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?