milk feeders?

farmerjj

hi I,m changing my system of feeding calves milk,i,m going from a bucket system to a nipple type. I was wondering about the different type,s,i was going to get a 6feeder one but not sure would I be better off going with the type that would have indidivual sections in it or just the one big section for holding the milk(big dif in price), and if I had a 10feeder would it cause problems if I was only feeding say 6 calves at a time??

bbam

You need an extra stall or two and a few extra stalls will do no harm.

When the teats are worn they might dribble a bit.

We have the bulk ones and never any problems.

Lots of lads say the individual ones stop bully calves from having more than their share. But the truth is once their teat goes dry they go straight to the next one anyway.

simx

farmerjj wrote: »

hi I,m changing my system of feeding calves milk,i,m going from a bucket system to a nipple type. I was wondering about the different type,s,i was going to get a 6feeder one but not sure would I be better off going with the type that would have indidivual sections in it or just the one big section for holding the milk(big dif in price), and if I had a 10feeder would it cause problems if I was only feeding say 6 calves at a time??

I was always a believer in the 6 teat sectioned ones as the hungry calves are more restricted to what they drink and maybe less to get a scour

Brown Podzol

Whichever one you go for be sure they are clamped securely on to the gate, calves when they are finished will puck them onto the ground. I have milkbar, they have tried three different clamping systems and none a success. Maybe someone here can let us know of a feeder that the calves cannot knock off the gate when finished drinking.

mf240

We use the green peach tit feeders. We have tens and sixes. You can feed two or three calves out of the ten no problem. We just try to match up the calves. If one isn't thriving well enough we put them in with the younger group. we got a few lengths of very light chain in the co op and some small shackles and we secured them to the gates with it.

Injuryprone

You'll definitely need at least 1 sectioned feeder to start them off on. You'll need to be able to identify the slow calves. I've had calves that wouldn't have 10% of their milk gone when the others would be finished. You'll need to hang around to make sure that the slow one will finish.

I start mine off in groups of 5 on the 6 teat sectioned feeder. Then move them into 10s with the unsectioned feeder. I'd hold back any slow calf.

hurling_lad

We changed to using the milk bars a few years ago, but, as we keep new-born calves in individual pens for their first few days, we're still in the habit of bucket-feeding (with the attendant training and much swearing at calves) first.

This is mainly because the individual nipple buckets don't seem to suit the individual pens, especially for bigger calves, as they hang down into the pen and make it very cramped whereas the buckets sit into the rings outside the pen. Does anyone here train calves to the nipple in individual pens and, if so, how do you manage it?

As for the milk-bars, we use the 10-calf type with the red plastic clamp and never have any problems with them coming off the gates or if there are small numbers in a pen (as long as they're all a similar go).

Reggie.

This is what i use http://stradballyfarmservices.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/6-stationcompartment.jpg

The compartments are very important as ever calf gets a fair share IMO, sure they will try and get another teat when finished but if you hang around and give the bully a few clips that sorts that. The teats should last roughly two seasons but that depends on usage per season too.

There is a hook on the back of this feeder that stops them lifting it off the gate too and ive never had one knocked off on me yet

Reggie.

What are peoples weapons of choice when it comes to Milk replacer?

Rho b

We use the 10 teat non sectioned feeders. Like others have said as long as you move the stronger or weaker calves into a different group then you shouldn't have much problems.
We use Tentomilk and find it excellent. It has pre and pro biotics in it.

Blue Holland

Brown Podzol wrote: »

Whichever one you go for be sure they are clamped securely on to the gate, calves when they are finished will puck them onto the ground. I have milkbar, they have tried three different clamping systems and none a success. Maybe someone here can let us know of a feeder that the calves cannot knock off the gate when finished drinking.

Have wydale feeders here (crazy price alright) slightly modified to hang on outside of pens, gates made to suit. Can also be hung inside the pen if needed. Never an issue with calves lifting them off right up to weaning, just hung on, no clamps, also no lugging feeder and milk over gates and calves trying knock bucket milk out of your hands.

delaval

Blue Holland wrote: »

Have wydale feeders here (crazy price alright) slightly modified to hang on outside of pens, gates made to suit Never an issue with calves lifting them off, just hung on

Can you post a pic, never heard of them.

