Rearing dairy calves

A good start for young dairy calves is essential for future health and milk production.

Investment in calf rearing has a great impact on farm profitability. The right feeding and care in the first phase of a calf's life is crucial for later health, productivity and dairy farm sustainability. The outcomes of our field trials and the results of our customers prove this time and time again.

Sprayfo solutions are a balanced mix of excellent feeding, smart planning and complete rearing supervision. With excellent calf milk replacers, animal health products, balanced feeding plans and protocols, Sprayfo has an impact on all rearing aspects. Sprayfo lays a strong foundation for the future productivity of dairy calves.

Rearing dairy calves topics

Around calving
0-2 DAYS
3-49 DAYS
8-10 WEEKS
3-4 MONTHS
5 months until breeding

Inspired by the results from the Sprayfo rearing balance calculator? 

We hope that our tool gave you some interesting insights in how to possibly improve your milk production. If you have any questions with regards to the results from the rearing balance calculator, or about other calf rearing challenges, feel free to contact us. Our specialists are here to help.

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Growth in the first 8 weeks is essential for making use of the full genetic potential of dairy calves.

Correct feeding of dairy calves during the pre-weaning phase activates development of the udder cells (parenchyma cells), which in turn are responsible for future milk production. After these 8 weeks, we can no longer activate these cells, making this a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Sprayfo lays strong foundations for the future productivity of calves.

Calves must be born healthy and without problems. therefore, it is essential to provide a safe, stress-free and clean environment around calving. Each birth is unique, and requires your undivided attention for the  

SPRAYFO AROUND CALVING

Calves must be born healthy and without problems

Calves must be born healthy and without problems. Therefore, it is essential to provide a safe, stress-free and clean environment around calving. Each birth is unique, and requires your undivided attention for the cow and calf. Most cows give birth to a calf without assistance. If help is needed in too many cases, you should take a closer look to your breeding program.

SPRAYFO 0-2 DAYS

The first two days can make or break any calf

In the first two days in the life of a calf, make sure that it receives sufficient antibodies from the cow’s colostrum. Also supply enough energy to maintain the calf’s body temperature functions. For good colostrum, make sure that the feeding strategy of the dam during the close-up phase is checked to ensure the colostrum quality and quantity.

SPRAYFO 3-49 DAYS

Aim for an average daily gain of at least 800 grams

After 3 days, dairy calves have to be fed sufficient amounts of calf milk replacer or milk in order to achieve optimum growth and to develop a healthy digestive tract and an active immune system. This phase is very important to achieve the optimum metabolic development of dairy calves.

SPRAYFO 8-10 WEEKS

Gradual weaning to allow for adequate calf rumen development

Intensive milk feeding programs for calves require more time for adequate rumen development and therefore a gradual weaning process is needed. You should reduce milk feeding over a period of 3-4 weeks and not stop feeding milk earlier than 10 weeks of age. Such a programme improves dry feed intake.

SPRAYFO 3-4 MONTHS

The efficient growth phase to stimulate dairy calf rumen development

After successful weaning, it is important to keep supporting dairy calf rumen development while maintaining growth. By the time the calf is 6 months old, the rumen size should have increased about 5 fold compared to the size at weaning.

SPRAYFO 5 MONTHS UNTIL BREEDING

Maintain your focus on growth and apply a balanced diet

Research has shown that additional growth during the first 9 months of life results in an increase in milk yield during the first lactation. Most dairy cow farmers feed according to a well-designed plan up to the first few weeks after weaning and carefully monitor the results. After that period there is a tendency to feed what is readily available, but focus on growth and applying a balanced diet is a requirement to let the calf grow into a highly productive milking cow.

Maintaining health and improving performance stage by stage

Supported by LifeStart science, Sprayfo offers a complete range of calf-rearing solutions that ensure optimum development during the early stages of life and to help maintaining a robust, healthy calf that is ready for high milk production. This allows farmers to produce more milk with fewer cows and to reduce the amount of young stock.

Download our brochure and read all about excellent calf rearing
at every stage of life.

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You can access all of our documentation such as the science behind Sprayfo and LifeStart research documents, Sprayfo technical bulletins about various calf diseases and technical product data sheets or feeding schedules.

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