BCS Targets: Why Body Condition Score Matters at Calving
Body Condition Score (BCS) is a critical element in managing the health and reproduction of the dairy herd.
It believes StockMate, a 100% natural product sourced from its organic humate mine in Southland, can help stock fight disease.
The company says difficulties during calving come in a myriad of different ways – from calving troubles to downer cows and milk fever to mastitis and machinery break downs.
“To top it all off, the weather doesn’t always make it any easier. Amongst all this, the last thing you want is sickness going through your calf pens and compromising your future milkers.”
Humate deposits are high in carbon, natural minerals and trace elements, and are referred to as humic substances. They also contain two bioactive substances, humic and fulvic acid.
The company says its product StockMate is high in carbon and humic acid, which it says helps to boost the immune system of growing calves and assist them fighting disease.
It is a loose lick which is left as a free choice supplement in calf pens.
The company says the product forms a protective film on the mucous lining of the gastrointestinal tract which helps to prevent excessive losses of water via the intestine and therefore helps prevent dehydration.
As a detoxification agent, humates bind the toxins released by infectious microbes, reducing toxicity.
It says StockMate has been making life easier for calf rearers for some time now, helping to keep sickness out of calf sheds.
They quote North Otago farmers, Johan and Michelle Roos, two dairy farmers using the product. Michelle, who looks after the calves, says she leaves StockMate in each pen to enable ad lib feeding, which they do happily.
“I add it on top of their water supply and they get into drinking water the same day,” she says.
“I am a solo calf rearer for two farms (350-400 heifers) and have no trouble with rotavirus or any other gut related diseases, on a property with a history of seasonal outbreaks. I have seen it detox, hydrate, break fever, perk up, encourage water intake and keep calves’ tummies firm.”
Johan says the product helps cows as well. “I use it during spring calving when the somatic cell count is high.
“I top the palm kernel trailer with a bag of it every day for about three weeks. The StockMate brings the cell count right down and keeps it down every time. I have no troubles getting the cows to eat it.”
