You may choose to feed your calves milk once or twice daily, depending on your operation and objectives.
We recommend twice daily feeding in the first 14 days - to get calves off to the best start. This results in higher initial average daily gain (ADG) and is a routine that’s closer to how a calf would naturally feed.
Advantages of twice daily feeding:
- Easier to feed larger total volume over two feeds
- Can achieve higher initial average daily growth (ADG) rates due to the ability to feed larger total volume and more dry matter per calf per day
- Being in the shed twice daily provides more opportunities to identify any issues, eg. slow drinkers, scours, navel infections, etc
Advantages of once daily feeding:
- Faster rumen development
- Less labour intensive
Basic nutritional requirements for calves
- Colostrum: Always ensure each animal has adequate intake of high-quality colostrum in first 12 hours post birth (approx. 10% of its body weight).
- Dry matter: Feed a minimum of 500g dry matter per calf per day, increasing this to a minimum of 600g a day from around 3 weeks of age. Feeding up to 1kg DM per calf per day will lead to greater weight gain and better overall performance.
- Water: Make sure your calves have access to clean drinking water in the pens, always.
Sprayfo Mixing Instructions
- Always follow feeding instructions
- Heat all required water to 40-42°C
- Start stirring water, then slowly add milk replacer powder, mixing for 2 to 4 minutes*
- Best drinking temperature 38-39°C
* Mix to make up a litre, NOT on top of a litre, eg. add 150g milk powder to 850mL water to make 1L milk replacer. Sprayfo mixes very easily, take care not to overmix or the product will separate.
When Should Calves be Weaned?
Weaning can start when calves are consistently consuming 1kg of concentrates per day and are a minimum of 70kg, or 30kg above birthweight.
Calves need to be healthy and well developed. Avoid stressful procedures such as debudding and regrouping at time of weaning.
Slowly reduce concentration of milk replacer of overall volume consumed over 1-2 week period
Continue feeding concentrates at 1 - 2kg per day for at least a month to support continued growth and to aid in the control of coccidiosis.
Our Milk Replacer Range
How to order Sprayfo milk replacers
Sprayfo products can now be ordered through Maxum Animal Nutrition or your local rural retail store.
Contact Maxum Animal Nutrition directly.
+61 7 3246 7872
0800 629 366
customerservice@maxumanimal.com
Speak with your usual rural retailer or vet.
Sprayfo milk replacers will be available through most rural retail channels and vets. Enquire instore.
