Dairy Exporter July 2021

Page 89

SOLUTIONS What’s NEW? MILK REPLACER

Milk replacer key to increasing calf weight

G

etting pre-weaning nutrition right in calves will go a long way towards achieving future growth targets. Recent research data shows a 130kg increase in a cow’s 305 day milk yield with each 100g/day increase of average daily gain (ADG) in the pre-weaning period. With this theory in mind, if farmers can increase ADG in the pre-weaning period from 500g to 800g/day, this could mean an extra 390kg of milk, or about 32kg MS per cow. Increasing ADG can be achieved by feeding a high-quality calf milk replacer (CMR) with nutrient densities which are above traditional rates. Graph 1 shows a traditional view of feeding 1% of body weight with a lower nutrient density CMR (20:20, protein:fat) compared with a modern view of feeding 1.5% of body weight with a CMR containing 28% protein and 22% fat, like MaxCare Ultimate CMR. The first graph also demonstrates that temperature can have an impact on ADG. A 40kg calf fed 10% of its body weight, in other words, 4l/day at 20 degrees Celsius - the thermo-comfort zone of a young calf will at best gain 400g per day. The same calf at 0 degrees Celsius will potentially lose weight. For every

Datamars, this acquisition strengthens its position as the only company worldwide offering customers a complete end-to-end solution from animal identification, to weight based and activity data capture, to cloud-based reporting and insights. According to Datamars CEO Daniele Della Libera, the decision to acquire HerdInsights was made in support of dairy farmers and livestock producers who are facing increasing pressures to produce more, with less.

Graph 1: Impact of feeding rates, CMR nutrient density and ambient temperature on ADG. MODERN VIEW 1.5% BW of a 28:22 milk replacer

TRADITIONAL VIEW 1% BW of a 20:20 (CP:Fat) milk replacer

Source: Dr. Luis Felipe P. Silva (2018)

five degrees Celsius drop below 20 degrees Celsius, calves require an extra 1.1 megajoules of metabolisable energy to achieve the same result. This is the equivalent of an extra 50g/day/calf of CMR. An understanding of desired mature cow body weight (MBW) to determine the growth rate required for calves is also important. In the first six months, 50% of a calf’s skeletal growth occurs and the aim should be to achieve 85% of MBW soon after its first calving. To achieve this, these are targets to aim for: • Weaning weight: 17% of MBW.

• • •

Six months: 30% of MBW. Joining (15 months): 60% of MBW. Pre-calving (22 months): 90% of MBW. The feed conversion ratio (feed:growth) at the different stages of life should also be a consideration for calf rearers. The ratio ranges from 2:1 between birth and weaning and up to 15:1 from mating to late pregnancy. Given the efficiency of growth in the birth to weaning phase and the on-going implications of calf rearing on lifetime productivity, investing in calf nutrition is worthwhile. • Find out more, call MaxCare on 0800 629 267.

HerdInsights CEO, Brian Mulcahy says joining with Datamars was the obvious choice. “We are particularly excited to combine our industry-leading expertise with that of Datamars so that, together, we can work collaboratively to continue product development and market expansion of the HerdInsights solution; and accelerate further Datamars’ innovation in the area of livestock monitoring and performance across sectors and regions,” he says.

Dairy Exporter | www.nzfarmlife.co.nz | July 2021

89


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook

Articles inside

The Dairy Exporter in 1971

3min
pages 90-92

Milk replacer key to increasing calf weight

2min
page 89

All change for nitrogen rules

5min
pages 86-87

Harriet Bremner warns of the dangers of meth use

6min
pages 84-85

Profits realised from emission reducing trial

3min
pages 82-83

The most family friendly job

10min
pages 78-81

Vet Voice: What is pain relief?

3min
pages 76-77

Taking a lead on water quality

11min
pages 66-69

Getting the best milk price

5min
pages 58-59

Sustainability: thinking, sharing, acting

5min
pages 70-71

‘Hands solo’ for cow collar farmer

8min
pages 72-75

Understanding capital and income

5min
pages 56-57

“Find your rhino”: latch on to opportunity

8min
pages 50-53

Regen ag coach questions winter crop reliance

5min
pages 44-45

Invest to get ahead

6min
pages 54-55

Friesian freedom from twice a day milking

10min
pages 36-39

Ready steady...calving

6min
pages 27-30

Don’t get held up by hackers 34 NZ Sheep milk industry has ‘headstart’

9min
pages 31-35

Leadership through emotional intelligence

5min
pages 25-26

Leadership skills a “life gap.”

9min
pages 22-24

Anne-Marie Wells is feeling a sense of accomplishment

3min
page 10

Red, white and blue tape in the UK

6min
pages 18-19

Confidence in European cooperative giant erodes

7min
pages 14-17

Niceness to others is needed during these difficult times believes Niall McKenzie

3min
page 11

Fonterra opens 2021-22 with $8 midpoint

3min
pages 20-21

Gaye Coates was flabbergasted after her bank decided to call time on their business relationship.

3min
page 13

Carla Staples is happy after a successful 2020/21 season

3min
page 12
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.