CM Mar 25 : simplebooklet.com

1. Windeyer and Gamsjager (2019) Vet Clin Food Animal 35 557-573.2. SPC Bovalto® Respi Intranasal, nasal spray, lyophilisate and solvent for suspension 20233. Metcalfe et al. (2020) Vet Record Open 7:e000429Bovalto® Respi Intranasal, nasal spray lyophilisate and solvent for suspension contains modiﬁed live virus bovine parainﬂuenza 3 virus, strain Bio 23/A and modiﬁed live virus bovine respiratory syncytial virus, strain Bio 24/A. UK POM-V, IE POM(E). Advice should be sought from the prescriber. Further information available in the SPC or from Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Ltd, RG12 8YS, UK. Tel: 01344 746957, IE Tel: 01 291 3985. Email:vetenquiries@boehringer-ingelheim.com. Bovalto® is a registered trademark of Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health France SCS, used under licence ©2023 Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Ltd. All rights reserved. Date of preparation: May 2023 BOV-0053-2023.Use Medicines Responsibly.We all know the importance of colostrum. You work really hard to ensure your newborn calves receive good levels of maternally derived antibodies (MDA) for the best start in life. However, these essential antibodies can interfere with the efﬁcacy of some vaccines1. Not all intranasal vaccines are consistently effective in the face of MDA. You don’t need to compromise.Bovalto® Respi Intranasal protects your calves for 12 weeks against RSV and PI3 in the face of MDA2,3 – so you don’t need to risk vaccine effectiveness in the face of good colostrum management.● The only bivalent intranasal vaccine with both components unaffected by maternal antibodies present in colostrum● Available in 1, 5 and 10 dose packsPrevention is always better than cure – work with yourvet to develop a calf health plan which ﬁts with thespeciﬁc needs of your farm. For further information on calf health, visit www.calfmatters.co.uk or scan this code:EFFECTIVE AS PREDICTEDUNAFFECTED BYMATERNAL ANTIBODIES

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1cowmanagement MARCH 2025Kate Robinson:“Improving health and fertility reduces herd’s environmental impact”CONTENTspecial youngstock365725focus sustainabilityfocus grazing & turnout Mark McFarland:“Take steps to overcome nutritional challenge posed by spring grass”258ON THE COVERNext generation: the face of future dairy-herd successCover picture: James Robinson cowmanagementMARCH 2025WWW.COWMANAGEMENT.CO.UKYoungstock: keeping health and growth on track Sustainability: future-prooﬁng dairy businessesGrazing & turnout: planning for spring and summer successBOOK TODAY FEATURES  Cow Talk  National Youngstock Conference  preview  Roger Evans  ForFarmers nutrition news / Thompsons nutrition news  Louise Glenn  Women in Dairy open days  New products  Events & contacts REPORT  Gold-Cup glory for top-ﬂight university herd YOUNGSTOCK SPECIAL  Data collection and monitoring supports precision management  Beef-cross calves oer marginal gains  Colostrum-feeding pointers with added purpose  Tech supports life-long monitoring, from birth  Calf-rearing roadshow report  Milk-feeding advice to maximise performance / Tips to keep heifer growth on track at grazing Ask questions when buying CMR GRAZING & TURNOUT FOCUS  Gradual switch allows rumen to adapt  Focus on hoof health at turnout  Sowing mixed leys creates ﬂexible forage system  Lungworm alert: consider vaccination  Inoculants open up grazing-season options SUSTAINABILITY FOCUS  Seed mixtures support yields and reduce emissions  Remove soya from diets – without compromise  Micro-AD tech improves dairy eciency HERD HEALTH  Controlling parasites at grazing requires planned and strategic approach MAIZE  Agronomy advice for a successful growing season

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Stop Johne’sin its tracksC0NCERNED AB0UT J0HNE’S IN Y0UR HERD? NMR CAN HELP!CALL 0UR CUST0MER SUPP0RT TEAM 0N 03330 043043 0R EMAIL CUSTOMERSERVICES@NMRP.COM“NMR makes it easy to screen my herd for Johne’s using our individual milk samples taken on recording day. I’m shocked that some dairy farmers don’t Johne’s test routinely when the writing is on the wall. ”William Brown Hollowdene Farm, Ards PeninsulaManaging Johne’s means... happier farm staffA 2020 survey found that a broader outcome of Johne’s control is that staff are happier to be working with healthier, more productive animals rather than animals they found to be unwell and diseased.Managing Johne’s means... better milk yieldsA J0 Johne’s Negative cow will produce 800 litres more milk than a J5 Johne’s Positive cow over an average 305-day lactation.What impact does Johne’s have on my farm?How do I know if I’ve got it in my herd?What are the beneﬁts of managing Johne’s?The hidden signs of Johne’sReduced Milk YieldTwice as likely to have yields 25% less than their herd’s averageHigh SCCTwice as likely to have a cell count over 200,000 cells/mlDon’t ignore the signs, speak to your vet about Johne’s management. NMR can use your milk recording samples for Johne’s testing.LamenessLame nearly three times more oftenPoor Fertility30 day longer calving intervalQuarterly CHECS accredited whole herd test. Proven to help farmers manage Johne’s prevalence in their herd.Whole herd testing, once, twice or three times a year. With a free reminder, you’ll never forget to test for Johne’s.NMR’s Johne’s testing servicesJohne’s1-2-3

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Warmer (hopefully) weather brings with it myriad extra tasks to juggle. Turnout and a greater focus on grassland management, as well as calf rearing and youngstock management, particularly in spring-calving herds, and the daily dairy-management routines can make workloads feel relentless. So, with that in mind, we’ve some relevant information packed into this issue that we hope will help keep herds – and readers – on track.We shine a spotlight on grazing and turnout, starting on page 25, with a focus on planning, both to optimise grass yields and intakes and to maximise milk production from this cost-eective home-grown feed. We also have our regular March special on youngstock, which starts on page 36 and look at all aspects of calf and heifer rearing. We have tips and pointers on colostrum feeding, information on the latest tech that can support calf-rearing and youngstock management, and an interesting article on the beneﬁts of selling cross-bred calves on contract. Stealing the well-deserved limelight in this issue is the NMR/RABDF Gold Cup-winning herd. Harper Adams University’s Kate Robinson tells us how she and her team worked towards getting this Shropshire-based herd up to Gold Cup standard, and to lifting the 2024 trophy. She says attention to detail from the unit’s ambitious team is key to its success. Read our report, which starts on page eight, and whet your appetite ahead of this year’s Gold Cup open day, which will be held this summer.Roger Evans takes a closer look at ‘feel good’ dairying on page 14. And columnist Louise Glenn shares the rationale behind changes she’s making to her calf-rearing system on page 18. Take a look, and see if you share her Royal Mail woes. Shining a spotlight on spring tasksFROM THE EDITOR3cowmanagement MARCH 2025COW TALKRACHAEL PORTERAward set to showcase calf-rearing talentEntries are open for this year’s Calf Rearer of the Year award, which recognises and rewards the industry’s top talent and dedication to youngstock management.This award, which is now in its second year, is sponsored by Wynnstay and will be presented at the 2025 National Youngstock Conference, on July 16, at Birmingham’s National Conference Centre. The annual competition aims to promote and raise awareness of best practice among calf rearers, particularly the younger generation of dairy and beef producers who are typically tasked with looking after calves and youngstock on farm. And the winner will scoop the top prize of £250.Anyone responsible for working with youngstock on dairy or beef units can enter, or be nominated for the award by an employer, colleague or peer, a vet, farm consultant or supplier. To enter is simple. There’s a short questionnaire and entrants must state, in just 100 words or less, why they, or the person they are putting forward for the award, should be shortlisted. Entrants can also submit a short ﬁve-minute video of themselves and their calf-rearing system, if they wish. But this is not obligatory.“We decided to set up the award to recognise and reward people working in calf-rearing enterprises – both beef and dairy,” says Wynnstay’s calf and youngstock specialist Hannah Padﬁeld. “These skilled team members can sometimes be overlooked on farm, but they are integral to the continued success of the business. Strong, healthy and well-grown calves and youngstock are key to ecient meat and milk production. So it’s vital that those looking after the calves get them o to the best start.“Successful calf and youngstock rearing requires skill, dedication and hard work,” she says. “It’s not a job to be rushed if it’s to be done well. Excellent organisational and management skills are needed, and the commitment to draw up and follow strict protocols are key to calf-rearing success.”CowManagement’s National Youngstock Conference, now in its fourth year, provides the perfect arena to present the award, and the team behind the organising the one-day event, including vet Tim Potter and CowManagement editor Rachael Porter, will also help to judge competition entrants.The award is open now for entries. Simply scan the QR code and ﬁll out the entry form. Closing date is May 30, 2025. Good luck!CalfRearer of the Year2025Stop Johne’sin its tracksC0NCERNED AB0UT J0HNE’S IN Y0UR HERD? NMR CAN HELP!CALL 0UR CUST0MER SUPP0RT TEAM 0N 03330 043043 0R EMAIL CUSTOMERSERVICES@NMRP.COM“NMR makes it easy to screen my herd for Johne’s using our individual milk samples taken on recording day. I’m shocked that some dairy farmers don’t Johne’s test routinely when the writing is on the wall. ”William Brown Hollowdene Farm, Ards PeninsulaManaging Johne’s means... happier farm staffA 2020 survey found that a broader outcome of Johne’s control is that staff are happier to be working with healthier, more productive animals rather than animals they found to be unwell and diseased.Managing Johne’s means... better milk yieldsA J0 Johne’s Negative cow will produce 800 litres more milk than a J5 Johne’s Positive cow over an average 305-day lactation.What impact does Johne’s have on my farm?How do I know if I’ve got it in my herd?What are the beneﬁts of managing Johne’s?The hidden signs of Johne’sReduced Milk YieldTwice as likely to have yields 25% less than their herd’s averageHigh SCCTwice as likely to have a cell count over 200,000 cells/mlDon’t ignore the signs, speak to your vet about Johne’s management. NMR can use your milk recording samples for Johne’s testing.LamenessLame nearly three times more oftenPoor Fertility30 day longer calving intervalQuarterly CHECS accredited whole herd test. Proven to help farmers manage Johne’s prevalence in their herd.Whole herd testing, once, twice or three times a year. With a free reminder, you’ll never forget to test for Johne’s.NMR’s Johne’s testing servicesJohne’s1-2-3

