Probiotics help calf rearing systems
Success in calf rearing is often measured by minimising health issues and achieving target weaning weights.
“We started in 2017 focusing on calves and feed conversion in cows but soon saw some dramatic results with control of mastitis,” says Collier.
“One client, for example, who feeds our products pre and post calving, has not used antibiotics in the herd for three years – if he has any cases he simply treats them with a stronger dose of probiotics for five days.
“That level of impact is confirmed by the international trial which studied cows which had a previous history of mastitis one season and, if left untreated, repeated that incidence in the following season.”
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Chris Collier, agricultural scientist and founder of Probiotic Revolution claims that one client feeds his products pre and post calving, has not used antibiotics in the herd for three years. |
However, he says feeding the probiotic mix in the second year significantly reduced the incidence of mastitis and also reduced cell counts.
Collier says that from 51-75 days after calving, cell counts were 1 million for untreated cows – and 10,000 for treated cows.
“The trial confirmed that using probiotics pre calving prevents cows going into serious negative energy balance and reduces stress at calving and if this is followed up during lactation with probiotics it can also reduce cell counts. Maiden heifers who received probiotics also had significantly lower cell counts in their first lactation.”
Collier says his products are best given to springers daily in the water trough, but need to be fed to cows via in-shed feeding systems or a mixer wagon.
