“Using Sprayfo didn’t cost us anymore… I think that’s because I was growing quality lambs – we had no vet bills, no issues in the shed.” One season rearing lambs with AgriVantage products, and Claire Walton is the biggest advocate for the range of science-based products. Claire and her husband Chris are equity partners in […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Manawatu beef and sheep farmers, Vaughan and Caro Shannon made the change to Sprayfo in 2018, following a particularly harrowing season where they lost several lambs to bloat. They have since added Launchpad18 colostrum powder and are seeing great results. The Shannons run a pure Coopworth flock and are currently in their first season on […]
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 […]
Another rearer who swears by Sprayfo lamb milk replacers is Jo Hay. Since she made the switch, she hasn’t lost a single lamb to abomasal bloat. Jo and Ross Hay own Springbank Farm at Herbert in North Otago. On 700ha, they have 2,850 breeding ewes – rearing their own replacements and lamb hoggets. They also […]
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 […]
Providing a newborn calf, lamb or kid with colostrum within 12 hours of birth is vital, we know that. And if maternal colostrum is unavailable or poor quality, a colostrum replacer can provide an essential alternative. So, how do you select a good colostrum replacer? Price is always a factor but remember that a product […]
Jenna and daughter Keira with a healthy Sprayfo reared calf. Going from a purely whole milk calf rearing system to feeding calf milk replacer (CMR) has been a positive experience for dairy farmer Jenna McLeod. She says CMR is not only more cost-effective, but the calves grow better: they reach target weights quickly and transition […]
