Articles in the Plan365 section allow Farmlands suppliers to share best practice and the latest advances in rural technology, to help shareholders with their farming needs all year round.
Keep your calves from feeling blue Reliance Blue Boost is the newest electrolyte on the block and has some unique features to not only hydrate calves, lambs and kid goats, but to give them an extra boost when they are feeling blue.
Electrolyte is a critical tool in the toolbox for rearers and its correct use can take a rearing system from good to great. The Farmlands Nutrition team has developed a new electrolyte with a difference and its pre-launch last spring confirmed that a winning formulation had been created. Many farmers commented that they would not use any other electrolyte after using Blue Boost — it is now on Farmlands shelves across the country, ready for you to use this season. Blue Boost is the result of a highly experienced calf rearer, a vet and two nutritionists getting together to create a new electrolyte for young ruminants — science and practice in harmony. An easy-to-use product, we want people to reach for Blue Boost before animals become clinically unwell, so they are returned to a healthy, hydrated state as quickly as possible — the fence at the top of the cliff, rather than the ambulance at the bottom. So what makes it so effective? • As close to the perfect balance of electrolytes (sodium, potassium and chloride) as we could get. • A high dextrose level to help water cross the gut of calves and give an energy boost. • Glycine, an amino acid that aids sodium and glucose absorption from the intestine. • A nutritionally effective dose of Vitamin B12 that is linked to stimulating appetite.
| Farmlands Nutritionist Stacey Cosnett, who helped to develop the electrolyte, tubing a calf with Reliance Blue Boost.
WWW.FARMLANDS.CO.NZ
• A bright blue colour to easily distinguish it on the farm.
Farmlands Co-operative Society Limited | © June 2021. All rights reserved.
Tips for using Blue Boost in your rearing system: • It always seems to be 4pm on a Sunday when you need electrolyte, so make sure you have some on hand so it is there whenever you need it. • Making sure animals are always well hydrated and have an optimal electrolyte balance ensures their overall health, making them less susceptible to infections. We call this proactive electrolyting. Reach for Blue Boost for any calf, lamb or kid that you think could do with a boost, don’t wait for them to deteriorate any further before you take action. • One of the first signs of a glum animal is decreased appetite. We see this as slowness to get up and drink their milk feed. It is at this point that the animal should be identified and either given an electrolyte immediately (if they have not drunk any milk) or 4 hours later (if they have drunk some milk). • Either tube the electrolyte or feed it through a teat. • Using Blue Boost to rehydrate animals after transport works a treat too. Just replace their first feed after transport with the electrolyte Reliance Blue Boost is available in a 3kg or 12kg container to suit any scale of rearing system and can be used on lambs and kid goats as well as calves. For more information, contact your Farmlands Technical Field Officer, or the friendly team at your local Farmlands store. Article supplied by Stacey Cosnett, Farmlands Nutritionist
THE FARMLANDER | 37
