Encouraging milk in a suckler heifer at calving

Sugarbowl

Have any of ye got any tricks to have a heifer milky at calving? It’s hit and miss for me, sometimes they do and sometimes they are really poor. I don’t want to be giving ration unnecessarily if it’s only putting weight on the calf.

White Clover

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058335205/encouraging-milk-in-a-suckler-heifer-at-calving

In my view good quality feeding prior to calving/lambing results in adequate amounts of good quality colostrum. Would you chance feeding a little soya bean meal if only for a week prior to calving?

Say my name

Offer free choice minerals ad lib. They'll gorge themselves as they mineralise themselves for a few days but slow to trickle consuming after.

https://youtu.be/PrEoyXCMwZo?si=2xVXbB9eIyAc8bE9

Gudstock

Oats pre-calving here, keeps calves lively too. If a heifer is light on milk after calving then some dairy nuts can help bring it in. Need good quality hay/silage available.

PoorFarmer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121739094#Comment_121739094

What have you got in the LHS barrel @Say my name

Say my name

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121739249#Comment_121739249

Pre calver powder minerals. It looks like clay when it gets wet.

PoorFarmer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121739344#Comment_121739344

I actually thought it was a type of clay or a rock powder. Trying to keep inputs as natural as I can, when I can.

148multi

Feed rolled oats for last month and a little protein in last week.

Research done in the US showed that the biggest impact on milk production in first year is how much colostrum that cow consumed as a calf.

All things being equal

Who2

A shake of soya is great job pre calving.

patsy_mccabe

A lot down to the genetics of the cow too. This new Q204X in the Limousin breed isn't good for milk. Too much feeding in younger stock doesn't help too. The dairy guys don't like to overfeed young heifers, as it hampers milk later in life.

Sugarbowl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121745948#Comment_121745948

Thanks for the ideas guys. I might try the oats, they in good enough order so don’t want to fatten them either. How much oats would be sufficient? A kg/head?

148multi

Feeding a kg/head in last month with no visible effect on calf size

Hard Knocks

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121749461#Comment_121749461

I’d add some soya bean meal too