Calf nutrition off to a good start with Kalvostart

Sam Johnston from Fintona runs an 85 Danish Jersey cow herd with a year-round calving system with a herd average of 7600kgs of milk at 6.08% BF and 4.25% PR and explained: “It is vital that my calves get off to a good start in life.”
By Una Culkin
Published 12th Mar 2021, 07:48 BST
Sam Johnston, Jersey cow farmer from FintonaSam Johnston, Jersey cow farmer from Fintona
Sam Johnston, Jersey cow farmer from Fintona

Sam takes great pride in ensuring calf health is a priority: “I believe I owe a lot of this success to the quality of Fane Valley Stores’ Kalvostart Milk Replacer. It’s a superior product that I have been using for almost five years and never had any issues.

“I aim to calve all my heifers between 20 and 22 months with no concentrate given at grass and only 1kg / head during the housed period of their second winter.

“I believe the nutrition that my calves get in the first months of life sets them up for a healthy long life. Calves get colostrum as soon as possible and for their first 3 days/6 feeds and the 7th feed will be Kalvostart and that’s them until weaning at 7/8 weeks.”

Sam also firmly believes that hygiene in the dry cow area, calving pens and calf house are of the upmost importance. It’s essential that fresh air flows through the shed, however it is crucial that there is no direct draft down at calf level.

Kalvostart is a premium milk replacer for rearing calves, based on a high quality and easy digestible whey protein, to help stimulate the development of healthy gut tissue.

For more information contact your Fane Valley Store.