Probiotic additive proving popular in calf operations

01-07-2006 | Not Specified

A growing number of calf rearing operations are incorporating a high carbohydrate-probiotic product into their operations, its manufacturer says.

Queen of Calves was designed by Bell-Booth to be incorporated into either whole milk or milk replacer to achieve significant milk and grain savings.

“The result for farmers is more milk in the vat, less grain purchases, good weaning weights and, most importantly, robust calves,” says Bell-Booth chief executive Stephen Bell-Booth.

He says Queen of Calves is made from selected land and marine plant extracts that help nourish young calves, plus viable microbes (probiotic), certain amino acids and vitamins to boost their immune system.

It is recommended for feeding with milk from day 19 and fed till weaning.

Another product, X-Factor, is a similar product developed specifically for feeding to calves up to day 19, with colostrum or whole milk. It contains four times the probiotic levels of Queen of Calves.

Both products are designed to enhance the milk-based feed, not replace the milk, and are added in increasing quantities as the calves get older.

Bell-Booth says both products drew strong interest from visitors to the company’s site at last month’s Fieldays.

“We’ve just been blown away by the feedback from calf rearers trying these products for the first time, and from those who have been using them for several years now,” he says.

Regular users include 1997 Southland Sharemilkers of the Year Mike and Missy Thompson, who milk 240 cows and raise their own replacements at Gummies Bush, Riverton, and started using Queen of Calves in the spring of 2001.

They raised 90 of their 160 Friesian-Jersey cross calves on Queen of Calves. Most of these calves were three weeks old when they first began the programme.

“The first thing we noticed was the shine on their coats after day four on the system. They just had that gloss about them and had no scours at all once they got on Queen of Calves,” Mike says.

Mike noticed a point of difference in the way the treated calves were growing.“They developed a wide frame across the loin.”

He also noticed a discernable change in their grain consumption.“The thing that really surprised me was the way the claves didn’t eat as much meal once they got underway on Queen of Calves, yet they poured on the growth. Due to such a good response to Queen of Calves, the older calves only needed 14 days on the programme and then they were ready for weaning.

“Queen of Calves is easy to mix with both whole milk and milk powder. We got a healthy calf in a shorter period of time and one of the best advantages for us is that the calves are able to be outside eating grass. All of our calves will be reared on Queen of Calves this year.”

Bell-Booth says the estimated milk savings from a Queen of Calves programme compared against an ad-lib milk regime could yield as much as 79 litres/calf. At 41 cents/litre for an average cost of milk, that equates to savings of up to $32/calf in milk costs.

Savings in grain consumption as high as 50% have been achieved on farms. Under University (Massey University, Palmerston North, Spring 2001), trial conditions, savings in grain consumption of 25% were achieved, while reaching target weaning weights.

Estimated grain savings, using a reasonably conservative approach therefore could yield savings of $7/calf.

“A dollar spent on Queen of Calves could net $1.50 in milk and grain savings, and produce healthier calves in a shorter period of time,” he says.

On-farm profile, next month.

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