Calf Health and Rearing with Kelliher’s and Bonanza

KELLIHER’S Feed & Agri Supplies in association with Bonanza Calf Health, ran two Calf Health and Rearing Information days at the farms of Frank and Joe Keane, Ballingar, Lixnaw and in Knockdurath at the farm of Pat Moynihan.

The aim of the days was to update farmers with latest research and advice to ensure that this is a safe and productive calving season for all involved. Hygiene & Temperature Adam Heffernan, Dairy Specialist with Kelliher’s Feed & Agri Supplies Tralee, began by speaking about Preventative Management and how to reduce infection pressure in calf houses using the following cleaning and disinfecting procedure:

1. Foam everything with Kenosan followed by disinfection with KICKSTART

2. Let the houses and equipment dry out

3. Foam the floors walls feed troughs abundantly with 4% solution of KENOCOX until the floor is wet (400ml per m2) paying special attention to feeders and drinkers and all surfaces that might come in contact with animals, including damaged or worn floors/walls. Allow minimum contact time of 2 hours; rinsing out drinking and feed trough only.

Adam later gave a live demonstration of the foaming process and the importance of the contact time needed to kill Cryptosporidium and Coccidiosis, ecoli.

Adam also stressed in the importance of keeping calves out of drafts and especially recommended using Cosy Calf Jackets in the first two weeks to maintain a critical calf temperature, especially this year where straw is scarce on many farms. Nourishment & Health

Dr Christine Cummins, of Bonanza Calf Nutrition, said that colostrum management for newborn calves remains a problem on many farms. Cummins stressed that it is vitally important that the calves take-in 3-4 litres as soon as possible after birth of good quality product. As the appearance of colostrum tells us nothing of its antibody concentration, a refractometer is a valuable tool to have on farm to show what the quality of colostrum is at any given time during the calving season (available from Kellihers’ Agri).

Dr Cummins went into detail on ‘transition’ milk, which cows produce after Colostrum and before what we consider ‘whole milk’. Bonanza Calf Nutrition have formulated Transformula a skim (60%) and whey milk replacer using milk protein with added immunostimulants and probiotics for feeding calves in the first days of life. This is similar to cows’ transition milk with Probiotics to strengthen the gut against the main diseases while also boosting immunity.

Dr Cummins highlighted the importance of isolating calves that break down with scour and also emphasised the importance of hygiene, recommending that buckets and equipment are dipped in Kickstart solution regularly to prevent pathogen build up.

Tom Warren from Bonanza Calf Nutrition followed this by saying that now was the time to have an ample supply of clean buckets and equipment organised and ready before calving. Tom also highlighted that the basics can often be overlooked, making the point that incorrect measures may be assumed with different people feeding calves. This risk is greatly reduced by moving to once a day feeding along with the following benefits:

• Huge labour saving without any additional cost of investment. A farmer rearing 40 calves once a day can save 50 hours of work.

• The time saved allows for increased attention to detail when it comes to other calf rearing areas such as housing, bedding and illness.

Frank and Joe Keane, Lixnaw, with John Lynch, general manager of Kelliher’s FA, Ballymullen, Tralee, demonstrating the Kenocox Foaming System at the recent farm information days.

Photos: Valerie O’Sullivan Taking it alll in at the Kelliher’s Calf Health and Rearing information day at the farm of Pat Moynihan, Headford.

Tom Warren of Bonanza Calf Nutrition speaking at the Calf Health and Rearing info. day.