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Prepare for parasite controlParasite Watch For more information, talk to your vet or animal medicines advisor. Sioned Timothy, Technical Services Manager, Boehringer IngelheimEPRINEX® Pour-On for beef and dairy cattle contains eprinomectin. POM-VPS. Advice should be sought from the prescriber. Prescription decisions are for the person issuing the prescription alone. Further information available in the SPC or from Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Ltd, RG12 8YS, UK. Tel: 01344 746957. Email: vetenquiries@boehringer-ingelheim.com. EPRINEX® and the Steerhead® logo are registered trademarks of Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health France SCS, used under licence. ©2025 Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Ltd. All rights reserved. Date of preparation: Feb 2025. UI-BOV-0007-2025. Use Medicines Responsibly.Turnout is a critical period for youngstock, particularly calves and heifers in their rst grazing season. These animals have no immunity to gutworms and are most at risk of parasitic gastroenteritis, which can signicantly impact growth, fertility, and overall productivity. Early planning and strategic management can help mitigate this challenge while reducing the need for worm treatments.Overwintered gutworm larvae on pasture pose an immediate threat at turnout, with clinical signs such as scouring and weight loss often appearing by mid-summer if left untreated. Even moderate infestations can reduce feed efciency and daily liveweight gains. To limit exposure, select the cleanest pastures for youngstock and plan ahead to move them to lower-risk grazing, such as silage aftermath, before parasite burdens peak.Where grazing is restricted, give younger animals priority to cleaner pastures, and allow adult cows to follow later. Generally, adult cattle will have developed immunity to gutworms and are at less risk of acute parasitic disease.Regular pooled faecal egg counts (FECs), starting a few weeks post-turnout, can help producers to monitor gutworm infectivity levels throughout the grazing season and identify an appropriate time to treat, and/or move cattle to new grazing. Routine weighing also allows early identication of animals struggling to meet growth targets, enabling targeted treatment rather than blanket worming. This approach reduces overall wormer use while maintaining productivity and slowing the development of wormer resistance.If treatment is needed, your vet or SQP will prescribe the most appropriate wormer for your system. By planning ahead and monitoring closely, you can keep parasite burdens in check while optimising herd health and performance.EPRINEX® Pour-On is a tried-and-tested zero-milk withhold wormer that treats and provides protection against reinfection with the most pathogenic gutworm species, Ostertagia ostertagi, and the cattle lungworm for up to 28 days.COW TALKProtected-urea fertilisers oer cost and environmental beneﬁtsProducers in England are being reminded that only urea fertilisers treated with a urease inhibitor can be spread after April 1. And even though many may see this as a further restriction, applying a protected urea can oer beneﬁts that oset the burden of compliance, according to Origin Soil Nutrition’s Tom Wells.The rules, introduced in April 2024 and audited through the Red Tractor assurance scheme, aim to reduce ammonia emissions from urea by restricting its application window.Protected urea may cost, on average, 10% more than unprotected urea, but it is proven to signiﬁcantly lower ammonia losses by 70% or more in comparison. “DEFRA’s NT26 research project showed an average loss of nitrogen as ammonia from unprotected urea at 27% for grassland,” he says. Trials have shown that protected urea oers equivalent yields to ammonium nitrate (AN) and has a lower cost per unit of nitrogen (N), so producers can spread the same amount of N with fewer bags and reﬁlls. “Using protected urea means more of the fertiliser applied remains available to the plant, rather than being lost to the environment,” adds Mr Wells.“Unprotected urea can be considered an agronomic and economic substitute for AN, with trials showing that protected urea consistently matches AN’s yield responses and has the potential to be cheaper per unit cost of nitrogen due to a higher N content in each bag. “And Origin’s OEN protected urea can be blended with phosphates, without deterioration, and producers have the option to use this in NPK blends. This also comes without the regulatory storage challenges of AN.”Protected urea: applications can oer users more beneﬁts than just compliance this spring

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5Top-ﬂight team’s time to shineShropshire-based Harper Adams University Future Farm has been crowned winner of the 2024 NMR/RABDF Gold Cup competition. Kate Robinson and her team, who manage the University’s 400-cow Holstein herd, were presented with the trophy at Dairy-Tech in February.Four further awards were made at the event to herds meeting the Gold Cup criteria. The Chris May Memorial Award, for the Gold Cup-qualifying herd with the highest lifetime daily yield (LDY), was awarded to R D Horton, from Broad Hinton in Wiltshire. Owned by Robert Horton (pictured receiving his accolade from RADBF’s Robert Craig), this 350-cow of pedigree Holsteins is run with help from sons Tom and James, and the herd achieved an average lifetime daily yield of 22.5kg of milk in the qualifying year ending September 2023. The NMR Silver Salver, awarded to the Gold Cup-qualifying Holstein herd with the highest combined fat and protein production, was won by Marshall and Law partners from Woodside Farm, in Derbyshire, for the second year running. The Hunter family from Shotts, in Lanarkshire, complete a hat trick scooping the Lilyhill Cup for the third year running. This award is for the Jersey herd with the highest combined fat and protein. The Hunter’s 200-cow Jersey herd, run by Robert & Lorraine Hunter in partnership with their son Mark, produced a combined fat and protein weight of 866.77kg a cow.The Chairman’s Cup, presented to the Gold Cup-qualifying herd of a breed other than Holstein or Jersey, with the highest combined weight of fat and protein, was picked up for the second year in succession to Cowhill Trust Muirside, Dumfries. Run by Stuart Neish, this all-year-round calving herd of 210 red-and-white Holsteins and Ayrshires achieved a combined weight of fat and protein of 763.06kg a cow.Read this issue’s herd report, which starts on page eight, to ﬁnd out more about the 2024 Gold Cup winning team.cowmanagement MARCH 2025EPRINEX®, a zero milk withhold wormer, is proven to improve the productivity of dairy cows and heifers by removing production-limiting gutworms and lungworms.• Increases milk yield by up to 2 litres per day1• Protects fertility and reduces calving interval2• Protects against reinfection by gutworms and lungworm*1. McPherson WB et al. (2001) New Zealand Veterinary Journal. 49:106-110. 2. McPherson WB et al. (1999) Proc AAVP, New Orleans. Up to 28 days control of reinfection with O. ostertagi and D. viviparus, and up to 21 days control of reinfection with Cooperia spp.EPRINEX® Pour-On for beef and dairy cattle contains eprinomectin. POM-VPS. Advice should be sought from the prescriber. Further information available in the SPC or from Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Ltd, RG12 8YS, UK. Tel: 01344 746957. Email: vetenquiries@boehringer-ingelheim.com. EPRINEX® and the Steerhead® logo are registered trademarks of Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health France SCS, used under licence. ©2023 Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health UK Ltd. All rights reserved. Date of preparation: Feb 2023. UI-BOV-0025-2023. Use Medicines Responsibly.Proven parasite control, trusted by farmers for generations.Find out more, visit beattheparasites.com

