Nutritional Strategies to Maximise Longevity & Performance of Heifer Replacements

1. Nutritional Strategies to Maximise Longevity & Performance of Heifer Replacements

2. Heifer Rearing The issues • Heifer rearing is the 2nd biggest cost in milk production • It takes 1.3 lactations to cover this cost • 20% of heifers do not reach their first lactation • 40% of heifers do not enter a second lactation • These failures are mainly due to: • Poor calf management – housing, health etc. • Poor initial growth and bone development • Poor rumen development

3. Heifer Rearing Heifer Rearing The importance of Colostrum • Naïve calves • Antibodies • Growth promoters – body and mammary

4. Antibodies from the colostrum protects the calf until their own immune systems are fully functional. Heifer Rearing Heifer Rearing

5. Heifer Rearing Heifer Rearing The importance of Colostrum • Naïve calves • Antibodies • Growth promoters – body and mammary • However: • 50% of calves do not take in sufficient colostrum and often it is fed too late • Large variation in colostrum quality (Age, immunity, yield, length of dry period, mineral and protein status) • 80% of colostrum less than recommended minimum level of antibodies (60 g IgG/l)

6. Heifer Rearing Heifer Rearing Colostrum Immunoglobulin Concentration

7. Heifer Rearing Heifer Rearing What colostrum to feed to who? • Avoid feeding heifer colostrum • Ideal colostrum is from cows in their 3rd lactation • Measure colostrum quality using colostrometer • Monitor calf antibody levels – ZST

8. Heifer Rearing Heifer Rearing When to feed colostrum? • 3 litres in first 2 hours of life = 20 mins continuous suckling • Minimum of 6 litres in first 6 hours of life • 90% chance of survival

9. Heifer Rearing Heifer Rearing • Low antibody levels = 6x more likely to die in first 6 months • 57% of all calf deaths are directly linked to poor antibody levels • Poor immunity = gut damage and poor performance

10. Heifer Rearing Heifer Rearing Calf Feeding • Aims • Maximise rumen development to maximise calf growth • Utilise calf efficiency for optimum growth • Wean at 6 weeks • Produce heifers that are “fit not fat”

11. Heifer Rearing Heifer Rearing Feeding Milk • Do not feed antibiotic and high cell count milk to calves • Calf Milk Replace provides a consistent supply of quality milk until the rumen is developed • Feed a high protein (24%), medium fat (17%) milk replacer such as Harbro Premium Plus to optimise bone and protein growth without putting on fat

12. Heifer Rearing Harbro Milk Replacers Key Features • Carefully selected milk (whey) solids with maximum nutritional value • Balanced blend of vegetable fats and oils, homogenised and emulsified for maximum digestibility • Full supplement of vitamins, minerals and trace elements. Enhanced levels in Premium Plus. • Nuklospray – a special complex of co-spray dried pre digested (hydrolysed) protein and dairy products which are more readily digested and absorbed • Acidified to ensure freshness for up to 24 hours

13. Premium Plus Premium Plus For fast frame growth, allowing heifers to achieve target weights to bulling and beyond Protein - 24% Oil - 17% Ash - 7.5% Fibre - 0.05%

14. Heifer Rearing Economy Economy Enables beef and dairy calves to achieve growth rates required for lifetime performance Protein - 22% Oil - 15% Ash - 7.0% Fibre - 0.05%

15. Concentrated Milk Protein Whey vs skimmed milk protein ? • Whey more easily absorbed than Casein – Body Building • Casein clots and makes calves feel full – Whey does not clot and therefore has higher DMI

16. Heifer Rearing Feeding the rumen

17. Heifer Rearing Feeding the rumen

18. Heifer Rearing Heifer Rearing Developing the rumen papillae • Feed grain – to produce essential VFA’s and drop rumen pH • Feed “scratchy fibre” to stimulate the rumen wall • Allow access to dry feed from as young as 3 days old • Limit milk to a maximum of 4 litres/day • Provide unlimited access to water • Enough to cover a tennis court

19. Heifer Rearing Heifer Rearing Buttercup Calf Starter • High in slow release starch • Rumen Friendly Concept – Cut Grain • Yea-Sacc – stimulates the growth of rumen microbes and buffers rumen pH • Fish Oils – increases calf vitality and boosts immunity • Biotin – promotes strong hoof growth

20. Heifer Rearing Heifer Rearing Weaning • Start to wean when the calf is eating 1kg of Calf Starter over 3 consecutive days • Reduce milk and increase Calf Starter over 10 days • Allow continued free access to straw and water

21. Heifer Rearing Heifer Rearing Heifer Feeding • Aims • Grow Heifers steadily to achieve the optimum weight at breeding 350-420kg liveweight (55% of mature weight) • Calve at 22-24 months old • Calve with good condition • Calve at the correct body weight (90% of mature weight)

22. Heifer Rearing Heifer Rearing Heifer Feeding • Key periods • Target ADG (kg/d) • 3 – 8 months: Developing the Mammary Gland 0.65 • 8 – 13 months: Puberty and growing frame 0.85 • 13 – 16 months: Breeding period 0.85 • 16 – 23 months: Pregnancy period 0.80 • 23 – 24 months: Month before calving

23. Heifer Rearing Heifer Rearing

24. Heifer Rearing Heifer Rearing Effect of Age at Calving on Replacements

25. Heifer Rearing Heifer Rearing Effect of Age at Calving on Fertility and Production Total Milk Value @ 25ppl£6258 £5099 £4168 £2008

26. Heifer Rearing Heifer Rearing

27. Thank You