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Milk Replacer experiences this season

  • 12-03-2018 12:25AM
    #1
    Mf310
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 358 ✭✭


    I have looked through old posts for threads on milk replacer but most are old...... Using near on 300l a day here feeding calves using whole milk atm but would rather that milk going into the tank and mix up milk replacer providing it wouldnt affect growth rates... I can feed twice a day but once a day would be alot handier ... would like to hear yer experiences with whatever replacer and how much and how ye are feeding it..


Comments

  • #2
    nhg
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 1,225 ✭✭✭nhg


    We buy bull calves (HEX, AAX, SIX, BAX, LMX & the odd FR) which we finish off grass as bullocks at 30 mths from 2 neighbouring dairy farms at 2/3 weeks old. This is our 3rd year feeding them on Shine Once A Day. For the 1st few days that they arrive onto our farm we feed them twice a day & then onto once a day feeding. The calves are much more content on Shine Once A Day compared to when we fed them on Maverick a few years ago. Paying €46.50 a bag.

    600g to 3 Litres of Water OAD or 150g to 1 Litre of Water for Twice a Day
    35/36 degree
    Move onto once a day from 2.5 to 3 weeks old

    We use compartment feeders when on Once A Day to ensure each calf is getting correct amount - no automatic feeders here...


  • #3
    mahoney_j
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,172 ✭✭✭✭mahoney_j


    Using shine as well ,start on 300 gramms twice daily at day 4 and then onto 600 in 3 Ltrs oad from day 7/10 and then build up to 750 over next week.far superior thrive than on whole milk or any whey based product .weaning calves up to 2 weeks earlier as well (10 weeks)


  • #4
    Jb1989
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,435 ✭✭✭Jb1989


    Anyone useing kiernans milk replacer at 37 a bag. Heard mixed reports


  • #5
    Base price
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 12,037 ✭✭✭✭Base price


    Jb1989 wrote: »
    Anyone useing kiernans milk replacer at 37 a bag. Heard mixed reports
    A neighbour used it last year and is using it again this year. I sold him the calves (HEx bulls) last year (and this year) and they did well on it. From memory it is 15% skim.
    I use a 30% skim powder costing .25c/l but I buy a pallet (50x25kg bags) every 3 weeks - feeding FR, AAx, HEx and FRx calves.


  • #6
    Base price
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 12,037 ✭✭✭✭Base price


    nhg wrote: »
    We buy bull calves (HEX, AAX, SIX, BAX, LMX & the odd FR) which we finish off grass as bullocks at 30 mths from 2 neighbouring dairy farms at 2/3 weeks old. This is our 3rd year feeding them on Shine Once A Day. For the 1st few days that they arrive onto our farm we feed them twice a day & then onto once a day feeding. The calves are much more content on Shine Once A Day compared to when we fed them on Maverick a few years ago. Paying €46.50 a bag.

    600g to 3 Litres of Water OAD or 150g to 1 Litre of Water for Twice a Day
    35/36 degree
    Move onto once a day from 2.5 to 3 weeks old

    We use compartment feeders when on Once A Day to ensure each calf is getting correct amount - no automatic feeders here...
    So it costs 35c/l for twice a day feeding and 46.5c/l for oad? Maybe I'm miscalculating!
    I bought a few bags of Shine OAD last Dec from the local co-op to rear a few bull calves that I picked up. To be fair it's palatable, mixes well but imo is too expensive (c/l) for rearing dairy cross bull calves.


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