Improving Calf Nutrition With a Refractometer
Our last article highlighted the high rate of unsatisfactory colostrum from research conducted around Rochester Victoria with just 23% of samples being of sufficient quality to ensure calf health and nutrition. This is the number one issue. However, ongoing nutrition and growth while the calf is being fed milk is not just a foregone conclusion.
Waste milk or milk from the vat does not necessarily contain sufficient fat (energy) and protein to meet a calf’s nutritional needs. Milk replacer may not necessarily be any better. The key to knowing what you are feeding your calves rests with checking calf milk daily with a refractometer; either colostrum for immunity, or either fresh milk or milk replacer.
Milk from mastitis cows can vary/fluctuate significantly in total solids. Milk from cows during the first week of lactation will be high in milk solids, but fall away quickly past 7 days-in-milk. Research revealed calves receiving 7 to 8 litres of fresh milk daily were still not meeting target growth rates. Why? Total solids were not high enough to meet the calves’ energy and protein requirements.
Colostrum scores obtained from refractometer testing of first milk will also be a very good guide to your dry cow/springer cow nutrition; especially throughout seasonal changes. At the beginning of a calving season or group, you can identify nutritional issues in pre-calving cows’ feeding and make correction to prevent further fresh cow health problems and improve whole-of-lactation performance, including fertility!
A refractometer can measure total solids in milk. Normally, milk will read 12 to 13 on a refractometer. However, the research revealed the milk being fed to the calves in this trial was frequently only 8 on the refractometers scale; well under the calves’ requirement. The goal is to double, or greater, live-weight from birth to weaning at 6 to 7 weeks of age. In this case, milk replacer powder was added to the fresh milk to ensure adequate total solids were being fed.
There are three types of refractometers available: 1) Digital dip style. 2) Digital well style. 3) Optical. The digital dip style is the best as it is easiest to read, operate and clean, and far more accurate. The Digital well style requires more cleaning, and about the same price as the Digital dip style. The Optical style refractometer is cheaper but more difficult to operate.
The Digital dip style refractometer is available in Australia from John Morris Scientific at a cost around $892 (inc GST). (info@johnmorris.com.au). This seems a high cost, but bear in mind, a weaned heifer calf is worth around half that. Save two calves and it’s paid for. The ongoing benefits to low-cost healthy- calves, growing into superior replacements, has long term economic benefits. Checking on dry/springer cow nutrition has enormous benefits to our dairy business.
CALFMAX
CALFMAX is a soluble combination of an ultra-concentrated blend of Hydrolysed yeast, yeast extract, yeast culture for addition to calf milk
It contains MOS, Glucans, Galactosamine, Vitamins, Minerals & BOVATEC
CALFMAX is available directly from Dairytech Nutrition or at the following Rural Stores:
South West Vic
Alansford Acme Rural Supplies
Colac The Co-op Colac
Noorat Mt Noorat Farm Supplies
Simpson E&RA Parlour & Co
Terang Scanlon’s Dairy Centre and Terang Co-op
Gippsland
Leongatha Brown’s Stockfeeds
Lang Lang Larmax Agribarn
Poowong Poowong Dairy & Hardware
Drouin Evison Grain & Produce
Yarragon Yarragon Rural Supplies
Northern Victoria
Cohuna J&R Cooke Trading P/L
Echuca Kober Ag Intellegence
Kyabram Dunstall Rural Supplies
Girgarre Dunstall Rural Supplies
Leitchville Lipps Leitchville
Tongala GTS Farm Supplies
If there are no stockists near you, call Dairytech Nutrition on 0400 991 814
For information and supply of CALFMAX call Dairytech Nutrition 0400 991 814.