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e: info@dairyspares.co.uk t: 01948 667676www.dairyspares.co.uk• High flow - up to 200 litres/min• Of non-corrosive construction• Easy to t• Variety of installation options• Easy to service• Built-in lter • Lock-off switch• Available in 4 inlet sizes200ltr/minJobe‘s TopazTM valves are available through Dairy Spares stockists.Fill the trough faster10 times faster than a standard ball valveTMInoculant boosts ﬁbre digestibility and milk yieldsThe US-based trial measured NDFd in two silage crops containing a mix of alfalfa and grasses, that were ensiled for 160 days – one was treated with Magniva Platinum and the other received no inoculant.The improvement was most noticeable after 48 hours of ruminal digestion, with a 5.4% increase in NDFd recorded in the treated crop. The improvements in digestibility demonstrated are the result of highly speciﬁc enzymes present in the inoculant. “Improving diet digestibility by feeding enzymes is commonplace in monogastric diets, but is not widely adopted for ruminants due to the notion that the rumen microbes would break down the enzymes,” says Mrs Colahan.However, recent studies for enzyme application at ensiling have proven that a pre-digestion occurring outside of the rumen can improve animal performance.“Few inoculants on the market contain enzymes, but these can help break down the ﬁbre components of grass silage, particularly cellulose and hemicellulose,” she explains.“These structural ﬁbres, as well as lignin, are interwoven like a rope. Speciﬁc enzymes in the inoculant help to unwind those strands of ﬁbre, breaking down bonds in cellulose and hemicellulose. This releases simple sugars that beneﬁcial bacteria can then utilise to enhance fermentation and improve silage digestibility.“The enzymes naturally stop working once the optimum pH is reached in the silage, to prevent excessive ﬁbre breakdown during storage.”Using an inoculant when making grass silage can signiﬁcantly increase ﬁbre digestibility and boost milk yields by more than a litre a day, according to recent trial results.The study, carried out by the Miner Institute in New York State, assessed the impact of a Lallemand Animal Nutrition Magniva Platinum grass silage inoculant on Neutral Detergent Fibre digestibility (NDFd).“The results showed that the use of a crop- and condition-speciﬁc inoculant on grass silage can deliver more milk in the tank,” says Lallemand’s Lientjie Colahan.“Previous work has shown that a 1% improvement in NDFd can lead to a 0.17kg increase in dry matter intake and an additional 0.23kg of milk yield. And this research underlines how an inoculant is not only important for preserving silage quality but also for improving ﬁbre digestibility, which can positively impact milk yields.”6 cowmanagement MARCH 2025

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The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), in collaboration with a consortium of leading dairy research and industry organisations, has launched the UK Dairy Carbon Network project. Funded by DEFRA, this pioneering initiative aims to investigate how the dairy industry can signiﬁcantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through the use of innovative mitigation measures.The UK Dairy Carbon Network project will establish a network of 56 dairy units, across four major dairying regions in the UK: Northern Ireland, Cumbria and Southwest Scotland, Northwest England, and South/Southwest England and West Wales. These networks will serve as demonstration hubs where producers, industry specialists, researchers and policy representatives will work together to deploy and measure the impact of potential solutions to reduce GHG emissions.Led by AFBI, as part of a UK-wide consortium of leading organisations that include AHDB, AgriSearch, UK Agritech Centre, ADAS, Aberystwyth University, Queen’s University Belfast, Harper Adams University, University of Reading, Newcastle University and Scotland’s Rural College, the project will test and assess a variety of mitigation approaches on commercial dairy units. These measures will include innovations in cow husbandry, land use, nutrient management and technology. The project will also support producers to help them improve nitrogen and phosphorus use eciency, promoting both environmental and economic sustainability.Impact will be assessed Discount of £100/m³ of mixing capacityon orders before 5th April 2025• Reduced mixing time• Reduced fuel usage• Improved nutritional intakeIMS AUGER TECHNOLOGY7.5m³ - 45m³Multiple Discharge OptionsOPICO Ltd. 01778 421111 ask@opico.co.uk opico.co.ukDIET FEEDERSProfessional RangeProfessional Range 7.5m3 – 24.5m3 | Expert RangeExpert Range 7.5m3 - 45m3 7cowmanagement MARCH 2025UK project launched to promote sustainable dairyingthrough a combination of direct measurements, novel indicators, and farm-level carbon footprint models. This holistic approach is designed to enable mitigation measures to be accurately captured at a national level, accelerate the adoption of GHG-reducing practices, and improve the sustainability of dairying across the UK.

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8 cowmanagement MARCH 2025TEXT KAREN WRIGHTShe’s been working towards this for her entire career so even when it was within touching distance, ruminant manager Kate Robinson hardly dared believe that there was chance she and her team would lift the NMR/RABDF Gold Cup.“It’s always been my dream – it’s the pinnacle that many producers strive for – so when the team and I were sat having lunch at Dairy-Tech, just a few hours before the presentation, we were telling ourselves not to get too excited and to be gracious losers,” she says, still reeling from the fact that Harper Adams University’s herd was, indeed, crowned as this year’s winner.“It was a complete surprise. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime achievement. A month on, we’re still taking it all in. And, obviously, we’re absolutely thrilled.”The Shropshire-based herd was one of six herds to make it to the ﬁnal round of the 2024 NMR/RABDF Gold Cup, competing for the dairy industry’s most prestigious award. Kate and her team manage the 400-cow Holstein herd, plus 195 followers, which is part of the University’s Future Farm. The dairy operates on 227 hectares and is run by ﬁve full-time staff.Exciting opportunityKate graduated from Harper Adams in 2000 and has worked across many dairy units in a variety of roles before coming back to take charge of the University’s unit in 2022. “I decided I wanted a career in agriculture when I was just 13. To manage this unit was an exciting opportunity and also presented the chance to work towards meeting the Gold Cup entry requirements. Winning was the icing on the cake,” she adds.Although the dairy unit is not a ‘typical’ farm, and is involved in research and teaching activities, it is expected to perform commercially, achieve exceptional industry-based standards, and also to demonstrate good practice. The whole team is vital in helping to achieve this and efforts are made to create a good working environment. Priority is given to staff development, and Winning the 2024 NMR/RABDF Gold Cup is a dream come true for one manager and her dedicated team. So what’s the secret to the herd and dairy business’ success?Kate Robinson:“Herd health starts with breeding the right cow”Team work realises Gold-Cup dreamHERD REPORT HARPER ADAMS UNIVERSITY

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9cowmanagement MARCH 2025to encouraging employees to attend industry events and training courses, such as AI and foot trimming. The all-year-round calving herd is fully housed and fed a TMR. Cows are milked, three times a day, through a 40-point internal rotary parlour. During the past two years Milkrite clusters and wash plates have been added to this, as well as variable pumps, a back ﬂush, and parlour fans. Herd average yield is 12,248kg, at 3.85% butterfat and 3.19% protein, with a somatic cell count of 123,000 cells/ml. Milk produced from forage currently stands at 3,864 litres, or 34%. Milk is sold to Müller on a Morrisons contract.Dairy investmentThe University has also invested in cow housing, adding fans, automatic scrapers, rubber matting to passageways, cow brushes and an automatic footbath to herd-management facilities. The herd’s breeding plans were revised in 2018 and 2022, moving away from a production-based strategy and towards health and longevity. The aim was to improve lifespan and reduce the herd’s replacement rate, and to breed a more efﬁcient long-lasting cow. With a target to achieve net zero across the University’s Future Farm by 2030, the focus is moving towards improving grassland and forage management. “And Harper AdamsUniversity, ShropshireHarper Adams University400 cows, plus 195 youngstock12,248 litres, at 3.85% butterfat and 3.19% protein 123,000 cells/ml398 daysOwners:Herd size: Average yield: Somatic cell count: Calving interval:a move to breed a more grazing type cow, using sexed Montbeliarde and Viking Red semen, has been used on a small proportion of the herd. This has resulted in a small group of 36 ProCross cows and heifers,” says Kate. “Comparisons of health, fertility and production between these grazing cattle and the rest of the Holstein herd, which is housed all year round, will be made.Breeding strategy“Improving health and fertility traits, while maintaining production, helps to reduce the unit’s environmental impact and gives us a robust cow that meets our performance targets and that also copes with the educational and research requirements imposed on them,” she adds.Sexed dairy semen is used on the top 30% of cows and about 70% of cows are bred to beef semen, using an easy calving British Blue sire, beef shorthorn and sexed Angus. Youngstock are bred to an Aberdeen Angus sire with the high-genetic-merit heifers bred to Holstein. “We need to produce high-production Holsteins which are comparable with the wider dairy industry for research and trial work,” says Kate.Calves are reared on the farm and most beef calves are kept through to ﬁnishing on the beef unit. Calf mortality is low, with a 1.96% mortality rate in heifers from birth to ﬁrst calving. Average age at ﬁrst calving currently stands at 23 months.Bedding up: close attention to detail keeps cow housing clean and comfortable

