By Elizabeth Longwill • 23rd Aug 25

Feed your calves healthy with transition milk replacer

A dairy farming family whose calf rearing system was challenged by cryptosporidium says focusing on calf nutrition in the two weeks after birth is playing an important part in calf health.

Tackling an ongoing problem

At Trekillick Farms in Bodmin, the Dyer family – Colin, Pauline, and their son Mike – rear a herd of 300 pedigree Jerseys. Cryptosporidium had been an ongoing challenge in their calf-rearing system. Alongside other preventative measures, they reviewed their feeding regime and introduced Transformula, a specially formulated transition milk replacer (the milk produced after colostrum).

Reviewing the old system

Previously, the Dyers’ protocol was:

At birth: Four litres of colostrum (minimum 25% score) within six hours.
Days 1 – 5: Two litres of colostrum and transition milk twice daily.
Days 6 – 56: 400g of a high protein whey/vegetable-based powder twice daily.

Dr Christine Cummins of Bonanza Calf Nutrition, raised concerns about feeding high levels of crude protein.

“This can predispose calves to scour as much of the crude protein is not digested in the young calf,’’ she said.

Testing new feeding systems

In August, the family trialled three feeding systems with groups of five calves, with an average birth weight of 23.5kg.

Group 1: Treated with anti-scour agents for 7 days, fed transition milk for the first 4 days and then switched to a high protein powder from day 5.
Group 2: Fed 600g/day of Transformula from day 5 to day 12
Group 3: Fed 600g/day of Transformula from day 5 to day 19

Although this was not a scientific trial, calves were weighed weekly. Results showed:

0 – 30 days daily liveweight gain (DLWG):

Group 1: 0.49kg/day
Group 2: 0.54kg/day
Group 3: 0.57kg/day (highest)

30 – 56 days DLWG:

Group 1: 0.58kg/day
Group 2: 0.64kg/day (highest)
Group 3: 0.62kg/day

Practical outcomes

Pauline, who manages calf rearing, plans to continue feeding Transformula. “It’s a feed which the calves like which makes it much easier,’’ she said.

Cost was another positive factor. Feeding Transformula works out at a net cost of:

£4.50/calf for 7 days
£9.00/calf for 14 days

After transition, calves are moved onto Milky Way, a concentrated calf milk at 600g/day. This provides the same energy and milk protein as before but with less lactose.