Like any foundation, it is important to make sure it is strong so that you don’t have it collapsing. Therefore, rearing healthy, well-grown heifers is important in ensuring a productive herd in the future. It involves investing in quality nutrition, housing, and health care from an early stage to ensure the development of productive, healthy, and long-lived cows.
“Research has shown that there is a strong positive correlation between increased growth rate before weaning and lifetime milk production. Calf growth is affected by many factors, but daily intake of protein and energy are the most important,” says GrainCorp Technical Feed Partner, Christian Muller.
“It is therefore important that we ensure the calves receive enough nutrients through their milk or CMR (Calf Milk Replacer) to ensure the calves have enough nutrients to meet their requirements for strong growth. Proper nutrient intake during the pre-weaning phase can not only enhance the growth of mammary tissues, which is directly linked to future milk-producing ability but also leads to better developed digestive and immune systems which contribute to overall health and productivity.”
GrainCorp’s calf feed range has just expanded, to now include a range of high-quality CMR to help grow good calves from start to finish. Together with the ProfeLAC CMR range, which provides high-quality nutrition to calves, and the international calf-rearing expertise that the Provico team provides, enables farmers to rear strong healthy calves.
“The rumen is one of the most important organs in a dairy cow and making sure that a cow has a healthy and functioning rumen is important. The proper development of a rumen is crucial as it has a large effect on a cow’s lifetime production and overall health, and it starts at calving. Think of it as building a factory: a factory that is built properly and set up with good quality equipment will produce more (and more efficiently) than a factory built cheaply and with poor quality equipment. Therefore, making sure we invest in the calf properly to help her develop her rumen is crucial as it will mean that her rumen is set up right to efficiently digest and utilise feed in the future,” explains Christian.
“To promote good rumen development, it is important to provide calves with appropriate solid feeds, such as starter grains that contain good quality starch & protein as well as offering the calves some roughage, at an early age while still on milk.”
GrainCorp’s PRO START™ range of calf feed is designed to stimulate rumen growth and assist in the establishment of a healthy microbiome. Additionally, by ensuring proper management practices, such as maintaining cleanliness and providing fresh water, supports the overall health and development of the rumen.
Disclaimer
The information, advice, and recommendations provided by Graincorp Animal Nutrition New Zealand are intended to be general in nature and are provided for informational purposes only. As such, GrainCorp makes no warranties, expressed or implied, regarding the completeness, accuracy, or applicability of any information, advice, or recommendations provided. Please always seek advice from your nutritionist or veterinarian if you are unsure this is relevant to your situation.
