YOUNGSTOCK MANAGMENT
Heifers cost on average £2,000 to reach fi rst calving, however 14.5% fail to get there, and 33% don’t make it to second lactation. Advanced Nutrition’s veterinary nutritionist, Debby Brown, has developed Advanced Heifer, a protocol package offering a unique holistic approach to youngstock management from birth to fi rst calving, which is designed to help to reduce those massive losses and optimise your heifers’ performance and subsequent production
H
eifer rearing is one of the most important areas for managing the growth of every dairy business which should focus on measuring and monitoring growth from birth to fi rst service at a targeted 13 months, at which point heifers should reach 55% of the herd’s mature body weight.
Advanced Heifer helps to achieve those targets. All dietary components are measured to ensure nutrient requirements are being met. All necessary vaccinations, worming and other treatments are kept up-to-date in consultation with the farm’s own vet. Finally, the protocol makes sure the heifer’s environment is stable focusing on housing, ventilation, bedding and other variables.
Figure 1: Performance comparison of calves offered free choice v no water
Water DLG (kg)
Calf starter intake (kg) Scour days per calf
Source: Penn State University
PRE-WEANING Nutrition From birth to three days
• Colostrum, measure quality with colostrometer for min IgG1
• Colostrum management, four litres in the fi rst six hours and thereafter 20% calf bodyweight in fi rst 24 hours; ideally teat feed but if the calf won’t drink feed twice – in total, two litres by teat and two litres tubed
• Temperature 37°C • Test quality with a colostrometer – a minimum 50g/litre IgG antibodies
• Introducing milk replacer is preferred to whole milk, it has a better minerals and vitamins mix and reduces the risk of Johnes
92 THE JOURNAL AUGUST 2014
• Feed for at least two days, after which introduce to calf milk replacer From three days of age
Free choice 0.31 11.8 4.5
None 0.18 8.2 5.4
Measuring and monitoring In the fi rst instance determine herd average mature body weight; weigh 5% to 10% of the herd’s cows in their third lactation at 100 days in milk. Advanced Heifer utilises mature body weight as a benchmark because it refl ects each individual herd and its breeding choices.
Set youngstock growth targets • weigh at 13 months – 55% of the herd’s average mature body weight; (85% at calving)
• average DLG, birth to weaning • average DLG weaning to fi rst service at 13 months
Measure growth rate on a fortnightly basis up to weaning and thereafter every four to eight weeks until bulling. Weighing over scales is preferred, alternatively use a weighband, so long as consistent, it will allow good measuring.
• Don’t even think of feeding waste milk because it can carry residues and
increases the risk of heifers suffering high SCCs and chronic mastitis
• Calf milk replacers with animal protein are better digested than those with
vegetable protein.
• Mix as recommended, ensuring it is fed out at 37°C
• Ad lib, luke-warm fresh water is vital from day three – see table 1, plus a very
palatable, good quality 18% to 20% crude protein concentrate, replaced daily
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