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Feeding calf milk replacer cuts dairy farm’s GHG emissions and rearing costs
Feeding heifer replacements calf milk replacer (CMR) instead of cow’s milk is allowing a Warwickshire dairy farm to capture environmental and financial wins.
Ladywood Dairy Farm feeds the transition milk replacer, Transformula, and the CMR, Shine Original, to its replacements pre-weaning.
This system produces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 284.2kg CO2 per heifer reared and, at 2024 prices, costs the business £102/head.
If whole milk was fed instead, GHG emissions would be 358.8kg CO2 per heifer reared and total milk fed would have a value of £150.80/head, based on a milk price of 40p/litre.
By opting for CMR, the business is reducing GHG emissions per calf by 74.6kg CO2 and making savings of £48.90/calf during the milk feeding period alone.
These figures are released at a time when there is huge pressure on farmers to reduce emissions – UK agriculture accounts for 10% of the country’s GHG emissions.
Under the Climate Change Act 2008, the UK Government has a legal requirement to reduce overall GHG emissions – by 2050 the target is to achieve an 80% reduction on 1990 levels across the economy.
For agriculture, the chief GHGs directly contributing to climate change and carbon footprint are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O).
How livestock are fed can play an important role in reducing emissions, as Ladywood Dairy Farm is demonstrating
The 225-acre farm carries a milking herd of 160 Holsteins and 20 Ayrshires, producing an average annual yield per cow of 10,000 litres.
To reduce its reliance on purchased feeds, up to five crops of silage are harvested annually.
The farm’s calf rearing system was transformed in 2020 when colostrum protocols were improved, Transformula transition milk replacer manufactured by Bonanza Calf Nutrition was introduced, and a focus was put on improving rumen development and post-weaning growth by feeding less CMR.
With excellent colostrum and transition milk management, there have been virtually no issues with scour or pneumonia and cases of Cryposporidium parvum have been reduced through improved hygiene.
Less disease and mortality mean that the herd is more efficient
All calves are reared on milk replacer.
Transformula is fed at a rate of 750g/head/day in 5 litres, split into two feeds for the first 13 days; this amounts to a total of 65 litres (8.75kg powder) of transition milk replacer.
After 13 days, calves receive a good quality low heat skim-based milk CMR, Shine Original, again manufactured by Bonanza Calf Nutrition, at a rate of 750g/head/day in 5 litres, split into two feeds; this is fed for 15 days.
When calves are 30 days old, once a day feeding is introduced, with milk solids increased to 20% (200g/litre), feeding 3 litres or 600g/day of CMR. This amounts to a total intake of 30.85kg powder (167 litres CMR).
This system promotes rumen development, giving calves a smoother transition when milk has been removed after weaning
Calves are generally weaned at nine and a half weeks, if they are eating 2kg/head/day of concentrates.
Calves on average will have consumed a total of 55kg of concentrates by the time they are 12 weeks old.
Since following this feeding system, post-weaning growth has improved and age at first service reduced by six weeks, based on heifer weights.
Heifers are well grown and ready for service at 13 months when they weigh approximately 400kg
Average age at first calving is 25 months – rearing replacement heifers to calve at around two years old is recognised internationally as a key target to minimise rearing costs and GHG emissions from dairy farming.
By concentrating on more efficient use of inputs, other dairy farms can reduce their own cost of production and enhance their environmental credentials.
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