Farmer’s Transformula feeding focus results in active and healthy calves
Joe Murphy (Bonanza) with Jonathan Williams and Andrew Stedman.
Cryptosporidia infection among calves at a County Wexford dairy farm has been virtually eliminated since a new system of feeding was introduced, with a transition milk replacer at its core.
Jonathan Williams milks 130 Montbeliarde cows on a robot system at Barnadown near Tinahely.
It is a breed he favours because of its capacity to produce high volumes of good quality milk and the calves are sought after by buyers.
During the busy calf rearing period in the first three months of the year, Jonathan is joined by tillage and suckler farmer Andrew Stedman to help manage the farm and he helps at other times of the year too.
“I’d find it very hard to run the farm as efficiently as it is now without Andrew here to help,’’ Jonathan admits. "Calving is so compact with 70% calving in three weeks, it's crucial everything goes right", he added.
Calf health is a priority with all newborns housed together in a well-bedded pen.
There was previously a system of individual nursery pens but they are no longer used because there were issues with them being cold and encouraging the spread of diseases.
The new system makes management easier and reduces disease burden, says Jonathan.
He sought advice from Joe Murphy of Bonanza Calf Nutrition on a feeding regime and, as a consequence, all calves are now fed 3.5-4 litres of colostrum manually within two hours of birth and moved to the nursery pen.
Only fresh colostrum from mature cows is fed.
Calves are offered a second feed of colostrum 10 to 12 hours later, although Jonathan reports that 90% refuse it because they are still full from that first feed.
Colostrum is fed until day three followed by Transformula or transition milk for the subsequent three days.
Jonathan was advised by his vet to feed Transformula — it was a product he was keen to use because it is the only transition milk replacer on the market for calves and helps protect the immature and vulnerable intestine for at least 21 days, when it’s at its most vulnerable.
Transformula is fed on a twice a day system until calves are seven days old and it is then fed through a computerised feeder.
Heifers receive Transformula until day 30.
Bonanza Calf Nutrition recommends that at this point calves can remain on the feeder and be fed Compumate, a calf milk formulated to be used in conjunction with computerised feeders.
Since Transformula was introduced, cryptosporidia infection has all but disappeared, says Jonathan.
His calves are more active and healthy and don’t experience growth checks. Bull calves are ready for sale at three to four weeks of age. This makes management easier and reduces the workload.
Jonathan is delighted at how his calf rearing was transformed when he was introduced to Transformula three years ago — it is working so well that he has installed an extra station for his Lely calf feeder.
The first heifers born in 2021 are now joining the milking herd after calving at 22-24 months.
“The results from feeding Transformula have been incredible,’’ says Jonathan.
To find out more, visit www.bonanzacalf.ie.
