{"id":370,"date":"2021-03-16T12:57:46","date_gmt":"2021-03-16T12:57:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gainanimalnutrition.com\/agri\/?p=370"},"modified":"2021-12-02T14:11:13","modified_gmt":"2021-12-02T14:11:13","slug":"maximising-calf-performance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gainanimalnutrition.com\/agri\/maximising-calf-performance\/","title":{"rendered":"Maximising calf performance"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Shane Quirke is the farm manager on John Furey\u2019s farm in Edenderry, Co Offaly. \u201cWe have been in dairying for the past four years. We are currently milking 300 British Freisian cows. In year one, we started off with 100 heifers and gradually built up the herd. We have a grazing platform of 300 acres with 60 acres rented. We make all our own silage from an additional 100ac block,\u201d said Shane. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last year was the first year that Shane kept all the calves on the farm. \u201cWe bought a Holstein bull last year for the first time and have found that the calves have been very good from him. We artificially inseminate for the first five weeks and then let in the stock bull to cover any repeats,\u201d says Shane. \u201cThe plan is to keep all the calves so that we don\u2019t need to get them contract-reared,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are 40 calves on the farm here at the moment. Calving generally runs from 25 January until the end of April. Last year was the first year that we winter milked, calving 40 cows in the autumn. I had a couple of late milkers last year. That\u2019s what enticed me into it,\u201d said Shane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Calf Nutrition<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every calf that is born on the farm receives colostrum straight away. Shane admits: \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter if it\u2019s 2am in the morning. We milk the cow and stomach-tube the calf straight away with their mother\u2019s beastings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you stomach-tube the calf, you\u2019re sure that he\u2019s been fed. We feed the calf on its mother\u2019s milk for one week before moving it on to GAIN Easi Mix Calf Milk Replacer.< https:\/\/www.glanbiaconnect.com\/shop\/product\/GAIN-Easi-Mix-Calf-Milk-Replacer-20kg\/1014102<\/a>> \u201d Shane uses GAIN Easi Mix Calf Milk Replacer, which is high in protein at 25%. Key ingredients such as Digest VO, BioMos help against coccidiosis and cryptosporidium. Gardion is in there too which helps support immunity.\u201cThe calves receive milk replacer for 74 days. We also start calves on GAIN Startacalf Muesli <https:\/\/www.glanbiaconnect.com\/shop\/product\/GAIN-Startacalf-Muesli-20kg\/1014135 > from a few days of age with ad-lib access to get them going. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We use an automatic calf feeder that mixes GAIN Easi Mix Calf Milk Replacer to the same temperature and consistency every time. Within five days of weaning, the automatic calf feeder will gradually reduce the calf\u2019s feed intake and wean them off the milk replacer. After weaning, we would introduce GAIN Wean \u2018N\u2019 Build <https:\/\/www.glanbiaconnect.com\/shop\/product\/GAIN-Wean-%26-Build-Nuts-25kg\/1014000> which keeps calves thriving,\u201d according to Shane. Shane believes that the combination of GAIN Easi Mix Calf Milk Replacer, GAIN Startacalf and GAIN Wean \u2018N\u2019 Build delivers real results on the farm, \u201cWe find that the calves thrive off the milk replacer and ration. It means that the calves are meeting their targets on time and are healthy,\u201d said Shane.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Calf Health<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In terms of calf health, Shane ensures that he does everything to ensure that the calves are as healthy as possible. \u201cWe vaccinate the calves with Bovipast as their immune system can be vulnerable at a young age. Weaning can be a stressful time on calves so we want to make sure that they don\u2019t get pneumonia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Any calves that show signs of a drop in performance are separated from the main lot and treated. The welfare of the animals on the farm is of high importance and something we ensure is maximised here on our farm,\u201d Shane stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Technical Support<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Geoff Kennedy is Shane\u2019s GAIN Business Manager on the farm. Shane is quick to highlight the important role that Geoff plays on his farm. Shane admits: \u201cGeoff is a pleasure to work with. We form a nutrition and overall health programme for the calves to make sure that they are getting the right balance of milk and ration. Geoff visits the farm regularly to check in on the calves to make sure that they are hitting their targets. He\u2019s always at the end of the phone if I ever need him. It makes a huge difference.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dairy Heifer Rearing Programme<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The GAIN dairy heifer rearing programme is designed to give practical advice to farmers on the most efficient means of achieving optimal performance from your dairy heifers. This programme is specifically designed to build the calf\u2019s immune system right from their first day of life and help protect the calf until it has a developed immune system. The programme is divided into a number of key milestones in the calf\u2019s journey focusing on nutrition, health and husbandry. \u201cGeoff made me aware of the dairy heifer rearing programme. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a very helpful and useful resource to have on the farm as sometimes it can be difficult to know if you have the calves on the right track. It points out potential threats such as pneumonia and gives very practical advice on how to look after the herd while optimising performance at the same time,\u201d said Shane.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Shane Quirke is the farm manager on John Furey\u2019s farm in Edenderry, Co Offaly. \u201cWe have been in dairying for the past four years. We are currently milking 300 British Freisian cows. In year one, we started off with 100 heifers and gradually built up the herd. We have a grazing platform of 300 acres […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":394,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-370","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nMaximising calf performance - GAIN Agri<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gainanimalnutrition.com\/agri\/maximising-calf-performance\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Maximising calf performance - GAIN Agri\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Shane Quirke is the farm manager on John Furey\u2019s farm in Edenderry, Co Offaly. \u201cWe have been in dairying for the past four years. 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