Calf Milk Replacer 2023

Base price

It's coming into that time of the year again when calves are going to be reared by some farmers. I saw this article in Agriland showing prices for various brands of CMR and decided to open a new thread.

Obviously the prices stated are per bag and do not show any discount for bulk/tonne purchases. The one thing I would advise is that before you buy any CMR on price point only is to read the label on the bag and inform yourself of protein & fat content, how many grammes per day are recommended to be fed and temperature of water for mixing. The list does not show whether the CMR is whey or skim based or percentages but it should clearly state the constituents on the label.

https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/your-guide-to-milk-replacer-prices-this-spring/

Mooooo

3200/ tonne for two different 26%p ones down here

_Brian

Number of feeds per bag can vary considerably.

I wonder are the higher protein feeds worth the price tag.

Anto_Meath

I used to generally use the Volac Heiferlac here, but I have found that the AAX calves aren't able to handle the higher protein content compared to FR or BBx, Hex calves. So I have changes to Wonderthrive with Lungbooster from Grennan’s and I am happy enough with it, bit less protein, but all the calves seem to be able to handle it better with less stomach problems.

mr.stonewall

Purchased replacer in early November for the spring €2500/ton for 25%protein. A large merchant own brand and well known. Was 22 stock and have it stored dry

alps

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120063485#Comment_120063485

Great price..

Gudstock

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120063412#Comment_120063412

Using Volac Heiferlac here for 2 suckler orphans, very impressed with it.

weatherbyfoxer

Bought a pallet of shine once a day for the coming spring,Started using it last year due the fact dairy farmer I get the calves off has them on it before I collect them,Think it's the best CMR on the market.Calves here were ahead of target at the first weighing for with the milk replacer being the only change in feed or managment for the past 3 years . Costing €68 per 20kg bag at the moment

farisfat

Anyone using kiernan milk replacer.

I can buy it at E 50.30 a bag E2515 a tonne how would that compare to other brands.

alps

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120068009#Comment_120068009

If you can put up a photograph of the label it would be helpful. The price is really only part of the equation to do with value.

funkey_monkey

I was watching a Grasstec video with a fella in Castleisland and he said he uses a high protein, low fat milk replacer as the low fat content encourages the calves to get onto the crunch. He says they feel hungrier, but are growing mad because of the protein content:

https://youtu.be/UikxJKrZ85Q?t=825

What would be considered low fat?

We use Volac Blossom Easymix (approx €63) which gives 14.85Mj @ 750g/day. (23% Protein, 18% Fat, 47.5% Sugar). I believe all Volac replacers are whey based.

At peak milk intake, they be getting 6L/day split into 2 feeds. (125g/L = 750g/day above).

20kg bag @ 750g/day = 26 feeds

Were feeding BBX heifers with it. Possibly switching to bull calves this year - should we be looking at another replacer? Volac have Olympian which they state is optimised for beef. It is 20% protein, 20% fat and 46.5% sugar. Gives 12.1Mj fed at 750g/day. €59.

Golden Maverick Hi-Spec (€66) gives 17.6Mj @ 900g/day. 25% protein, 17% fat, 46% Sugar. 0.9kg/day growth claimed.

20kg bay @ 900g/day = 22 feeds.

I don't really see much difference between their Blossom Hi-Spec and Golden Maverick Hi-Spec, and between Enerlac and Olympian.

Eringold would be the other popular brand. Was never overly fussed on it - for no good reason.

Thoughts on choice for bull calves?

I'd like to switch to OAD feeding as we both work, but never tried it before. Has anyone done this successfully?

GrasstoMilk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120067651#Comment_120067651

I moved away from shine, calves were too full on it and no interest in eating meal, was getting bother with bloat too

we used a skim based powder now instead, calves start eating meal pretty quick which is important

stanflt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120069589#Comment_120069589

What are you using now- I moved from shine a few years back due to a poor quality pallet that I got

Mooooo

All milk replacer are low fat and protein compared to milk so would assume they should start eating meal as fast or faster than when on whole milk

GrasstoMilk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120069725#Comment_120069725

Vitalac red

Anto_Meath

@Gudstock yes the Heiferlac is very good and I find it with FRs or anything continental it works well. But the AAx calves can't handle the protein for some reason, it runs through them.

weatherbyfoxer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120069808#Comment_120069808

I moved from vital Blue to the shine,..proof is on the scales here

GrasstoMilk

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120072762#Comment_120072762

minute our calves went on to it was ours got scours /stomach upsets for a few days

stanflt

Lads I’m convinced that water on the farm has an awful lot to do with how successful the milk replacer is- I did a bit of investigating and all the powders are trialled on soft water- unfortunately I’m in a hard water area with huge amounts of limescale

weatherbyfoxer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120076031#Comment_120076031

Never had that problem here to be honest,there is great nutritional back up from bonanza who make the stuff,might be worth a call to see if you can track down the cause of the problem

mf240

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120076104#Comment_120076104

Could you fit a water softener.

_Brian

For a good few years here we used Supercream from FreshAcres, found it excellent with maybe 10% more feeds in the bag.

supplier stopped carrying it locally

dmbt86

Bit off topic but what temp do u mix shine OAD at?

can’t see it on the bag or on web.

changed to it from milkivit this year on a recommendation. Have a few bags in and waiting for calves.

stanflt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120170059#Comment_120170059

43* and feed at 38

dmbt86

Brilliant, Thanks

Thinking about using grennans mrp with lungbooster. Am I wasting my time, is there shine stuff better. Will be all aax calves and about ten purchased friesian replacements. Was using champion stuff till now.

nhg

Dairy Calf to Finished Beef system, using Bonanza Shine Once A Day (sometimes it’s Gain Shine Once A Day but all from same supplier) here since 2017, wouldn’t dream of changing.