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10 cowmanagement MARCH 2025HERD REPORT HARPER ADAMS UNIVERSITYHerd health is geared to preventive measures. Working with their vet, the team reviews all the data and develops and updates health plans. Although cases of mastitis are uncommon, bacteriology tests are used to determine the cause and prescribe the most suitable treatment. Mastitis rate is currently 12 cases per 100 cows per year.A Johne’s-disease control plan has been in place for 10 years, which uses quarterly testing through NMR’s HerdWise scheme. Good progress has been made with 96% of the herd now classiﬁed as ‘green’. “Cows with any clinical signs throughout the year are also blood sampled to ensure infected cattle are managed appropriately and exit the herd,” adds Kate.Vaccination programmeYoungstock are vaccinated for ringworm, pneumonia, BVD, Leptospirosis and IBR.Regular parlour dynamic tests are carried out and the cow’s environment is monitored so that any disease and infection risks can be mitigated. New mattresses have been added to cubicles during the past two years, and beds are cleaned and bedded with sawdust during each milking to help optimise udder health.Cow mobility is scored monthly by an independent scorer and a HerdVision camera monitors lameness and body condition. These results are recorded on the Uniform dairy management system. The herd is monitored daily through CowManager ear tags for oestrus, rumination, activity, lying times and animal temperature. And there are also sensors in the buildings monitoring heat stress levels.As part of the routine, cows walk through an automatic footbath three times a day after milking. Lame cows and routine trims, including dry cows, come under the scrutiny of an independent foot trimmer with several farm staff trained to carry out any emergency treatments. “We’re focused on maintaining excellent cow health and performance, and this starts with breeding the right cow for the system and then managing her so she achieves her potential,” says Kate. “This supports our drive towards net zero and the unit’s efﬁciency. But we can only achieve this with good staff, so it’s important conditions are also right for our team. “They do much of the hard work and achieve amazing results, month after month. They are a credit to the industry and have myriad skills and expertise not only in farming but also in teaching and research.”With this is mind, and to recognise the team’s success, plans to celebrate the win are in hand. “It’s difﬁcult to know what to do, as so many of us have to be up early every morning, or cover the night milking,” says Kate. “We may have a BBQ here on campus, or hold an event somewhere off site. Much like managing the herd, we’ll sit down and have a chat, and agree on something that we all want to do and will enjoy. “It’s vital that we mark the occasion. Some of the younger team members are yet to grasp the gravity of what we’ve achieved.Team approach“So a celebration to mark the occasion may help that to land, as will hosting the Gold Cup open day this summer. That’ll add to our workload, but it will be a pleasure to showcase the herd, system and set-up, and demonstrate why it was picked as this year’s winner by the panel of judges.”Judges’ chair Robert Craig, who is also a dairy producer and RABDF chair, said the judges faced a difﬁcult job this year. “But the dairy business that nudged its way into top place is one that they felt demonstrated attention to detail across the board, which is contributing to its good production and commercial performance.” He added that the judges met everyone involved in running and managing Harper Adams University’s herd and were impressed by the team approach, which included the close involvement of the vet and nutritionist. “And, importantly, they all agreed that this dairy business is well-equipped to face the close scrutiny that a Gold Cup-winning dairy business is expected to come under.” |Internal rotary: the herd is milked three times a day through a 40-point rotary

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12 cowmanagement MARCH 2025NATIONAL YOUNGSTOCK CONFERENCE EVENT PREVIEWIntroducing Protivity®: the ﬁrst modiﬁed-live vaccine for Mycoplasma bovis.The days of relying on antibiotics alone to help control Mycoplasma bovis are over. It’s time to change the game for your herd with Protivity. Protivity® lyophilisate and solvent for suspension for injection for cattle contains Mycoplasma bovis strain N2805-1, live (attenuated) POM-V • Further information can be obtained from your prescriber, the product SPC or Zoetis UK Ltd. Birchwood Building, Springﬁeld Drive, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 7LP • www.zoetis.co.uk • 0345 300 8034 • CustomerSupportUK@zoetis.com Prescription decisions are for the person issuing the prescription alone • Use medicines responsibly (www.noah.co.uk/responsible) Produced January 2025 • MM-34810What if you could reduce losses due to Mycoplasma bovis respiratory disease?NEWSpeak to your vet for more informationIT’S TIME TO CHANGECHANGE THE GAMETHE GAMEHave you booked your ticket?RevivaThe orange energyboost for recoveryafter calvingtrouwnutrition.co.uk Platinum sponsorsRevivaThe orange energyboost for recoveryafter calvingtrouwnutrition.co.uk Gold sponsorsTickets are already selling fast for this year’s National Youngstock Conference, which will be held on July 16 at Birmingham’s National Conference Centre. And the day is set to offer delegates a varied programme, packed with the very latest ideas, innovations and information to take calf-rearing to the next level on all beef, dairy, and specialist calf-rearing units.The third National Youngstock Conference (NYC), held in July 2024 in Exeter, was a resounding success, attracting close to 400 producer, vet and trade delegates from across the UK. And demand for tickets was such that there was a waiting list, just as there was in 2023. The packed one-day programme, which ﬁlled two lecture halls, delivered 17 technical presentations to a sell-out audience. The event also included 40 trade stands, which offered delegates the opportunity to network, catch up with conference speakers, and ﬁnd out more about the latest products and services on offer.The National Youngstock Conference is back with another packed programme that oers something for all calf rearers. Tickets are now available, sold on a ﬁrst-come-ﬁrst-served basis.To buy tickets visit www.cowmanagement.co.uk/youngstockconference or use the QR code.As in previous years, 2025’s conference will provide something for everyone. From calf rearers looking for a ‘best practice’ refresher on the cornerstones of good management, such as colostrum, milk feeding or weaning, to those wanting an update on the latest research and technology, or information on how to manage more challenging issues, such as mycoplasma. Next levelThe conference aims to be the leading technical conference for rearers looking to take their systems and units to the next level when it comes to maximising health and welfare, and optimising growth to hit key targets for both beef cattle and dairy replacements.The NYC will be chaired, again, by the event’s clinical director Tim Potter, and will also involve other leading industry professionals.The programme of presentations for the 2025 event will cover topics and issues including: calving and colostrum management, milk feeding and weaning, preventing and controlling disease, hygiene and the calf environment, and calf housing. More information about speciﬁc presentations will be released in the spring, as more sessions – including interactive workshops – are added to the programme. All presentations will be recorded and made available, free of charge, for everyone who attends the conference.

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14 cowmanagement MARCH 2025A FEW WORDS FROM ROGER EVANSAbout 10 years ago I met a dairy producer whose next-door farm had come up for sale. We are talking about 125 hectares here – so a substantial size. He had raised some money to buy it but it wasn’t enough and the farm had been bought by someone in ‘the city’. Just how often this sort of money buys land and farms I don’t know, but I do know that just 1% plus or minus of anything, be it wheat or land, will make a dierence. This man from the city had bought the farm for lots of reasons. He fancied living in the big farmhouse, he quite liked the idea of his children going to that nice school in the village (until they were eight years old, anyway). He liked the idea of taking his dogs and family for a walk on his own land, and he could exploit tax loopholes and pass on more of his wealth to the next generation. Most importantly, he didn’t want to be a farmer. So he let the farm to the producer I met – rent free – just as long as he kept it tidy. The new owner knew what tidy looked like and the producer would have kept it tidy anyway, whether he was paying rent or not. The new owner even let the producer claim and keep the Basic Payment money. He had plenty of money and was paying a lot of tax anyway and his aairs didn’t need further complication. Like I said, that was a decade ago now but if you buy land today you don’t need to let it free to the producer next door. Today there are more options. I don’t know if the producer next door still farms that land, but I suspect not. The owner can cover the land with solar panels or windmills. He can adopt carbon sequestration, whatever that means. Or he can plant it with wild ﬂowers or trees. As far as I know, none of these things put food on supermarket shelves and, in my opinion, just 1% less could soon lead to a shortage.It’s true that the new owner would have to pay to keep it tidy, but he won’t mind that as now he has an income. It’s true he doesn’t have the beneﬁts of future inheritance tax savings, but if he is patient a change of government will ﬁx that. When there is the next general election I think Reform will divide the Conservative Party, but there could be enough MPs to form a coalition. If there is one thing to learn from politics, it is that if a party succeeds in governing for three terms it becomes consumed with its own ego and arrogance, and struggles to maintain any credibility. It needs a term in the political wilderness to ﬁnd itself again. So this owner of land has lots of options. Whatever he chooses it will generate an income but it won’t produce food. There is one other thing it will produce. He will be seen by his neighbours, friends and acquaintances as ‘doing good’. And he will feel good. It is dicult feeling to measure, but we all like to feel good sometimes.Shropshire-based producer and award-winning columnist Roger Evans shares a decade-old tale that’s rings just as relevant today.Feel-good options“As far as I know, none of these things put food on supermarket shelves”

