Capper Trading’s complete calf starter ration/meal including alfalfa, available across the island of Ireland

Capper Trading Ltd under the leadership of its founder, Robert Capper has long been associated with the manufacturing and delivering of high quality complete ruminant feeds throughout the island of Ireland which includes their complete calf starter ration
Ad Feature by Capper Trading Ltd
Published 25th Mar 2024, 07:00 BST

One of the key objectives of calf rearing is to ensure the proper development of the calf’s rumen. If this is done properly the calf’s digestive system is set up to allow the animal to achieve its genetic potential in terms of growth rates. The key to this is to ensure the calf gets the correct amount of quality long fibre in the form of hay, haylage, straw or alfalfa. Too much and the calf develops a “pot belly”, too little and it risks getting acidosis.

Pictured at Capper Trading’s Research Farm Archerstown, Delvin, Co Westmeath are Ronan McVeigh Farm Manager, Matthew Steenson General Manager, Alison Cairns Animal Feed Mill Manager and Robert Capper Managing DirectorPictured at Capper Trading’s Research Farm Archerstown, Delvin, Co Westmeath are Ronan McVeigh Farm Manager, Matthew Steenson General Manager, Alison Cairns Animal Feed Mill Manager and Robert Capper Managing Director
Pictured at Capper Trading’s Research Farm Archerstown, Delvin, Co Westmeath are Ronan McVeigh Farm Manager, Matthew Steenson General Manager, Alison Cairns Animal Feed Mill Manager and Robert Capper Managing Director

Capper Trading has recognised this for years and has developed a range of complete calf feeds which ensures the calf receives the correct amount of quality long fibre in the form of wheat straw and alfalfa. They ensure that only the best possible quality straw, low in moisture and free from mycotoxins is included. Likewise, they import only the highest quality alfalfa from southern Europe.  Alfalfa has the highest feeding values of all the hay crops as it is high in both protein and digestible fibres.  Its structure is ideal for providing optimum ‘scratch effect’ in ruminants.  This scratch effect is essential for correct rumen function, especially when high starch diets are being fed.  The inclusion of alfalfa and straw in our complete calf diets ensures digestive upsets are minimised, without compromising on maximum daily live weight gain.

The combination of these excellent sources of long fibre along with other high-quality raw materials such as cooked maize, cooked barley, soya bean meal, protected protein, biscuit meal, soya hulls, glycerine, molasses and minerals and vitamins ensure your calves’ nutrition is fully optimised. Introduce calves from 2-3 days old and gradually increase according to intakes.

At Capper’s research farm in Archerstown, Delvin, Co Westmeath they rear over 1,000 calves annually. They have been working with a professional beef nutritionist from Devenish for many years.  Devenish are noted innovators in the development of young animal diets for pig, poultry and ruminant.  On the farm, they are continuously testing new diets and rearing systems in order to fully optimise the young animals’ performance and set them up to maximise their genetic potential either as a beef or dairy animal.  These calves are brought to beef within 20 months.

At Capper Trading, located at Junction 14 on the M1, Dungannon, Co Tyrone the team is continually investing in the processing of complete calf feeds to ensure quality, palatability and consistency.  These diets are available for collection or delivery across Ireland.

To place an order or for more information, please contact Alison Cairns on 028 8772 3736 / 07766 477970 (Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8am–6pm / Sat 8am–1pm / Sun Closed) or email [email protected]

Or you can visit the website cappertrading.com/calf/complete-calf-starter-18

Related topics:AnimalsAgriculture