We have Jfc and Milkbar here along with two milkbar mobiles.

Milkbar far superior to Jfc and it's what we use to train calves. Bought 2 compartment feeders las year thinking it'd be useful for training, used for 1 week and hung up. If anyone wants to buy them I'd gladly geet rid.

We remove slow drinkers to their own area. All feeders are removed from pens as calves are finished otherwise the teats wont last. We only feed 4 pens at a time so that we can watch clves feding rather than filling all feders and half herding.

loveta

We have the jfc 6 and 10 feeders and two of them green feeders with the individual sections with the peach teats that feed 8 calves.I think the latter ones are better because it gives the slower drinkers to get at least 2lts of milk but they are a disaster if say you only have 5 calves drinking out of them you cant put your 3+lts a calf as it runs to the other sections leaving some calves getting near double there allowance.I think the nipples on the jfc ones are crap some of the calves do ok and some would near starve if you were not watching them tight but a friend of mine cut the nipples of and put the peach teats on it an says it a good job so might be worth trying.

Blue Holland

delaval wrote: »

Can you post a pic, never heard of them.

We have Jfc and Milkbar here along with two milkbar mobiles.

Milkbar far superior to Jfc and it's what we use to train calves. Bought 2 compartment feeders las year thinking it'd be useful for training, used for 1 week and hung up. If anyone wants to buy them I'd gladly geet rid.

We remove slow drinkers to their own area. All feeders are removed from pens as calves are finished otherwise the teats wont last. We only feed 4 pens at a time so that we can watch clves feding rather than filling all feders and half herding.

Have never posted a pic before, i'll look into it. Agree with ya about watching calves feeding.

delaval

Blue Holland wrote: »

Have never posted a pic before, i'll look into it. Agree with ya about watching calves feeding.

I'm some one to talk about calf rearing. I'd say I'm one of the worst rearers in the world so bad that we've taken on someone to do nothing else for the spring

Greengrass1

http://www.wydaleproducts.co.uk/products/prod/34/5TeatCalfFeeder
Seen these in two farms. Cal es would easily be 10kgs ahead of mine at weaning. Very easy to keep bullies away from weaker ones until they catch up

Mulumpy

I always start off with single feeders then group according to milking speed. Batch feeders are better to help a calf build up speed as theyve to learn to fight their corner. I feed most of my calves while milking the cow. I leave the newbies and slow drinkers til last.

farmerjj

Greengrass1 wrote: »

http://www.wydaleproducts.co.uk/products/prod/34/5TeatCalfFeeder
Seen these in two farms. Cal es would easily be 10kgs ahead of mine at weaning. Very easy to keep bullies away from weaker ones until they catch up

these look very good and look like they,d stop the bullies from pushing off the weaker calves, but are a bit expensive anywhere you can get them for cheaper???

Reggie.

farmerjj wrote: »

these look very good and look like they,d stop the bullies from pushing off the weaker calves, but are a bit expensive anywhere you can get them for cheaper???

wicklow cattle company do them but if my memory serves me right they are close to 200 euro for the 5 teat one and they are very big feeder aswell

Greengrass1

farmerjj wrote: »

these look very good and look like they,d stop the bullies from pushing off the weaker calves, but are a bit expensive anywhere you can get them for cheaper???

Lad I seen them has them for 15yrs+ and still in good shape. The combinations are good though. You can buy 5 sections and 3 sections ones. Ye can feed 3,5,8 or 10 with them

Blue Holland

Wicklow cattle co. sell them, actually Wicklow calf rearing products but same place, got one two years ago think it was close to 250 euro for the 5, bought rest of mine second hand about ten years ago, one is about 20 years old now.