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16 cowmanagement MARCH 2025FORFARMERS FOCUSMaximising silage quantity and qualityForFarmers’ expands delivery ﬂeetAs part of ForFarmers’ country-wide investment into its logistics operation, ﬁve lorries have joined the ﬂeet at the company’s Newcastle-under-Lyme-based mill, with another two on the way. Taking the ﬂeet from 15 to 22, the rigid tridems, which are heavy trucks with three axels at the rear, oer increased manoeuvrability on small farms while increasing the overall reliability of the mill’s service.“We deliver a lot of loads to smaller units and quite often in Wales, where the roads can be narrow,” says ForFarmers’ transport manager at its Newcastle-under-Lyme site, Heather Thompson. “The rigid tridems work very well in these situations.” Protected-rape oers soya alternativeForFarmers has launched an innovative protected-rape that can be used as an alternative to soya. ThermoPlus Rape is a bypass rapemeal, made using a unique heating process. “We aim to achieve more protection and therefore more bypass protein compared to our standard treated rapeseed meal,” says ForFarmers’ Wyn Morris.“It is a sustainable alternative to other protein sources, particularly soya, and can be made from UK-grown rape if available. This means we can use home-grown protein sources and this produces less waste while oering opportunities to improve nitrogen eciency and utilisation,” he adds.In its manufacture, a formulation of rapemeal, molasses, and other distinct ingredients are mixed together. This mixed meal is then compressed and heated in a ‘high temperature short time’ process in the expander, a process which increases its rumen undegradable protein (RUP) percentage.The ﬁnal additional stage is pelleting, which combines the mix and adds additional heat to increase the rumen bypass of the product. This means that cows can get more of the right amino acids to the right places in its digestive system.ThermoPlus Rape can achieve levels of between 18% and 19% DUP DM and true digestible protein (TDP) levels of between 240g/kgDM and 260g/kgDM. “ThermoPlus Rape contains more bypass protein compared to standard rapemeal, so cows receive a greater supply of methionine and lysine and fewer essential amino acids are lost to protein degradation.”For information, contact your account manager or call 0300 678 0982.It’s vital to maximise silage quality and yields as both can have a signiﬁcant impact on ﬁnancial performance and decisions around bought-in feed. Silage results from the previous year should be reviewed and areas for improvement identiﬁed. Before silaging starts clamp maintenance needs to be completed, and the availability of sheeting and weights also needs to be checked.Cutting date is crucial to optimise silage quality with younger leys producing more digestible forage. Cutting height should be set to allow for quicker recovery time as well as reducing soil contamination in the clamp, and slurry applications should also be timed with this in mind.Grass should be cut at its nutritional peak. After heading, grass digestibility falls at a rate of about 0.5% each day. Cutting one week post heading could increase concentrate requirement by 1.5kg per cow per day. A rapid wilt is key to minimising energy, protein and sugar losses, and clamp consolidation is also crucial because trapped air reduces silage fermentation quality and signiﬁcantly increases the risk of aerobic spoilage. Using a silage inoculant will not solve management issues but will support fermentation and quality. By improving fermentation, energy is conserved better in the clamp and tonnes of dry matter lost during storage will also be reduced.To maximise silage yield and quality, between 20% and 25% of all grass leys should be reseeded each year. Weed grasses in swards will only utilise a third of nitrogen applied compared to perennial ryegrass and when ley quality deteriorates, so will ME. This reduces the amount of milk produced from forage and increases bought-in feed requirements.

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18 cowmanagement MARCH 2025VIEW FROM THE GLENNIn recent weeks I have found myself listening out for a vehicle with the reluctance to change gear, an ability to screech on the brakes, and the infamous hand-brake turn as the little red van makes the turn into the end of our drive. No, it’s not Amazon or my next Vinted parcel, but Royal Mail. We have been on a starvation diet when it comes to post. It does have it beneﬁts, mainly no bills or the re-occurring attempt by our collie to remove the postman’s trousers. But the main disadvantage is: where are the calves’ passports? That is the question that regularly echoes on our farm and I’m sure many readers have also been in the position of waiting for passports and knowing there’s a random calf on the unit that has to leave before it hits 42 days old. It does concentrate the mind on all the eort we put into these calves. Does it always really pay o?From the point of the calf hitting the ground, whether that be outside, in a straw pen, or in a surprise location when the AI date got written down wrong, our key focus turns to colostrum. Are we going to achieve the four Qs – Quality, Quantity, Quickly and sQueaky clean? So much time and eort goes into this, from optimising dry-cow transition, getting the freshly-calved cow to the parlour as soon as possible, transferring colostrum into a super-clean dump bucket, and taking time to feed the calf. So, you think you’ve got it all right with healthy and happy calves skipping around the pen, with fresh water and concentrates provided ad-lib, alongside deep ‘nesting’ straw, calf jackets and brand-new enrichment balls, subsidised by the FEFT grant. But let’s chuck in a few variables, just to test even the very best calf rearer’s patience. A bit of wet and damp weather, an inﬂux of fresh calves, less-than-desirable relief sta, and a bit of overstocking. It’s the ultimate recipe for scours and pneumonia. It’s at this point that we react with rehydration sachets, anti-inﬂammatories and, potentially, antibiotics. Followed by the conversation that we should have vaccinated for x, y and z and, if we had, we may never have seen the problems and, potentially, could also have avoided a marital dispute in this household.However we look at it, youngstock are a drain on our resources whether that be due to labour, shed space, feed costs or an unproductive dairy animal for a proportion of their life. Let’s not even consider the signiﬁcant cost if you then discover her dam has Johne’s disease. It makes me ask: are we breeding too many replacements? After recently attending a conference, the answer would be ‘yes’. But you wouldn’t buy a car without taking out insurance. We genomically test all our females to remove the lower genetic-merit individuals from the herd, but is there a prime opportunity to also remove some youngstock that may have struggled with some form of ailment? Let’s hope they make passports digital to help support quick decisions. On that note, I’ll welcome ‘answers on a postcard’ to the question: should we keep or remove some youngstock? On second thoughts sending an email may be best.First-generation Cheshire-based producer Louise Glenn questions Royal Mail’s eciency and explains how this led to a calf-rearing review.Delivery dilemmas“No, it’s not Amazon or my next Vinted parcel, but Royal Mail”

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20 cowmanagement MARCH 2025TEXT REBECCA DAWSON“We saw what happened to wormer resistance in the sheep sector. So dairy producers need to implement new approaches to parasite control now, if they are to be effectively controlled into the future.”Current best practices for parasite control feature regular monitoring and testing, as well as herd observations, to identify individuals or groups of cattle that would beneﬁt from anthelmintic treatments. Build immunity“It takes at least a couple of grazing seasons for calves to effectively build immunity to gutworms and lungworm,” explains Ms Timothy. “So while the calves still have little or no immunity, these parasites pose a threat from the moment cattle are turned out to grass. But liver ﬂuke continues to pose a threat into adulthood because cattle cannot develop immunity to this parasite.“Producers can help young cattle to develop good immunity to gutworms and lungworm by carefully managing their exposure to these parasites,” she adds. “The goal is to provide low-level exposure that triggers a sufﬁcient immune response, but not so much that it causes clinical disease or negatively impacts growth.”Unfortunately there is no simple formula because every Gutworm and liver ﬂuke are present wherever livestock graze, and lungworm poses a threat to many dairy herds. And calves and youngstock are most susceptible to the negative impacts of parasites, according to Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health’s Sioned Timothy, “As well as the potential to cause clinical disease, parasites can also reduce growth and lifetime-yield potential. “Minimising the impact of parasites not only improves cattle welfare and productivity, it can also reduce your costs,” she adds. “But traditional approaches to parasite control that involved blanket treatments given to all cattle, on a calendar or seasonal basis, are increasing the risk of wormer resistance and potentially costing producers more than is necessary. Parasite control is essential for a productive, healthy, grazed herd. But could producers use fewer treatments by monitoring for parasites more eectively?Monitoring can help to reduce worming frequencyHERD HEALTH PARASITE CONTROLSioned Timothy:“Monitoring FECs means producers can intervene at the right time”

