‘Obscene’ amounts of milk for heifers

For every kilogram of average daily weight-gain pre-weaning, a heifer will produce an additional 32kg milk solids in the first lactation alone, says Phyllis Tichinin of True Health Animal Remedies.

“On a $5 payout that’s about $160 value per kilogram of weight gain. Powdered milk, or even fresh milk, at four litres per day for eight weeks with calf meal will not deliver this.” Most of the dairy industry uses that rearing approach and three-quarters of heifers fail to reach both weaning and mating target weights set by DairyNZ.

“So I’m going to tell you to feed your replacement calves ‘obscene’ amounts of your best quality milk for ridiculous lengths of time.

“Hey, the milk is worth so little in your pocket, why not make a cheap investment in your herd instead that will deliver better production for the next seven to 15 years?”

Phyllis recommends rigging up a system to provide calves free access to milk 24/7.  Two-hundred litre drums with teats inserted around the centre and interior surgical tubes to the bottom of the drum work fine. 

“Or keep your calf feeder trailer filled so calves can drink however much they want, whenever they want it – just as though they were on mum. You do need to clean the containers out thoroughly about once a week; but if it turns to yogurt in between, that’s no big deal.”

Giving calves antibiotic milk just sets the stage for early antibiotic resistance in them and may contribute to heifer mastitis. “Don’t do it. It’s a false economy,” says Phyllis.

“Are you sitting down? Good. Keep feeding those heifers fresh milk for at least six months if you really want to see what is possible. It is impossible to over-feed heifers under this system. They do not need expensive genetically-modified meal. 

“Just honour Mother Nature’s wisdom on this one and try to duplicate it as best you can. Give them ad lib milk, hay and grass. The results are stunning. I’m happy to provide the names of farmers who do it.” 


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