Calf Milk Replacer 2023

Number of feeds per bag can vary considerably.

I wonder are the higher protein feeds worth the price tag.

Purchased replacer in early November for the spring €2500/ton for 25%protein. A large merchant own brand and well known. Was 22 stock and have it stored dry

Using Volac Heiferlac here for 2 suckler orphans, very impressed with it.

Anyone using kiernan milk replacer.

I can buy it at E 50.30 a bag E2515 a tonne how would that compare to other brands.

I was watching a Grasstec video with a fella in Castleisland and he said he uses a high protein, low fat milk replacer as the low fat content encourages the calves to get onto the crunch. He says they feel hungrier, but are growing mad because of the protein content:

What would be considered low fat?

We use Volac Blossom Easymix (approx €63) which gives 14.85Mj @ 750g/day. (23% Protein, 18% Fat, 47.5% Sugar). I believe all Volac replacers are whey based.

At peak milk intake, they be getting 6L/day split into 2 feeds. (125g/L = 750g/day above).

20kg bag @ 750g/day = 26 feeds

Were feeding BBX heifers with it. Possibly switching to bull calves this year - should we be looking at another replacer? Volac have Olympian which they state is optimised for beef. It is 20% protein, 20% fat and 46.5% sugar. Gives 12.1Mj fed at 750g/day. €59.

Golden Maverick Hi-Spec (€66) gives 17.6Mj @ 900g/day. 25% protein, 17% fat, 46% Sugar. 0.9kg/day growth claimed.

20kg bay @ 900g/day = 22 feeds.

I don't really see much difference between their Blossom Hi-Spec and Golden Maverick Hi-Spec, and between Enerlac and Olympian.

Eringold would be the other popular brand. Was never overly fussed on it - for no good reason.

Thoughts on choice for bull calves?

I'd like to switch to OAD feeding as we both work, but never tried it before. Has anyone done this successfully?

What are you using now- I moved from shine a few years back due to a poor quality pallet that I got

Vitalac red

I moved from vital Blue to the shine,..proof is on the scales here

Lads I’m convinced that water on the farm has an awful lot to do with how successful the milk replacer is- I did a bit of investigating and all the powders are trialled on soft water- unfortunately I’m in a hard water area with huge amounts of limescale

Could you fit a water softener.

Bit off topic but what temp do u mix shine OAD at?

can’t see it on the bag or on web.

changed to it from milkivit this year on a recommendation. Have a few bags in and waiting for calves.

Brilliant, Thanks

Dairy Calf to Finished Beef system, using Bonanza Shine Once A Day (sometimes it’s Gain Shine Once A Day but all from same supplier) here since 2017, wouldn’t dream of changing.

Calves much more content on it, calves at least 4 weeks old when we get them, we feed them twice a day (same stuff but different quantities to the mix) for about 2 weeks to settle them in & get them used to the shine, then onto once a day….

Nearly €10 increase both last year & again this year - milk replacer gone very expensive

What makes it better than twice-a-day feeding? Mindset here is still for feeding twice. I suggested moving to OAD but got the short shrift even though both of us are working and would have limited time in morning to feed milk.

Is there a certain age when you can switch to OAD?

It just seems to suit our system.

1st batch of 10 that we have this year range in age from 2/2 to 18/2 meaning that the oldest in the group is 5 weeks old & the youngest 3 weeks old so they will go onto getting milk replacer once a day from tomorrow, they will get their 1st vaccines today.

Every year when my OH goes into the calf shed in the evening to feed the ones that are on twice a day, the once a day batch wouldn’t be bawling looking for milk, they’ll be content chewing on calf rearer cubes & a hay/straw mix. Since we started using the Shine Original (new name this year) theres no bawling from calves every time they see you either which is great when popping in and out to check on them throughout the day/evening.

Once they have the 2nd lot of vaccines, if the weather suits they’ll start to get let out during the day for a few hours into the training paddock before being moved onto a bigger paddock where they’ll be out full time. They won’t be weaned until youngest calf in the batch is a minimum of 10 weeks old and ready for weaning weight wise.

Once 40 are weaned they stay in that batch together until being put in for the winter.

2 Litres twice a day feeding - 300g powder per mix

3 Litres once a day feeding - 600g powder per mix

We feed in blue compartment feeders to ensure each calf is getting correct amount

The recommendation is that they are at least 2.5 to 3 weeks old, I’d start it a day your not working though to be able to keep an extra eye on them, they’ll eat more nuts & hay/straw once changed over - just make sure your milk replacer is suitable for OAD feeding…..

Do you all give bought in calves electrolyte as their first feed? Getting ours in soon and was reading to articles which seem to recommend electrolytes ahead of milk for first feed.

@Dunedin have you got many and what sorts are they?

We're looking at getting some BBx bulls this time. Previously took in heifers but trying a different approach this year as they were going on hook anyway and we weren't keeping any for breeding.

Thanks for the response.

what would best milk replacer be for the oad?

Stanfit might disagree with ya there

Deeed shur he’s full of shite 😜

Using Shine Once a Day here since 2018 now called Shine Original, wouldn’t use anything else

Yeah I just poor the whole bag into the jfc milk cart and it feeds 50 calves- and I keep repeating

using 4 bags a day atm or 7200€ of powder a month-