Calves now grow faster on 18% Protein calf meal compared to 22% Protein

In 1998 when we first started making calf meal it tested at 22% protein or higher and we marketed it as High Protein calf meal. During the next 7 years with experience we strengthened and improved the calf meal, switching the focus from high protein to rumen development and growth rates. We than renamed the calf meal as High Octane. However even though our inclusion rate of soya bean meal has increased and we now include wheat our protein levels dropped to 18%. Ironically our original High Protein meal is even cheaper to produce. However I have no doubt that calves are growing faster on 18% High Octane compared to the old High Protein meal. Ask me if you would like to know more.
4 on farm factors that influence meal uptake and rumen development

#Milk, once the calf is 7 -10 days old it's now common for Dairy farmers to be feeding only 4 litres of milk per calf and only once a day. This encourages the calf to eat calf meal resulting in grain fermentation stimulating the development of rumen papillae. If practical feed calves late in the day so they go to sleep after a warm drink of milk and are then hungry looking for alternative food in daylight hours. PHOTO LEFT Calf milk heater in Sweden. Calf milk will always end up at calf body temperature. It's better to achieve this with electricity rather than calf energy. Feeding cold milk to calves would be like us drinking cold coffee on a cold day.

#Meal, fresh is best. While the calf meal has a shelf life of 3 + months calf meal is a grain based product and like all grain based products the fresher the meal is the better it tastes. Once they are over 4 weeks of age it doesn't seem to matter so much. So if possible buy little and often at the start of the season. Presentation of meal is also critical. Only have enough in the pen to last 23 hours, so it stays fresh and it trains the animal to eat more if it's not there 24/7 (this is a method I have used with great success with calves and pigs). Also pay attention to the amount of trough space per animal, trough height and location.

#Fibre, avoid feeding Lucerne baleage or similar as while it will stretch the rumen it doesn't develop the papillae and is also low in DM. Independent research shows that barley straw or rough hay is what works best.

#Grass, calves eating grass before their rumen is developed means you have an animal filling their stomach with a product they can't digest, resulting in a slower growth. Our top calf rearers limit access to grass until the calves are eating a minimum of 1kg of meal per day. PHOTO LEFT Haymaking near the Swiss Alps. Three people were hand raking the hay..

Additional info

We use Bovatec as our coccidiostat and it is included at 50% above the standard rate for extra protection. We continue to include Xtract a natural product that improves digestive efficiency, promotes a healthy rumen microbial population (works similar to a prebiotic) and also Organic Selenium to improve growth, fertility, and boost the immune system. Molasses, sometimes we get the comment that our calf meal hasn't got any molasses in it. Actually we use the standard amount however our molasses is added in while mixing all the meal. Some feedmills use a different process coating their product with molasses after mixing and just as it's about to be bagged, hence the reason it goes solid in the bag.

Congratulations to the Moffat family who won the R2 section of the South Island Dairy Heifer Competition. Mike & Christine have been dairy farming in Morven for 26 years and today trade as Deltop Dairy together with their son Ryan and daughter-in-law Billie. They milk 500 cows on 140 hectares and their herd is Holstein Friesian (100 % Ancestry). The Moffat family have been using Aoraki Calf Meal for over 10 years.

PHOTO ABOVE LEFT Pouring concrete fort the effluent saucer the evening before milking is due to being at the Deltop Dairy, the saucer will hold 100,00 + Litres and the above ground storage will hold 600,000 litres.

PHOTO ABOVE RIGHT 15/7/13 the day before Mike & Christine Moffat commission the families new 54 bail rotary shed. Their first new shed in 26 years.

Price stays the same for August

High Octane Aoraki Calf Meal 40 x 25kg $720 + GST and Delivery
Low Protein Aoraki Calf Meal 40 x 25kg $680 + GST and Delivery

Soya bean prices are still of concern and we still advise budgeting on $720 for High Octane and $680 for Low Protein. Prices will be reviewed again at the end of August. For ordering or inquires you can normally get me on my cell phone (0800 632 548) though sometimes reception is not the best, you can also order meal 24/7 by texting and email.

Cheers

Yours sincerely

Ken Buckingham