Calf Health Archives - Page 2 of 6

How to reduce bacterial contamination of colostrum

The awareness and importance of testing and feeding good-quality colostrum has become increasingly popular over the last few years. However, the colostrum storage and handling process is sometimes overlooked [...]

Beef cross calves thrive on two step feeding regime

A two-step approach to calf milk replacer (CMR) feeding has helped a Leicestershire dairy farm cut calf deaths to under 2% and lower the incidence of scour. John Greaves and his family run a herd of 220 all-year-round calving Holstein Friesians at Lodge Farm. It is an 800-acre mixed dairy, beef and arable farm. They […]

How to get the best out of automatic calf feeders: Part 2

Following on from our previous article on automatic calf feeders, this part focuses on the calf management practices needed to get the most out of machine feeding. The Importance of Excellent Stockmanship It is more important than ever that the right person is dedicated to looking after the calves. A good stockperson will physically check […]

How to get the best out of automatic calf feeders: Part 1

An automatic calf feeder can be a powerful tool for feeding large numbers of calves efficiently. They help reduce manual labor and improve consistency. But to fully benefit, careful setup, calibration, and monitoring of the automatic calf feeder are essential. There are important protocols that need to be followed to maximise the benefits these machines […]

Benefits of Feeding Transition Milk for Longer

In a recent survey by Bonanza Calf Nutrition of 153 farmers, it was found that over 57% of the farmers only feed transition milk up to day five of the calf’s life, which aligns with the first 5-6 milkings after colostrum.

Scrutinising the crude fat, fibre and ash content in CMRs

Understanding and interpreting the label on a bag of calf milk replacer (CMR) is often confusing as when it comes to legal requirements, manufacturers need only declare the ingredients in descending order of inclusion. Many omit to state if the product is detailed as freshweight or as dry matter (DM). Due to rapid advances in […]

How to keep calves growing and thriving post-weaning

Maintaining attention to heifer calf health and performance post-weaning is vital to avoid losing gains already made and to keep them on track [...]

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.

Survey demonstrates calf rearers recognise value of transition milk

Growing numbers of farmers are understanding the value of transition milk to the health and future potential of their calves. A recent survey by Bonanza Calf Nutrition found that more than three quarters of the farmers who responded – 94 out of 123 participants – fed transition milk, the highly nutritious and immune-boosting milk produced […]

Is your calf housing fit for purpose?

Calf housing can be a new build, an older shed or an adapted building. While designs may differ in structure, the fundamentals should remain the same to support calf health and development. Rearers must provide the right environment from day one. Without it, calves will struggle to thrive. Floor space Floor space is often overlooked […]