Calving

Make calf rearing easy with StockMate

There is no doubt that the calving period is a very tiring and often stressful time for dairy farmers. Difficulties can come from a myriad of sources, including calving troubles; downer cows; milk fever; mastitis; and machinery break downs. The weather can also provide challenges. Among all this, the last thing you want is sickness going through your calf pens and compromising your future milkers.

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Colostrum – the essential first feed

Bovine colostrum delivers better calf health and performance according to a report by Ag Drs. Ajmal Khan and Sue McCoard, the Animal Nutrition and Physiology Team at AgResearch Limited, New Zealand.

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Gypsum Soil Life Highly Effective

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Drawing on this season’s calving lessons for great results next year

DairyNZ's Animal Care Team Manager Helen Thoday shares her thoughts on what you can do to help improve how smoothly your calving season goes next year.

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Calf rearing for optimal rumen development

It’s no secret optimal calf health is crucial when it comes to meeting targets. But what role does rumen development play and how can you enhance it to achieve better outcomes overall? A ruminant nutritionist offers some insight and talks about a nutritional innovation to help ensure calf rearing success.

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The best start in life begins with the best product at rearing

We find by using Ancalf we can get them up to weight quicker than normal. More and more farmers like James are determined to give their calves the best start in life to ensure they become contributing, healthy and productive animals in the New Zealand milking herd.

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Zoonoses – the ‘invisible’ danger of calving

Animal-related farm workplace injuries increase sharply during the calving season and can result in people taking sick leave during one of the busiest times of the year.

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Calves deserve good quality colostrum

For calf health and development you can’t beat the goodness of feeding fresh colostrum and whole milk.

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A proven formula for healthier calves and better growth

Achieving increased calf growth rates while also boosting their immune systems may sound like a tall order.

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Ancalf - the word on the farm

With over 2,500 acres, Parahiwi is one of the largest single farms in the Matamata-Piako area. It has been owned by the Vercoe family since 1986 and today the farm runs a mix of sheep, beef and a 550 milking herd.

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Trust Ancalf to give your calves a head start, every season.

Set your calves up for optimum health and productivity with high quality nutrition.

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A quality nutritional approach after weaning pays off

Once calves are weaned and ready for grazing, it’s tempting to consider the task of calf rearing “done”. However, the period following weaning is equally crucial for growing quality heifers. Maintaining a focus on liveweight gain when grazing helps ensure you reap the rewards when these animals join your herd.

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55,000 cow study shows 74 percent six week in-calf rate

The issue of non-cycling cows is a common infertility issue on many farms with a consequential negative impact on the following season’s milk production. Over the past four years, the fertility status of New Zealand dairy cows has hovered around a 66 percent six week in-calf rate, and, 17 percent not-in-calf rate (empty rate).

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Smart calf rearing

Successful calf rearing will be high on the agenda for dairy farmers around the country during calving. DairyNZ’s Animal Care Team Manager, Helen Thoday, says having the right knowledge and skills for the job makes calving easier and more rewarding for everyone, and ensures all calves receive the best start to life.

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Mid-season checks can save problems later

With calving well underway, make sure your calves are not drinking too quickly.

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