Calves much more content on it, calves at least 4 weeks old when we get them, we feed them twice a day (same stuff but different quantities to the mix) for about 2 weeks to settle them in & get them used to the shine, then onto once a day….

Nearly €10 increase both last year & again this year - milk replacer gone very expensive

Dunedin

Anyone using the Topstart

7921F906-74FF-49D4-A3C5-C4C5D9E1038D.png

funkey_monkey

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120170686#Comment_120170686

What makes it better than twice-a-day feeding? Mindset here is still for feeding twice. I suggested moving to OAD but got the short shrift even though both of us are working and would have limited time in morning to feed milk.

Is there a certain age when you can switch to OAD?

Good loser

have fed calves, mart bought, for 40 years and never fed a calf more than once a day.

nhg

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120347788#Comment_120347788

It just seems to suit our system.

1st batch of 10 that we have this year range in age from 2/2 to 18/2 meaning that the oldest in the group is 5 weeks old & the youngest 3 weeks old so they will go onto getting milk replacer once a day from tomorrow, they will get their 1st vaccines today.

Every year when my OH goes into the calf shed in the evening to feed the ones that are on twice a day, the once a day batch wouldn’t be bawling looking for milk, they’ll be content chewing on calf rearer cubes & a hay/straw mix. Since we started using the Shine Original (new name this year) theres no bawling from calves every time they see you either which is great when popping in and out to check on them throughout the day/evening.

Once they have the 2nd lot of vaccines, if the weather suits they’ll start to get let out during the day for a few hours into the training paddock before being moved onto a bigger paddock where they’ll be out full time. They won’t be weaned until youngest calf in the batch is a minimum of 10 weeks old and ready for weaning weight wise.

Once 40 are weaned they stay in that batch together until being put in for the winter.

Siamsa Sessions

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120348124#Comment_120348124

Looks a good system. When you change from twice to once a day, do you keep them on the same amount of milk? And just give them, say 5 litres in one feed rather than 2.5 litres in two feeds?

nhg

2 Litres twice a day feeding - 300g powder per mix

3 Litres once a day feeding - 600g powder per mix

We feed in blue compartment feeders to ensure each calf is getting correct amount

Dunedin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120348708#Comment_120348708

I’m currently giving 300gms twice daily in 3 litres (in compartment feeder too) Nippling at nuts but nothing more. Calves are 3 and 4 weeks old.

what is the Best age to move them or oad and would they want to be eating a fair bit of nuts first?

(pain in the hole getting up at 5:30am to feed them before work)

nhg

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120351092#Comment_120351092

The recommendation is that they are at least 2.5 to 3 weeks old, I’d start it a day your not working though to be able to keep an extra eye on them, they’ll eat more nuts & hay/straw once changed over - just make sure your milk replacer is suitable for OAD feeding…..

Dunedin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120351148#Comment_120351148

They’re on TopStart and it’s oad from 9 weeks.

funkey_monkey

Do you all give bought in calves electrolyte as their first feed? Getting ours in soon and was reading to articles which seem to recommend electrolytes ahead of milk for first feed.

Good loser

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120351092#Comment_120351092

See post 30 above.

funkey_monkey

@Dunedin have you got many and what sorts are they?

We're looking at getting some BBx bulls this time. Previously took in heifers but trying a different approach this year as they were going on hook anyway and we weren't keeping any for breeding.

nhg

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120351288#Comment_120351288

My reading of that is:

If it says ‘once a day from 9 week’ that milk replacer is not suitable for OAD for rearing calves, it’s OAD when weaning the calves.

Dunedin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120351857#Comment_120351857

Thanks for the response.

what would best milk replacer be for the oad?

mahoney_j

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120351963#Comment_120351963

Shine oad by a mile …I feed it twice a day for 3 weeks then switch to oad …heifer calves on 800 gramms daily and really ticking into nuts and hay now

Reggie.

Stanfit might disagree with ya there

stanflt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120352402#Comment_120352402

No it is a great powder

just when you get a bad batch it goes horribly wrong

the only reason I changed was that I got a real bad pallet- turns out the skim was burnt in a manufacturing breakdown

company didn’t want to do anything about it

mahoney_j

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120352402#Comment_120352402

Deeed shur he’s full of shite 😜

Reggie.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120352834#Comment_120352834

Your back on it?

nhg

Using Shine Once a Day here since 2018 now called Shine Original, wouldn’t use anything else

Base price

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120352198#Comment_120352198

I used Shine oad both last year and the year before both for tad and oad feeding and found it excellent. However, we could not financially justify feeding 800g/hd per day to cross bred beef/dairy stock. 600g/hd per day was the most that we used and we offered good quality crunch and both hay and straw.

Siamsa Sessions

Anyone have a clever way to measure out the powder from the bag?

I’m using a 1-litre plastic jug and kitchen scales at the moment but it’s a slow job. I usually get the hang of estimating after a few days but am using a different powder this year and can’t seem to get my eye/hand/jug tuned in.

Base price

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120353420#Comment_120353420

When mixing with the mixer (110l) I fill a calf milk bucket which is equivalent to "X" grammes - you will have to weigh the cmr that you are using and decide on/follow the instructions on how many grammes per head per feed/day you are giving them. I have a bit of a broken timber that I swipe across the top of the bucket to level off the excess. It's not totally accurate as cmr on the top of a new bag is looser/hasn't settled than the stuff underneath but over 110l it works out well enough iykwim.

stanflt

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120353420#Comment_120353420

Yeah I just poor the whole bag into the jfc milk cart and it feeds 50 calves- and I keep repeating

using 4 bags a day atm or 7200€ of powder a month-