Which is best milk replacer for dairy heifers?

Banshee Boos

Just wondering which is the best calf milk replacer for dairy heifer calves? The local Co-Op has Maverick, Provimilk Daisy and Volac Blossom. From the look of what I could find on the Net, both the Maverick & Blossom are 23%. I believe they are both whey based. Couldn't find much on the Daisy. I want to give these heifers the best start. Does anyone know which of these is best?

Wildsurfer

Just wondering how have you calves only going onto milk now and when you would expect them to calve down?

mahoney_j

Rearing calves in powder 5 years now and nothing comes close to shine oad ,it's skim based rather than whey which is what most other powders are .skim curdles for longer in stomach than whey leading to less digestive upsets etc

Sam Kade

mahoney_j wrote: »

Rearing calves in powder 5 years now and nothing comes close to shine oad ,it's skim based rather than whey which is what most other powders are .skim curdles for longer in stomach than whey leading to less digestive upsets etc

+1

stanflt

I'm a shine fan ( of the product not the price 39 a bag at the moment on pallets delivered

Banshee Boos

mahoney_j wrote: »

Rearing calves in powder 5 years now and nothing comes close to shine oad ,it's skim based rather than whey which is what most other powders are .skim curdles for longer in stomach than whey leading to less digestive upsets etc

Is that the Gain Shine Once a Day powder? If that's the case, I might give the nearest Glanbia a call to see if they stick it.
Might sound a bit odd, but I have a preference for feeding twice a day (only small numbers of calves). The Shine for feeding twice a day is only 20% protein, what is the OAD? The recommendations are for 23% protein.

Banshee Boos

Wildsurfer wrote: »

Just wondering how have you calves only going onto milk now and when you would expect them to calve down?

Bought in calves coming off whole milk onto replacer.

Sam Kade

Banshee Boos wrote: »

Is that the Gain Shine Once a Day powder? If that's the case, I might give the nearest Glanbia a call to see if they stick it.
Might sound a bit odd, but I have a preference for feeding twice a day (only small numbers of calves). The Shine for feeding twice a day is only 20% protein, what is the OAD? The recommendations are for 23% protein.

I fed shine OAD twice a day without any problems it can also be mixed with whole milk.

Banshee Boos

Sam Kade wrote: »

I fed shine OAD twice a day without any problems it can also be mixed with whole milk.

Is that replacer made by Glanbia? There seems to be two on the market called Shine. What's the protein content of the OAD?

mahoney_j

Banshee Boos wrote: »

Is that replacer made by Glanbia? There seems to be two on the market called Shine. What's the protein content of the OAD?

Bonanza calf health sell it to coops from what I gather .mine bought through Arrabawn just shine oad ,gain shine oad same stuff

stretch film

stanflt wrote: »

I'm a shine fan ( of the product not the price 39 a bag at the moment on pallets delivered

How many bags used per calf Stan .what age/weight approx do you wean at.

Is it the convenience of Oad that your a fan of the most.

Spoke to them recently and was quoted a good bit more per bag albeit the feeding rate recommended was less at 600 grams than I've seen some post on here.

Sam Kade

I paid around €49 for a bag 3 years ago.

stanflt

stretch film wrote: »

How many bags used per calf Stan .what age/weight approx do you wean at.

Is it the convenience of Oad that your a fan of the most.

Spoke to them recently and was quoted a good bit more per bag albeit the feeding rate recommended was less at 600 grams than I've seen some post on here.

I use around a bag per calf as calves get whole milk for 14 days

Plus I mix whole milk with replacer


I wean calves when weighing over 85kgs and eating 2 kg nuts per day

freedominacup

stanflt wrote: »

I use around a bag per calf as calves get whole milk for 14 days

Plus I mix whole milk with replacer


I wean calves when weighing over 85kgs and eating 2 kg nuts per day

So the old 1kg/day mark doesn't really apply with a more ho type calf?

mahoney_j

Bag and half here ,wean at 100 kg eating close to 2 kg nuts as well for heifers and Bulls selected for breeding .everything else weaned at 90 kg eating same meal

stretch film

stanflt wrote: »

I use around a bag per calf as calves get whole milk for 14 days

Plus I mix whole milk with replacer


I wean calves when weighing over 85kgs and eating 2 kg nuts per day

More questions Stan.
What rate are you adding to your own milk and is it this mix only until weaning.

Is it due to current milk price that you go this road .I imagine that mix is dynamite so growth rates must be v good. A big plus no matter what milk price .
Was quoted 48/bg and was reccomended to feed 28kgs/calf in water

Own milk option was mentioned but not in detail

Sheep breeder

We used Wicklow cattle company milk replacer this year and never reared calves as good and as easy reared as this milk replacer. calves were heavier and more flesh on than any other year, three of use used it and another guy used glanbia and his calves were 15 kg lighter for the same age at weaning and all calves were bought in the same marts together.

Banshee Boos

Sheep breeder wrote: »

We used Wicklow cattle company milk replacer this year and never reared calves as good and as easy reared as this milk replacer. calves were heavier and more flesh on than any other year, three of use used it and another guy used glanbia and his calves were 15 kg lighter for the same age at weaning and all calves were bought in the same marts together.

That's a big difference!! There are a few guys advertising CMR on DoneDeal alright but need to be buying in bulk.

Sam Kade

Sheep breeder wrote: »

We used Wicklow cattle company milk replacer this year and never reared calves as good and as easy reared as this milk replacer. calves were heavier and more flesh on than any other year, three of use used it and another guy used glanbia and his calves were 15 kg lighter for the same age at weaning and all calves were bought in the same marts together.

Is it skim or whey based?

Jd04

Best of all and I have rared 210 calves this year is vitalac blue 24% protein. After 3 weeks once a day feeding. Calves after 6 weeks weighed over 90kg best on the market. Agritech supply it