New colostrum boosts calf survival

Calf’s Choice Total colostrum, a new product designed to give beef and dairy calves the best possible start in life has been introduced by Harbro.

Calf’s Choice Total (CCT) can be used to replace infected or contaminated colostrum, or to supplement colostrum which is in poor quality or quantity. Farmers know that it is critical that calves receive colostrum within the first six hours after birth – after six hours, the efficiency of immunity transfer starts to decline.



Research has shown that 30% of newborn calves do not receive enough good quality colostrum which is costing farmers hundreds of pounds in lost productivity, death and higher treatment costs.



“Getting colostrum into the calf within six hours of birth is absolutely vital,” Harbro dairy specialist, Bryan Harley, points out. “CCT is unique as it contains 20% natural colostral fat which rapidly mobilises the conversion of brown fat into heat, giving calves a superb lift and increasing chances of survival.”



Many dairy farmers are already using CCT because it is much more convenient than collecting and storing colostrum from their own cows and avoids the risk of cross-contamination. CCT is heat-treated twice to kill pathogens and will reduce the problems of scours and pneumonia.



“Both dairy and beef farmers are feeding CCT as means of trying to break the Johne’s disease cycle,” says Mr Harley. “Calves should never be allowed to suckle if the cow has Johne’s. The cow should be isolated and the calf removed at birth and fed CCT.”



Some dairy farmers are also feeding CTT routinely to heifer’s calves as heifer colostrum often fails to meet the needs for the newborn calf and to valuable pedigree calves to ensure their survival.



CCT is simply mixed in hot water and is available in a box of 15 sachets costing £17.50 per sachet.

Wednesday, 29 April 2009 12:48 pm