is considerable

 

[Holsteinfriesian90]

Hutches and steam cleaning here has got rid of every problem... bar the workload which is considerable

Are you happier with the hutches rather than the auto feeder?

 

[Holsteinfriesian90]

I used it in my hour of need 3 years ago. It certainly helped.
I suspect Crypto won’t be your only problem.
For me it was Rotovirus then the Crypto would come in.
We started vaccination for scour and feed milk for couple weeks. It’s like home grown transition powder.
Andy Berry has something called Kryptonite that works well with transition powder.
Whatever it is it’s in transition powder but adds heftier dose.
Also does a good disinfectant.
Good luck you have my heartfelt sympathies.

You were right just had samples back crypto and rotavirus

 

[happycows]

You were right just had samples back crypto and rotavirus

At least you know what your dealing with and can come up with a plan. If not already i'd get in there with some vaccine in the dry cows, anything 14 days or more away.
I tried Bovigen last year and Rotavec this year. I preferred the Bovigen but not lost any through scour to either. The cost is worth it just for your sanity.

 

[Holsteinfriesian90]

At least you know what your dealing with and can come up with a plan. If not already i'd get in there with some vaccine in the dry cows, anything 14 days or more away.
I tried Bovigen last year and Rotavec this year. I preferred the Bovigen but not lost any through scour to either. The cost is worth it just for your sanity.

Yes definitely will start with the cows that are dry now.

 

[Llmmm]

I tried that couldn’t see any difference using britmilk calf content now and pleased with it.

I also used the energised milk on pure jerseys where you would very quickly what works and what doesnt the britmilk imo was far ahead and i will continue to use britmilk.The time that crypto causes real problems is when other scours are present and cows not vacinated.If cows are vaccinated its a huge help

 

[Newguy]

At least you know what your dealing with and can come up with a plan. If not already i'd get in there with some vaccine in the dry cows, anything 14 days or more away.
I tried Bovigen last year and Rotavec this year. I preferred the Bovigen but not lost any through scour to either. The cost is worth it just for your sanity.

What did you prefer about the Bovigen?