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21cowmanagement MARCH 2025farm and every herd is different. But there are three key areas – pasture infectivity, growth, and visible health – that can be monitored to provide a rounded view of how parasites are affecting youngstock.To monitor pasture infectivity producers can use pooled faecal egg counts (FECs) from between 10 and 15 animals, starting two weeks after turnout, and taken every two to three weeks until mid-summer. “The test results will show the level of egg output at a group level and how this increases during the grazing season,” explains Ms Timothy.Gutworm infectivity peaks around mid-summer, after the worms have completed several lifecycles. Any youngstock carrying a high gutworm burden at this time of year will potentially display symptoms of gastroenteritis or ‘worm scours’. This can signiﬁcantly impair growth rates and, in heifers, can delay puberty.“Monitoring the results of FECs means producers can intervene at the right time. Once output begins to increase, towards 150 eggs per gramme, consider treating with an appropriate wormer,” she says.The herd vet or SQP will prescribe the most appropriate wormer for each situation. Typically this may be one containing ivermectin, such as IVOMEC Classic, or eprinomectin, such as EPRINEX, which provide effective treatment of gutworms and lungworm, and offer protection from immediate reinfection for a short period of time.“Around mid-summer, producers can also move cattle to cleaner grazing to reduce their exposure to gutworm for the remainder of the season,” adds Ms Timothy. “Fields that have had their ﬁnal cut of hay or silage are ideal, but any pasture that’s not been grazed by cattle for 12 months will be suitable.”Individual monitoringWhile pooled FECs can tell us about the change in parasite risk at a group level, monitoring cattle as individuals is also important because some animals will be naturally more resilient to a gutworm burden than others. “Comparing weight gain against targets is one of the better methods to identify a high gutworm burden in individual animals,” says Ms Timothy. “Failure to hit growth targets, in the absence of any mitigating factors and where sufﬁcient nutrition is available, is likely to be the result of a high gutworm burden.”Where monitoring weight gains on a regular basis is impossible, ﬁeld observations are still useful. Any signs of scouring in individuals, or lack of thriving compared to herd mates, should be investigated. “Monitoring weight gain and carrying out pooled FECs at a group level means that, when it comes to treating, producers may be able to leave the best-performing animals untreated at this time,” says Ms Timothy.“Leaving a proportion of healthy, well-performing cattle untreated – at least for a while – ensures some gutworms are left in refugia. They avoid contact with an anthelmintic and retain a mixed population of genetics in the worm population. This is vital to preserve the efﬁcacy of wormers and reduce the likelihood of resistance building up on the unit.”Unlike gutworms, the lifecycle of the lungworm means that eggs are not passed in the dung until an infection is extremely severe, by which time physical signs of infection are far more apparent.“Regular observation in-ﬁeld is the most useful method of detecting early signs of lungworm disease,” stresses Ms Timothy.“It’s important to identify early infection since the lung damage caused by the worms can have a signiﬁcant negative impact on growth, fertility and future yield potential. Coughing cows“Any signs of coughing in youngstock and adult cows should be investigated by the herd vet,” she stresses. “When treatments are required, they are usually given to the whole group.”Quarantining and treating all bought-in cattle for parasites is crucial. It allows producers to prevent unintentionally introducing lungworm onto what is a ‘clean’ farm.Young cattle will have been exposed to a range of parasites by the end of the grazing season. While low worm burdens are useful to build immunity, they are best removed at housing to support a productive period of growth.“This is also an ideal time to remove liver ﬂuke burdens,” adds Ms Timothy. “The majority of ﬂuke in cattle will be at a late immature or adult stage by housing time, which provides greater options for treatments.“Combination treatments such as IVOMEC Super can be a convenient way to effectively treat gutworms, lungworms and liver ﬂuke in one go – reducing handling stress and labour costs. The herd vet or SQP will be able to advise on the most appropriate treatment depending on the individual unit.” |Clean grass: ﬁelds that have had their ﬁnal cut of hay or silage are ideal for grazing youngstock

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22 cowmanagement MARCH 2025Tom Turner:“Early-maturing varieties will allow for a degree of catch-up”maize represents a high percentage of TMR diets, as they combine high energy yields with moderate starch content. This can reduce the risk of acidosis.”He also urges producers to remember that maize prefers a relatively light, warm seedbed. “Maize plants do not perform well in compacted soils. The most cost-efﬁcient option is to create a seedbed that allows maize to root freely, and a sub-soiler may come in useful. This will require fairly dry conditions, as the soil cannot be in a ‘plastic’ state. So an assessment of soil friability is essential to minimise soil-structure damage. Exercising patience is critical and the same applies to drilling.”When it comes to herbicides, he says that a drive to reduce input costs can inﬂuence spraying strategies. “But young maize is highly vulnerable to competition. So I always recommend using a pre-emergence and a post-emergence herbicide as an insurance policy. Weed competition“Maize will fail to get off to a good start if it is faced with early weed competition. A pre-emergence spray will ensure that weed growth is tackled at the outset, particularly if the weather causes delays in the application of a post-emergence treatment.”Mr Turner also stresses that it is crucial to wait until the soil temperature reaches a consistent temperature before sowing maize seed. “Soils must have reached 8OC for four consecutive days on light soils and 12OC on heavy soils,” he stresses. “Yield penalties will apply if drilling is premature, with a harmful effect on germination rates Maize crop performance in 2025 was variable and described, overall, as ‘acceptable’ by agronomists and producers alike. But what can growers do to improve this year’s crop and ensure that 2025’s forage is better than ‘OK’? KWS’ Tom Turner says that they should start by looking at variety choice: “This is key to achieving yield and quality targets. Matching variety to location and soil type is crucial, and projected harvest dates must also be considered,” he explains. “It is also important to take the long view, using ﬁve-year average results for the unit, rather than basing decisions on 2024 performance. So, even if the previous year was disappointing, avoid knee-jerk reactions to that.”He adds that some of the modern ultra-early and early varieties have a short growing season and can help to bring forward harvest dates, without a signiﬁcant yield compromise. They are particularly appropriate on units that have signed up for maize SFI options, because these require a window for establishing winter cover. “That said, later-maturing varieties can be useful where As producers look ahead and prepare for the 2025 maize-growing season we share some timely advice on varietal choice and seedbed management.TEXT WENDY SHORTMonitor soil conditions and drilling depthFORAGE UPDATE MAIZEGROWING POINTERS

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23cowmanagement MARCH 2025and an uneven pattern of emergence, as well as limiting nutrient uptakes.”Conversely, late drilling will delay cutting dates and may take some units into a period that is less than ideal for harvesting. “This can result in crop yield and quality losses, along with soil-structure damage, which can have a negative effect on the following crops. On units where drilling can be subject to delays, early-maturing varieties will allow for a degree of catch-up,” he adds.Drill settings will depend on sowing timings. “As a rule, use 5cm for April and early-May sowings, followed by between 5cm and 7cm for mid-season drilling. Soil moisture“Planting was pushed back in 2024, due to high rainfall and low temperatures on many units. And if this applies again in 2025, drilling up to 9cm may be relevant on light soils, to give seedlings access to vital soil moisture. “In dry conditions, it is advisable to use a fairly deep drill setting, which can promote rooting and minimise the risk of lodging later on in the season.” The ﬂip side is that a drill setting that is too shallow can reduce plant stability and this particularly applies to maize grown on exposed sites and/or at high altitudes. “It will also prevent the seedlings and young plants from accessing water in a drought situation. Hopefully we will not see a repeat of 2024’s cold, wet spring so that drilling and crop-management timings can follow their usual pattern.”Drill settings also need to be carefully monitored. “Settings must be checked and double-checked throughout the sowing period, whether the producer is in charge of the operation, or a contractor is being used. Inaccurate settings will produce an uneven crop, and no variety can perform to its potential if it is poorly placed in the seedbed.“Another issue that I see when crop walking is double planting. This will weaken the root structure and mean that some plants will receive more valuable sunlight, moisture, and nutrients than others. “Whatever the weather ahead, it is important to follow the basic rules of agronomy when establishing a maize crop. Attention to detail will pay dividends,” says Mr Turner. |timing seed depth early-to-mid season (April to early May) 5cmmid-season (early-May onwards) 5cm to 7cmlate season (mid-May onwards) 7cm to 9cmDrill depth recommendations Crop emergence: soil temperature at drilling impacts successSupercharged with PATRIOT GOLD Additive PackFor more details contact:TBA Ltd. Unit 3, Pulham Business Park,Pulham, Dorchester, Dorset DT2 7DXt: +44 (0)1300 345711e: enquiries@tbagri.co.ukwww.tbagri.comBritannia Advanced Energized Calf Milk (ECM) is fed by many high genetic merit herds to capture youngstock potential. ECM has been designed to support the LifeStart objectives: OPTIMAL DEVELOPMENT RESILIENCE TO DISEASE LONGEVITY