TEAT SQUEEZER

wydale are an expensive option imo and sucking unit (nrv) gets really dirty.. compartmented milkbars here also ... rather than removing calves from initial groups i find we amalgamate heifers as bulls are sold .. the compartm,ents allow this otherwise the bully will snaffle the lot ... i find more often the majority are the same speed and its the fast one thats unusual...

sheebadog

Delaval auto feeder here. 3 stations for milk and 1 for concentré.
Calves go in at 3 days old, just input the weight of the calf and 77 days later they Côme out. The job. The Man that invented it should get a medal.
Its the one bit of kit I could not do without.

Reggie.

TEAT SQUEEZER wrote: »

wydale are an expensive option imo and sucking unit (nrv) gets really dirty.. compartmented milkbars here also ... rather than removing calves from initial groups i find we amalgamate heifers as bulls are sold .. the compartm,ents allow this otherwise the bully will snaffle the lot ... i find more often the majority are the same speed and its the fast one thats unusual...

+1

Timmaay

sheebadog wrote: »

Delaval auto feeder here. 3 stations for milk and 1 for concentré.
Calves go in at 3 days old, just input the weight of the calf and 77 days later they Côme out. The job. The Man that invented it should get a medal.
Its the one bit of kit I could not do without.

Rough price of one? How many will it feed?

sheebadog

Timmaay wrote: »

Rough price of one? How many will it feed?

No idea of the cost as it was on the farm when I bought it.
They tell me it is maxed at 80. I do know that it does batches of 70 no bother.
What I lové about it is the way it treats each calf individually.

Greengrass1

opt_IMG_20140118_191027.jpg
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/823/j4vy.jpg
Individual pens and drinkers here

Timmaay

Have one of them, I may get afew more, very handy for starting out calves, only issue is a strong calf will puck it off and spill the lot! Nice calf also, bit of JE still in it?

Blue Holland

delaval wrote: »

Can you post a pic, never heard of them.

We have Jfc and Milkbar here along with two milkbar mobiles.

Milkbar far superior to Jfc and it's what we use to train calves. Bought 2 compartment feeders las year thinking it'd be useful for training, used for 1 week and hung up. If anyone wants to buy them I'd gladly geet rid.

We remove slow drinkers to their own area. All feeders are removed from pens as calves are finished otherwise the teats wont last. We only feed 4 pens at a time so that we can watch clves feding rather than filling all feders and half herding.

Hope this works, supposed to be wydale feeder modified to hang on outside of pens.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/542/23cq.jpg

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/15/5zuw.jpg

Greengrass1

Blue Holland wrote: »

Hope this works, supposed to be wydale feeder modified to hang on outside of pens.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/542/23cq.jpg

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/15/5zuw.jpg

What distance are the bars in the gate that the calves reach through? That's a good job

Greengrass1

Timmaay wrote: »

Have one of them, I may get afew more, very handy for starting out calves, only issue is a strong calf will puck it off and spill the lot! Nice calf also, bit of JE still in it?

Have two of the shoof bottle feeders as well. Teat one and stomach tube one. Very handy for feeding new borns http://www.magentadirect.ie/proddetail.php?prod=MAE0165
Two weeks early so a bit smaller..no JE in him ha. Well the lad buying won't know

Reggie.

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Have two of the shoof bottle feeders as well. Teat one and stomach tube one. Very handy for feeding new borns http://www.magentadirect.ie/proddetail.php?prod=MAE0165
Two weeks early so a bit smaller..no JE in him ha. Well the lad buying won't know

use them myself

Greengrass1

Reggie. wrote: »

use them myself

Stomach tube one is very handy. Very easy to use on your own

Reggie.

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Stomach tube one is very handy. Very easy to use on your own

i just use the teat one in case of a scour if i cant get it into the milk in the feeder

Blue Holland

Greengrass1 wrote: »

What distance are the bars in the gate that the calves reach through? That's a good job

That gate was originally made for bucket feeding, bars are quite far apart with vertical bars to keep calves in, have other gates with out vertical bars in a shed for calves at 6-10 weeks old, think there bout 11 inches apart, I'll check tomorrow.

49801

Brown Podzol wrote: »

Whichever one you go for be sure they are clamped securely on to the gate, calves when they are finished will puck them onto the ground. I have milkbar, they have tried three different clamping systems and none a success. Maybe someone here can let us know of a feeder that the calves cannot knock off the gate when finished drinking.

