Axcelera-C has been used for 7 months and is offered from day two. Consumption will reach 150g per calf by day 10 and this is fed with a 18% protein calf rearing nut and consumption will reach 4.0kg at eight weeks. The calves also have access to water and barley straw.
"We are currently calving heifers in at 24.5 months but on this new system we should be able to calve at 22 months and this is the target. If we can take two months off the rearing period it will have a fair impact on reducing rearing costs.”
Sam Foot is seeing:
- Axcelera-C stimulating appetite leading to higher growth rates and faster rumen development
- Calves growing stronger and faster and 'this should help them fight pneumonia and face other challenges better'.
The target is to get good growth rates in the early growth period—the first 10 weeks—when they are most efficient at converting feed,”
Calves are weaned at nine to 10 weeks old. The target is to put on 60kg and wean at 100kg bodyweight. “They continue to get Axcelera-C for a week after weaning and this helps the transition to dry feed.
Calf management:
- Hutches for 40 calves and accommodation inside with 50 pens each housing batches of five calves.
- Calves are fed 3.5 litres of quality pasteurised colostrum at birth
- Calves fed 600g of milk replacer in four litres of water and fed twice a day. At day 28 the calves are fed four litres once a day.
Sam Foot, Dorset, 900 cows