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24 cowmanagement MARCH 202524North: Wednesday, March 26 from 10:00am until 2:00pm Host: Jenny Lee, Torpenhow Farmhouse Dairy, Park House Farm, Torpenhow, Wigton, Cumbria.South: Wednesday, April 2 from 10:00am until 2:00pm Host: Lorna Burdge, Waterhayne Farm, Yarcombe, Honiton, Devon.West: Wednesday, April 9 from 10:00am until 2:00pm Host: Anna Bowen, Gwarllwyn, Rhydlewis Llandysul, Ceredigion.Women in Dairy spring programmeThree on-farm meetings will be held this spring, all with leading women working in the dairy industry and designed to ‘connect, share and inspire’. Meetings hosted by inspirational women husband, who was in a contract farming agreement (CFA), she started to work on the farm and now owns a third of the business. As well as delivering on the CFA, Anna works as a consultant, specialising in dairy and nutrient management planning. A Nufﬁeld scholar, she is part of NFU Farmers for Schools and FarmerTime and Mrs Bowen also joined the AHDB Dairy Sector Board in early 2025. Using her past and current experiences, she aims to help other women ﬁnd their way into the industry, despite the obstacles they may face.Lunch and refreshments will be provided at each event. |The event is free for Women in Dairy and RABDF members, and £15 for non-members. Go to www.womenindairy.co.uk/events to ﬁnd out more.Jenny Lee: Women in Dairy ﬁnalist is hosting on-farm eventThree open days, all with inspirational female dairy trailblazers who will have plenty of interest to discuss with visitors, will be held this spring by Women in Dairy.Each open day will be facilitated by Women in Dairy founder, Kingshay’s Sarah Bolt, who will be joined by vet Becca Cavill from Women in Dairy’s national sponsor, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health. Becca will talk about how an approach known as Optimax can help motivate change within a business. Being receptive to change has played a major part in the success stories, personal lives and businesses of each of the host producers.“Optimax is a unique way of working out what works well on a farm, what works less well and where changes are required,” she says. “Without exception, these three producers have all taken time to assess options and gone on to implement change – unafraid to switch course if something is not quite right.”The three events – in the North, South and West regions of the UK – are all being hosted by the 2024 Dairy Industry Women of the Year Award winner and two ﬁnalists.Regional eventsProducer Jenny Lee is based in Cumbria and will host the North event at Park House Farm. She grew up on her family’s dairy farm and went on to pursue a career in teaching. It was not until her parents stepped back that she felt the pull to return. She and her husband Mark run a successful pasture-based, organic operation and follow regenerative practices. They are focused on demonstrating how an agroecological system is good for the cows, the environment, and consumers. Mrs Lee also understands the values of connecting with the community and regularly invites apprentices, groups and school children to the farm, plays host to large-scale events and has two active social media accounts for the farm’s cheese and gelato businesses.First-generation producer Lorna Burdge will host the South event at her Devon-based unit. She is passionate about educating people on where their food comes from and showcasing the work that goes into food production. As part of her pledge to educate others, Mrs Burdge is involved in the NFU Schools Programme and FarmerTime, which sees her holding farm visits and on-line calls with children. With the view that women in particular undervalue themselves, she wants to champion the fact that everyone has something to give.The West event will be hosted by new entrant and farm business consultant Anna Bowen, from West Wales, who is also the winner of the Dairy Industry Women of the Year Award.Anna grew up on a dairy farm, but farming at home was never a career option. Then after meeting her now HERD HEALTH SPRING MEETINGS

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In addition to the dry matter differences between grazing and a fermented forage-based ration, lush spring grass is also higher in rapidly fermentable sugars and crude protein compared to a TMR.Rumen microbiota“It can take as long as six weeks for the rumen and its microbiota to adapt to the new diet, with the biggest change in microbial populations among structural carbohydrate degraders, which break down ﬁbre,” explains Mr McFarland. Focusing on rumen microbiota can help support cows – and milk production – through dietary changes at turnout, while promoting ﬁbre digestion and milk solids. Grazed grass is a natural diet, but the challenge that turnout poses to the cows’ digestive system should not be underestimated, according to Lallemand Animal Nutrition’s Mark McFarland.“Spring grass is around 20% dry matter – representing a stark difference to winter rations,” he says. “And when what goes into the cow’s rumen is changed, the microbial environment of the rumen also changes. The rumen microbiota population shifts to adapt to the new diet.”Cows fed a TMR, with between 40% and 45% dry matter, through the winter will be challenged when turned out to grass. “Suddenly changing to a wetter diet, with less than half the dry matter, will see cows often struggle to physically eat enough,” he explains, adding that the challenge is even greater during a wet spring.Understanding the rumen’s microbial shift when herds transition from silage to grazing-based rations is key to maximizing milk production from grass.TEXT LAURA YATESGradual grazing switch pays dividends25cowmanagement MARCH 2025Mark McFarland: “The rumen needs time to adapt to any new diet”GRAZING & TURNOUT SPECIALp28 | Pointers to manage mobility at grazing p30 | Ley mixtures key to reseeding success p32 | Vaccination advice as lungworm threat grows p34 | Innoculants’ role in supporting grazing options

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XXXXX XXXXX26 cowmanagement MARCH 2025GRAZING & TURNOUT RUMEN CONDITIONINGearly grazing period, while cows can be losing body condition,” adds Mr McFarland.“In addition to dung looseness, for herds with rumination collars, a drop in rumination time is another indicator of poor rumen function.”The microbial shift in the rumen caused by a change from a TMR to grazed grass diet also hampers digestive efﬁciency and ruminal absorption. Not only does the microbiota change, but also what the bugs produce – volatile fatty acids (VFAs) – changes.“This change in VFAs affects the rumen wall. The rumen papillae, which are the absorptive surface area of the rumen wall, reduce in length and can take up to 10 weeks to fully adapt.”Mr McFarland explains that these changes limit the feed value of the grass, resulting in a missed opportunity to make the most of this forage. “With milk prices relatively good, producers should be motivated to try and maximise milk production from grass because the extra litres are worth so much more now.”Diet transitionThe rumen needs time to adapt to any new diet, so a gradual introduction to grazing is recommended. Mr McFarland says grass should be introduced slowly at turnout, gradually building up the number of hours that cows are out grazing, and feeding a forage-based buffer ration indoors to support the rumen through the change – particularly during wet days.“Within the buffer ration producers must provide structural ﬁbre, because that’s what’s lacking in the grass at turn-out, to help stimulate rumination and maintain a more stable rumen pH,” he explains.During the transition, he recommends feeding the rumen-speciﬁc live yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNCM I-1077, known as Levucell SC, ahead of and during the grazing season.“The yeast helps cows to manage dietary changes at turnout from the inside out. It helps raise and stabilise rumen pH, by balancing the microbiota, increasing the abundance of lactic acid-utilising bacteria and ﬁbre degraders.“The yeast also competes for sugars with lactic acid-producing bacteria – effectively competing for their food source – so the production of lactic acid is reduced.”By promoting a positive microbial environment, Mr McFarland adds that the rumen-speciﬁc yeast promotes the production and absorption of volatile fatty acids from the rumen, leading to increased milk and milk solids at grass.“Cows can make better use of the RDP and ﬁbre in the grass, maximising its feed value,” he explains.Commercial trials have demonstrated the signiﬁcant productivity beneﬁts that can be achieved from including the rumen-speciﬁc live yeast in rations. Adding Levucell SC to the diet can increase average daily milk yield by up to 8%, or 2.3kg.“By managing rumen function and productivity, producers can help to ensure their herds remain in good body condition and, consequently, cows have a greater chance of getting back in-calf while, at the same time, also producing milk from one of the cheapest feeds available.” |He says one study has shown that a change of diet from TMR to pasture resulted in the relative abundance of structural carbohydrate degraders in the rumen dropping from 29% to just 6% of the rumen microbiota classiﬁed within a functional group.“At the same time, rapidly fermentable carbohydrate degraders in the rumen were shown to increase from 68% to 87%, which is another dramatic shift,” adds Mr McFarland. He explains that this can result in excessive lactate production, which reduces rumen pH and ﬁbre digestion, increasing the risk of acidosis.“Early-spring grass is rich in soluble sugars, with a high acid load and low ﬁbre index,” he explains, adding that there is a signiﬁcant increase in lactate-producing bacteria, such as Streptococcus, which puts the cow at risk of sub-acute ruminal acidosis (SARA) and bloat.Nutritional challengeAnother nutritional challenge posed by spring grass is the additional crude protein load. Early-spring grass is often high in rumen degradable protein (RDP), which is a low-quality protein that is broken down by the rumen microbes into ammonia.“When RDP levels are high, ammonia levels can exceed what the rumen microbes can handle, leading to an oversupply. A typical symptom of that is loose manure,” says Mr McFarland.The excess urea requires the cow to expend energy for excretion and this is at a time when she is already struggling to consume enough dietary energy. “As a result, we typically see milk urea levels rise during the Fresh grass: grazing has a high acid load and low ﬁbre index

