Going back to basics

MANY BOUGHT-IN calves will have come through marts/agents and will have been grouped from many different sources.

All these factors will increase the risk of stress and disease. Purchased calves should be isolated from calves already on the farm for up to one week to minimise the risk of disease transfer.

House in a clean disinfected pen with plenty of straw.

PERFORMANCE TARGETS

During the first 12 weeks of life, a daily live weight gain of 0.7kg per day should be achieved, after this a growth rate of 0.8kg per day should be targeted.

Mortality up to three months of age should be less than 3pc and overall treat- ments to the batch of calves should ideally be under 10pc.

A simple rule of thumb target is to double the birth weight in eight weeks.

This will require excellent management from day one. For example, a 40kg calf at birth needs to reach 80kg in 56 days. An average daily gain of 0.71kg per day is required for every day.

BOUGHT IN CALVES: THE FIRST FEED

Calves will be stressed and dehydrated following arrival on to your farm. Allow them two to three hours of rest before feeding.

The first feed should be an electrolyte.

FEEDING MILK REPLACER

In order to achieve the target growth rates as set out above, 750g of milk replacer per day