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Tag Archives | Colostrum

There’s a hole in my bucket

Have you ever felt like you keep doing all the things you’re supposed to when it comes to rearing calves but there’s little change to your production levels or farm profitability? Of course, rearing calves is just like any other kind of animal agriculture: “We’re managing biology for profit.” So, how can we manage calf […]

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AgriVantage-Claxby-Spencer-Bower

At 9 months old (in May 2024), our calves are 50kg ahead of target weight.

Feeding calves more for earlier growth and development is better for lifetime productivity; that’s what Sam and Jo Spencer-Bower both learned and experienced by working with AgriVantage for the 2023 season. “We were referred to AgriVantage for their calf rearing expertise,” said Sam. “And it’s been a game changer. We implemented everything they recommended to […]

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Colostrum: ‘Herd immunity’ debunked

There’s a common misconception that calves should receive colostrum from their own mother (dam) or herd to ensure protection against any pathogens present on the farm where they were born. The fact is that high quality, whole, colostrum replacers will provide protection from diseases (anywhere in the world) and should be considered in any colostrum […]

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Bodyweight of calves from birth to 70 days of age.

The keys to rearing top heifers

Profitable dairy herds are built on a foundation of continuous improvement in efficiency and output.  Cows which produce more milk per kilogram of feed consumed will inevitably be more profitable than less efficient animals. Similarly, herds which have a lower replacement rate are more profitable than herds with a higher replacement rate because rearing replacement […]

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colostrum feeding

Quality colostrum, it’s not just about IgG

In addition to Immunoglobulin G (IgG)*, which is essential for immunity and survival, whole colostrum provides antimicrobial factors, a range of hormones, growth factors, nutrients and even immune cells. Antimicrobial factors and immune cells from cows’ help protect the calf against disease and play an important role in supporting the immune system of the calf¹. […]

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Ewe colostrum - quality is not guaranteed

Ewe colostrum – quality is not guaranteed

We know that the consumption of high-quality colostrum as soon as possible after birth is imperative for the survival of the lamb and helps ensure optimal health and development. We also know that the immunoglobulin G (IgG) content of colostrum is the component essential for immunity. Unfortunately, there’s limited information available on the IgG content […]

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“I kept five of the (orphan) ewe lambs as replacements… best looking lambs I’ve ever had”

Lambs are tagged to indicate how much colostrum they have received. On Blackfern Farms, approximately 20-40 orphan lambs are hand-reared each year. A mix of abandoned lambs, twins, and triplets. Launchpad18™ colostrum powder, Sprayfo lamb milk replacer, and a super-star neighbour are Angela and Adrian Dempster’s keys to success. 2021 being her third season rearing […]

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