Probiotics help calf rearing systems
Success in calf rearing is often measured by minimising health issues and achieving target weaning weights.
The biggest payback can come in extra heifer milk production, says Chris Collier, founder of Probiotic Revolution.
The pure probiotic is made up of beneficial bacteria, digestive enzymes, and live active yeast.
He claims one farmer who recently reported their first crop of heifers reared on Calf Xtreme produced 40 kgMS more than any previous batch of heifers.
“That’s a return of at least $300 for around $9 - 10 a calf,” he says.
Collier says the probiotic is allowing farmers to get their calves off to a faster start by increasing milk volumes.
“At higher rates of milk, when the milk spills into the rumen we are not seeing the usual nutritional scours you might expect, and it’s helping digestion and consumption of meal hay and grass – so once a day feeding at high rates of milk also works extremely well. It even increases voluntary milk intake on ad-lib feeding.”
Collier claims one farmer trialed a group of calves on Calf Xtreme and a year later they were 30kg heavier. Both groups were on ad-lib feeding.
He says probiotics set up the rumen for better meal and grass consumption after they are weaned off milk, so that they go on to calve down at higher liveweights. Bull calves are also growing faster after weaning.
“Because it is loaded with live bacteria it’s very good at helping boost calves’ immune systems to get through disease challenges.”
