CopRice operates a ‘model farm’ in northern Victoria to examine the effectiveness of integrated nutritional strategies and new formulations under ‘real world’ conditions.
Each year, the company implements dozens of projects that aim to optimise animal health, fertility, productivity, environmental sustainability and profitability.
Model farm partners, Fred, Sonyia, Daniel and Ben DeCicco, milk a herd of a high production registered Holstein cows at Undera.
CopRice model farm manager Ms Fitzgibbon Fitzgibbon said the provision of high quality colostrum to newborn calves has a direct impact on calf health and growth.
“High quality colostrum provides newborn calves with the building blocks of a healthy immune system,” she said.
“Besides providing a rich source of protective antibodies, colostrum also contains a range of vital hormones, proteins and other nutrients.
“Optimal colostrum intake has been shown to directly influence average daily weight gain of dairy calves during the first 56 days of life.
“This has a range of flow-on benefits, not the least being improved calf survival, lower risk of disease, lower veterinary costs, lower cull rates and a lower age at first conception.
“In effect, a healthy start to life strongly influences the calf’s ability to reach its full genetic potential.”
CopRice nutritionists measured colostrum quality in 89 spring-calving cows in the model farm herd last spring.
The Brix content of the colostrum samples ranged from 12 per cent to 34 per cent, with 53 per cent of the samples assessed to be high quality (≥22 per cent Brix), 34 per cent medium quality (19–21 per cent Brix) and 13 per cent poor quality (≤18 per cent Brix).
Newborn calves were given two two-litre feeds of high quality colostrum within 12 hours of birth.
Serum samples were collected from these calves to assess the rate of passive immunity transfer.
“Impressively, 91 per cent of calves demonstrated passive immunity transfer, well above the industry level of 70 per cent,” Ms Fitzgibbon said.“This highlights the importance of feeding adequate amounts of high quality colostrum within the first 12 hours of life.”
The CopRice nutrition team then considered steps that could be undertaken to improve colostrum quality in the autumn-calving component of the herd.
“Dry cow management should be focussed maintaining body condition and improving health and immune function during late gestation and early lactation,” Ms Fitzgibbon said.
“At the very least, a good nutrition program should aim to replace all the macro and micro-minerals lost during the previous lactation.
“Summer pastures often lack sufficient levels of these essential nutrients.”
The autumn-calving portion of the model farm herd was offered ad-lib access to an innovative loose lick from drying-off until three weeks before calving.
Scientifically-formulated to deliver a balanced source of essential macro and micro-minerals to support mammary involution and immune function in late gestation, the lick contained a rich source of high performance macro-minerals, organic and inorganic micro-minerals and vitamins.
The nutrition program had a marked improvement on colostrum quality.
“Seventy-four per cent of the 78 cows that calved this autumn produced high quality colostrum, which was a 21 per cent improvement compared to the spring-calving group,” Ms Fitzgibbon said.
“Average colostrum quality improved from 22.9 per cent to 23.3 per cent Brix, while the range increased ranged from 15 per cent to 38 per cent Brix.
“Unfortunately, COVID-19 restrictions prevented us from collecting blood samples to check for passive immunity transfer, but we will continue our monitoring program in spring.”
37°C