Calf program makes a difference in the bulk tank
Calves are the future of every dairy operation, and an investment into a higher plane of nutrition can put them on a path towards greater lifetime performance. In fact, university research has found that calves fed a full potential plane of nutrition, including a 28 percent protein, 20 percent fat (28:20) milk replacer with soluble fiber technology, not only grow faster than their counterparts, but they also mature into high-producing 2-year-olds.
One dairy which has experienced these benefits first-hand is Vander Haak Dairy, owned by Darryl, Steve and Dean Vander Haak. Located in Lynden, Wash., the farm currently milks 400 Holsteins and 80 Jerseys housed in free-stall barns. Holstein production averages 84 pounds per day with 2-year-old production at 74 pounds per day. The Jersey tank average is 52 pounds per day. Steve Vander Haak described the dairy’s calf raising program to attendees at the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association (DCHA) Annual Meeting earlier this year in Tucson, Ariz.
Vander Haak Dairy raises over 450 calves per year in hutches bedded with wood chips.
Calves are raised to their full potential using Cow’s Match Growth Formula fed at label recommendation of 2.5 pounds of powder mixed at 17 percent solids for a 7-quart daily feeding of milk replacer. A digital refractometer is used to monitor mixing consistency, a practice they initiated to ensure consistent delivery of nutrients at every feeding. Calves are weaned at 7 to 8 weeks of age. Death from birth to weaning is only 2 percent.
Saw for themselves
Before starting on Cow’s Match milk replacer, Vander Haaks decided to try it for themselves by running their own small comparison trial involving 12 calves. Six of the calves were fed Cow’s Match 28:20 milk replacer while the other six were fed a 22:20 all-milk product the dairy had been feeding.
By 10 months of age, calves fed Cow’s Match had an 80-pound advantage in weight and health advantages at weaning time. These heifers grew more rapidly and consequently were ready for breeding and calving at a younger age.
More recently, the Vander Haak’s were encouraged to look at their calf starter more closely and evaluated the new AMPLI-Calf Technology. In this 2008 trial, 10 calves were fed Future Cow 22, a 22 percent calf starter while another 10 were fed the same calf starter enhanced with AMPLI-Calf Technology.
Calves on the technology-enhanced starter gained 10.8 more pounds by weaning and weighed over 200 pounds. “We went into the trial with an already successful program,” Steve said. “Even still, the calves on the same starter with added AMPLI-Calf Technology were noticeably taller and longer than the ones we raised on our current feed. Better yet, they stayed much healthier than the others, and we rarely had to treat them.”
Vander Haaks feed Future Cow 22 calf starter with AMPLI-Calf® Technology for the recommended 12 weeks before switching heifers to an 18% grower. Hay is not fed until calves reach 12 weeks of age.
Better calves, better cows
Vander Haaks have found that not only did the calves on Cow’s Match perform better in the 2002 trial, but tracking them now seven years later, those raised on Cow’s Match have matured into higher producing and longer lasting cows.
Initially, Steve said they looked at 2-year-old production to compare the two groups of calves. He found that the Cow’s Match calves had a mature equivalent (ME) production of 25,950 pounds which was 2,242 pounds higher than their counterparts. They also had 76 more days in milk, thanks in part to their calving at an earlier age.
Longevity and lifetime production has also been higher for the calves raised on Cow’s Match in this initial trial. Of the 12 original calves from that 2002 trial, the only two still in the herd were fed Cow’s Match before weaning. Average lifetime production is 38,135 pounds more for the Cow’s Match group, and continuing to rise.
Dr. Jim Drackley, professor of animal science at the University of Illinois, served as moderator for the discussion which Steve Vander Haak participated in at the DCHA meeting. He confirmed that the advantages Vander Haaks have seen in 2-year-old production from calves fed a higher plane of nutrition from birth to weaning are consistent with those in his own data.
“Despite no difference in calving age, subsequent milk production was improved by about 2,500 pounds in calves provided a greater plane of nutrition during the milk-feeding period,” he said of a 2008 trial. Dr. Drackley also added that a number of other universities studies have shown a considerable improvement in milk yield when calves are raised on a higher plane of nutrition before weaning.
The Vander Haak Dairy has “been very satisfied with the growth and production of these animals,” said Steve Vander Haak. Despite the tightening margins on dairies across the country, they’ve decided to stay with their calf program.
“It’s been a discussion within our business and that of our neighbors, with current milk prices if it’s something you cut back or not, Steve shared. “But, when you look at the couple thousand pounds of milk later in life, to me it’s very important.”
Both on-farm experience and university research are consistently showing the advantages throughout life of feeding calves to meet their potential. Remember, you don’t get a second chance to give your calves the nutrition that they need.
Suggested Photos and Captions
Photo 1 (calf in hutch):
Starting calves on a full potential nutrition program results in a noticeable size advantage early on.
Photo 2 (springing heifers at bunk):
A higher plane of nutrition helps heifers grow more efficiently at a younger age, leading to earlier breeding and calving opportunities.
Go back to the articles page
