Early Calf Nutrition Linked To Better Growth And Future Milk Production
Giving calves the best possible start to life has been shown to boost growth and resilience.
Bigger and better, says Stallion chief executive Grant Allen describing the company’s largest MTF mobile calf feeder, the Mixer Tanker Feeder.
Designed to feed 60-65 calves on the 80-teat feeder, the largest MTF is for farmers wanting to save time and energy, Allen says.
“People are buying larger mobile units to raise calves in bigger mobs, saving time and reducing the number of trips”.
The MTF is easy to use for transporting and mixing colostrum, milk powder or any other calving supplement for feeding. It comes in 50, 60, 70 or 80 teat configurations and can hold 1000L.
It has a robust galvanised frame and a tandem axle layout.
Its standard single cylinder Honda four stroke engine powers the pump, and the engine can be optioned with electric start, making the process of mixing and distributing milk as easy as turning a key.
The 1000L tank is easily filled using a camlock fast fill connection. Its rear mounted hose and dispenser nozzle allow a seamless, easy switch from paddock to pen feeding.
Easy cleaning starts with a quick-fit hose connection at the rear of the unit. When the operator fills the tank to about one quarter this starts the pump which activates self cleaning that takes about three minutes. Also, the easy clean manifold design allows fast draining of residual rinse water.
Stallion has designed and manufactured calf feeders and transport gear for 30 years.
Allen has good advice for calf rearers: “Don’t skimp on the number of teats on the feeder. Calves grow rapidly so always aim to see 10-15% of the teats free to avoid overcrowding and bullying.”
In advance of the Budget, Finance Minister Nicola Willis put a clear damper on expectations and delivered accordingly.
Farmers should be cautiously optimistic as the 2026/27 season kicks off, says DairyNZ.
RaboResearch senior analyst Emma Higgins expects the 2026/27 dairy season to be another profitable one.
The new dairy season is kicking off with plenty of risks to the forecast farmgate price, both upside and downside, says ANZ agricultural economist Matt Dilly.
A potential showdown between the top two Federated Farmers leaders looms at the farmer lobby's annual meeting later this month.
FarmIQ Systems has developed a free land management app to help remove barriers to New Zealand farmers and growers adopting digital tools.
OPINION: Reckless action by Greenpeace in 2024 forced Fonterra to shut down a drying plant for four hours, costing the co-op…
OPINION: The global crusade against fossil fuel is gaining momentum in some regions.