Sprayfo application

Table of content

Start with colostrum

Application of Sprayfo milkreplacer

5 C’s for calf rearing

Collecting colostrum

Wash hands before collecting

Prepare udder:• Clean teats and teat ends

Preferably: Milking with mobile milk machine

Milking the cow completely:• 1st colostrum is best colostrum

Collect colostrum within 15 minutes after calving

Feeding colostrum with bottle

Feed colostrum with clean teat bottle

Let voluntarily drink

Weak calf; use drench

Freezing colostrum

Frozen in 2 liter freezer bags/ plastic containers

On flat surface, like cookie sheet

Each bag labeled:• Date• Cow

Freezer -20°C

Frozen for up to 1 year

Hygiene during colostrum period

Clean clothes and hands

Clean udder

Clean bucket

Clean colostrum

Clean individual pen for the calf

Clean work; from young to older animals

Application of Sprayfo

Well dosing, mixing and providing

Controlled feeding by bucket

Controlled feeding: milk supplied twice a day• Advantages

− Small groups (max 6 calves/group)

− Good monitoring

− Simple system

− Low investment

• Disadvantages− Cleaning equipment (buckets, mixing equipment)− More labor− Mixing ratio less consistent− Different drinking temperatures

Controlled feeding by automatic feeder

Automatic Calf Feeding System: milk supplied ad lib.• Advantages

− Less work - timesaving− Calf can self determine when she wants to drink− Constant drinking temperature and mixing ratio− More feedings per day− Individual feeding monitored

• Disadvantages− Expensive??− Teaching calves how to drink− Less personal control over calves− Still single boxes for first 2 weeks

Supply of water is important

Water requirement: 10 – 15% of body weight

3.1 – 3.5 L/ kg dry feed (roughage/ concentrate)

Direct available after colostrum period

1st week: limited• 2 L of lukewarm water

After 1st week, ad-lib• Bowl or trough with floater

Start with concentrate and roughage

From second week• Special calf concentrate (starter) or• Grain- muesli mixtures• Protein content around 19% (not too fancy)

From week 3• Roughage

− Alfalfa hay − Coarse hay− Chopped straw− Artificially dried alfalfa

• Rich in dietary fiber - structure• Tasty and daily fresh

80% diarrhea = feeding errors

Too thin

Too cold

Too dirty

Too early

Too much

How to keep calves happy?

Management tools:• Intake control of Sprayfo• Check Drinking speed

Milk powder stock

Cleaning drinking machine (automatic cleaning best)• Mixing bowl• Tubes• Nipple

Periodical maintenance• New teat/nipple• New tubes

Overall hygiene

5 C’s for calf rearing

Colostrum

First milk given to calf

Rich in fat and protein

Immunity elements

Cleanly collect colostrum

Test colostrum for quality

Feed clean colostrum: 3 – 4 L after birth

Feed colostrum 3-4 days

Calories

Calories are very important for:• Growth• Remain healthy

Calories come from:• Colostrum• Milk replacer• Calf starter

Low external temperature • Extra calories needed• -15 oC = 100 gram / day !!

Cleanliness

Clean, dry, well-bedded and draft-free environment

Best prevention of future health problems

Reducing bacteria in calving area:• Giving the calf best possible start in life

Clean + disinfected buckets etc.

Helps reduce spread of disease among calves

Comfort

Healthy calf: Needs to be comfortable

• Well-bedded• Warm• Properly ventilated area• Shelter from drafts and wind

Unsure whether bedding should be changed:

• Kneel on bedding for 20 seconds• If knees get wet:

− Bedding should be changed or added

Consistency

Calves are creatures of habit

Like same routine day after day

Be fed the same feed at the same time each day

Same temperature

Milk replacer is more consistent

Monitor same time each day

Questions?