Should really remove feeders when they are done and hose off.
Not good for them to be sucking air, and they break them.

Reggie.

49801 wrote: »

Should really remove feeders when they are done and hose off.
Not good for them to be sucking air, and they break them.

Yep feeders should be cleaned after every use

Greengrass1

What do lads do to stop calves sucking eack other before they get into meal. Give em a slap?

Reggie.

Greengrass1 wrote: »

What do lads do to stop calves sucking eack other before they get into meal. Give em a slap?

Never had that problem

Greengrass1

Reggie. wrote: »

Never had that problem

Have the odd ones that prefers to suck that eat meal

Reggie.

Greengrass1 wrote: »

Have the odd ones that prefers to suck that eat meal

Be too young foe the spikes in the nose would they

49801

Greengrass1 wrote: »

What do lads do to stop calves sucking eack other before they get into meal. Give em a slap?

Isolate:rolleyes:

Greengrass1

Reggie. wrote: »

Be too young foe the spikes in the nose would they

Not sure never thought of using them

Rho b

Greengrass1 wrote: »

What do lads do to stop calves sucking eack other before they get into meal. Give em a slap?

For ear sucking a bit of Colemans mustard dabbed on the ears.
For navel sucking - epsom salts and vinegar with a little bit of veg or olive oil rubbed into the hair (to help it stick), or alternatively vinegar or a spray of cheap deodrant - the smell usually puts them off.

Rho b

Reggie. wrote: »

Be too young foe the spikes in the nose would they

Seen a calf a few years ago at the vets with the navel and underbelly torn to shreds cause the farmer put spikes on another calf to stop him from sucking :mad:

Deepsouthwest

Rho b wrote: »

For ear sucking a bit of Colemans mustard dabbed on the ears.
For navel sucking - epsom salts and vinegar with a little bit of veg or olive oil rubbed into the hair (to help it stick), or alternatively vinegar or a spray of cheap deodrant - the smell usually puts them off.

I was told Stockholm tar would stop cross sucking after the feeder is taken away, but after a wk or so they were back to same

Hugh 2

Injuryprone wrote: »

You'll definitely need at least 1 sectioned feeder to start them off on. You'll need to be able to identify the slow calves. I've had calves that wouldn't have 10% of their milk gone when the others would be finished. You'll need to hang around to make sure that the slow one will finish.

I start mine off in groups of 5 on the 6 teat sectioned feeder. Then move them into 10s with the unsectioned feeder. I'd hold back any slow calf.

Same here
Used compartment feeder for first few days to monitor slow drinkers.
In the first few days you might not want to make the mistake of leaving the feeder with them as they can continue to suck till their jaws get so sore that they are unable to suck on their next feed - older calves have learnt to stop when the milk runs out.
Some lads shove something like a nail to speed up the drinking process but this is a mistake-
The two biggest problem is when one teat gets really free and that calf gets way more than the rest and when one gets blocked/half blocked.

Rho b

Deepsouthwest wrote: »

I was told Stockholm tar would stop cross sucking after the feeder is taken away, but after a wk or so they were back to same

Stockholm tar would be good, never used it in that situation. Maybe mix the Epsom salts into it after a few days (or Jif lemon juice).
I have tasted some horrible things in my life but Epsom salts wins by a mile :mad:

Hugh 2

hurling_lad wrote: »

we're still in the habit of bucket-feeding (with the attendant training and much swearing at calves) first.

This is mainly because the individual nipple buckets don't seem to suit the individual pens, especially for bigger calves, as they hang down into the pen and make it very cramped whereas the buckets sit into the rings outside the pen. Does anyone here train calves to the nipple in individual pens and, if so, how do you manage it?

Odonovan calf pens can attach rings up high for individual bucket teat feeders
You might have a look to see can you do do something similar with your pens

http://www.odonovaneng.ie/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Calf-Pen-New-reduced-1.JPG
http://www.odonovaneng.ie/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Calf-Pen-New-reduced-3.JPG


I was looking at pens recently and thought that this was a good idea(the second pix shows the ring for the bucket can be attached above or below)