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28IMPROVE HERD MOBILITY WITH STRIDEcowmanagement JANUARY 2025Grazing cows have to walk further to feed, and anything that reduces their willingness to walk will increase lying times and decrease time spent grazing, depressing intakes and yields. Poor mobility can also extend the time taken to get cows out to grazing and back in for milkingThe Stride national mobility survey, carried out in the ﬁrst half of 2024, was established to identify pinchpoints and improvement opportunities for foot health and mobility. When analysed by the length of time cows spent grazing, the results provide some interesting insights:● 80% of respondents’ herds graze at least part of the year, with the majority grazing for more than 25 weeks per year.● Lameness was seen as less of an issue where cows graze for longer.● Infectious foot disease was seen as a less signiﬁcant issue in grazed rather than in all year-round housed cows, but sole ulcers and bruising were a greater concern in grazed cows. ● All causes of compromised hoof health continue to be a problem at grazing.● There is a trend towards reduced routine foot trimming in grazed cows and the frequency of footbathing is lower. Many grazing herds are still mobility scoring but, typically, cows are just observed as they are walked to and from ﬁelds rather than through formal scoring.● There is a signiﬁcant reduction in supplementation with minerals when cows are at grass.Many cows will soon be heading out to grazing, a time when good mobility and high levels of hoof health are crucial.Focus on hoof health at grazing28cowmanagement NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2024Stride is the major industry-wide initiative committed to helping reduce the consequences of compromised mobility, improve productivity and reduce losses. Representing a broad range of companies involved in helping improve foot health and mobility, the partners in Stride are Ceva, HerdVision, Hoofcount, IVC Farm Vets, Neogen, NoBACZ, Teemore Engineering, and Zinpro. Stride is supported by CowManagement magazine.www.stridemobility.co.ukDon’t be complacent just because the cows are outThe survey ﬁndings highlight that it is still important to focus on mobility when cows are grazing, particularly as good foot health is essential to make the most of pasture and ensure that grazing intakes are maximised.To help reduce foot problems when cows are grazing, continue to implement strict routine protocols for foot bathing, mobility scoring and foot trimming – these are not just for housed cows. Set targets, and react – Measure, Manage and Monitor.● Monitor the condition of tracks, particularly early in the season, to help reduce the risk of hoof damage due to poor walking surfaces.● Where cows are held back for buer feed or housed at night, continue to apply strict hygiene and scraping routines to keep passageways clear.● Mobility score cows regularly, ensuring they are walking on a ﬂat surface. Just looking for lame cows at the back of the group while they are walking in can fail to identify any mobility score 2 cows in the middle of the herd.● Even when grazing, put all cows through a footbath at least three times a week, ensuring the solution is at the correct concentration. ● Continue with routine foot trimming and react quickly at the ﬁrst signs of compromised mobility, checking feet and trimming/treating as required.● Remember that grazed grass is low in minerals and that cows need supplementation to optimise production, fertility and foot health. Pay close attention to biotin levels to improve horn strength.

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30 cowmanagement MARCH 2025GRAZING & TURNOUT RESEEDING SUCCESSTEXT SARA GREGSONsheds, as well as a 24:48 GEA swing-over parlour, and to buy the ﬁrst cows. After lambing 1,500 ewes in the spring of 2021, the ﬁrst of 130 pedigree Jersey heifers, which were imported from Denmark, were already being milked at Crokers Grange Farm, near Newton Abbott. These were followed by 100 more heifers bought from local high-health herds.Three scenarios“We planned three scenarios: one for an outdoor grazing unit, with cross-bred cows; one having fewer but higher yielding Holsteins, run on an indoor system; and one of setting up a Jersey herd,” explains Niall.“We decided on the Jerseys because I could only get a Channel Island contract from Rivermead Dairies.”The Tewson’s had initially rented the 122-hectare unit from 1993 but bought it seven years ago. The cows can access 50 hectares for grazing. The remainder of the land is the other side of a busy road and used to produce winter forage.“The land at the top of the farm is free-draining shillet and we can turn the cows out very early,” says Niall. “The lower end of the farm is heavier red Devon clay and The success of his new dairy set-up is not only due to meticulous cow and grassland management by Devon-based producer Niall Tewson. But it’s also down to his drive and determination to turn what was once a prime beef and sheep farm, with 60 suckler cows and calves and 3,000 breeding sheep, into a proﬁtable dairy unit.After working for six months on several New Zealand-based dairy farms in 2019, when he was just 23, Niall came back to the UK – inspired and passionately keen to milk cows. And, with the support of his family, that’s what he set out to do.The beef herd and half the sheep at his family’s farm were sold, releasing capital to install 260 cubicles in the A signiﬁcant change of direction has seen one producer develop a brand-new dairy business, with a high-health-status Jersey herd and selling milk direct to consumers.Niall Tewson:“Swards power milk production from 21-day rotations”Dairy switch secures sustainable future

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can get sticky. But it is a true grass farm and that’s what grows best here.”Niall’s family has bought grass and maize seed and fertiliser from Cullompton-based agronomist William Pitts for many years. And William has been working closely with Oliver Seeds’ John Harris since 2016. “In 2019, on William’s advice, we reseeded a lot of the grassland with Oliver Seeds mixture MegaBite, ready for the new dairy,” says Niall. This predominantly late perennial ryegrass sward, which includes varieties Nashota, Thegn and Bowie, produces high yields of top-quality feed. “And also ‘keeps going’ if we have a drought, which we often do in summer,” he adds.The ﬁelds were reseeded in early autumn 2024, using a plough and power harrow, with MegaBite, but this time with added clovers, plantain and other herbs, so that all the ﬁelds now qualify for the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI).“The swards are now richer, greener and fuller and will be powering milk production from 21-day rotations, from early February to mid-October. The swards’ ability to regrow quickly when managed correctly is phenomenal. And, being dual purpose, we can cut anything we do not graze,” says Niall.Fertiliser applicationsHe applies 75kgN/ha, using a urea-based 40N+14SO3 product, onto the grassland from mid-February ready for the expected early grass growth. A total of 150kgN/ha is applied as fertiliser during the growing season, with dressings after each grazing. Having reached 240 head of milkers, the bottom 20% were culled in the summer of 2023. In December 2024, the herd produced more milk than the previous December, but with fewer milking cows. Niall puts this down to better management, cows and forage. The average annual milk yield is 6,200 litres, at 4.3% protein and 5.8% butterfat, with 1,613 litres produced from forage. The cows are fed 0.38kg of concentrate per litre of milk produced. Niall is hoping to achieve up to 7,500 litres a cow a 31cowmanagement MARCH 2025year while, at the same time, maintaining proﬁtability.The herd is fed a TMR comprising 50:50 maize and grass silage, which is topped up with concentrates to yield in the parlour. “We were block-calving in spring but are now moving to all-year-round to produce a level milk supply – and workload,” says Niall. “We are also starting to crossbreed with Irish Holsteins to produce more milk with the same milk solids.”Direct sellingIn May 2023 Niall bought a vending machine, which is sited it at the top of the farm drive. He initially budgeted to sell 50 litres of pasteurised unhomogenised milk per day, but was quickly selling 200 litres each day through one machine.“We branded ourselves as ‘South Devon Dairy’ and were already active on social media, telling people what was happening on the farm, so milk sales soon took off,” says Niall. “I started with a batch pasteuriser, which took eight hours to process from raw to processed and down to 3OoC. We have since invested in an inline pasteuriser, which is much quicker. “At weekends we are now selling 400 litres of milk and milkshake each day through two vending machines and one coffee machine – at an average of £1.87 per litre. I really see the future for our business in selling direct to consumers.”He adds that managing customers can be tricky: “But we are doing all we can to keep them happy, with ample off-road parking, a play park and small animal petting area. We sell several ﬂavours of milk shake and handmade gelato, my mother bakes cakes and biscuits, and we also sell locally produced meat and vegetables.“Education is another large part of what we do here. It’s vital to teach the younger generation about where and how their food is produced. We invite schools and other groups to show them what we do here.“But I’m careful not take my eye off the cows because without them I would have nothing to sell. There has to be a balance between the two enterprises.” |Quality forage: using mixtures suited to grazing and cutting supports dairy system

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32 cowmanagement MARCH 2025GRAZING & TURNOUT CONTROLLING LUNGWORMTEXT SARAH ALDERTON often leads to unnecessary treatments, and the use of anthelmintics in this way may be adding to the resistance pressure,” he adds.Mr Strugnell described a case in 2024 when a producer treated heifers for lungworm with macrocyclic lactones (MLs), at housing (twice at three-weekly intervals). But post-mortem results between six and eight weeks later showed high levels of lungworm still present in the lungs, suggesting treatment failure. The producer has now opted for pre-turnout vaccination to avoid losses.Gold standardMr Strugnell believes these cases are the tip of the iceberg and says vaccination against lungworm pre-turnout should be seen as the gold standard in disease management policy moving forward.“It’s difﬁcult to predict when lungworm may strike, so vaccinating cattle before turnout allows them to develop immunity without relying on wormers.”Recent research from the University of Glasgow adds to the growing evidence of resistance to MLs, such as Producers in areas at risk of lungworm infection are being encouraged to vaccinate cattle before turnout, rather than relying on routine wormer treatments, due to unpredictability of lungworm infections and rising concerns about anthelmintic resistance.Vet Ben Strugnell, from County Durham-based Farm Post Mortems, has reported an increase in lungworm cases, even in cattle treated with wormers, suggesting resistance is becoming more prevalent.“Lungworm thrives in warm and wet conditions, but its timing is unpredictable. This makes it difﬁcult to target worming treatments effectively,” he says. “This Producers are being encouraged to vaccinate pre-turnout to protect herds from lungworm amid growing resistance concerns. We spoke to a vet to ﬁnd out more. Ben Strugnell: “We need to maintain the ecacy of current products”Vaccination key to combat lungworm threat

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ivermectin and moxidectin, where these actives fail to treat lungworm infection in cattle. The study, led by PhD student Paul Campbell, found that in a group of ﬁrst-season grazing heifers on a Scottish unit, both ivermectin and moxidectin treatments failed to treat the disease. Clinical signs progressed and signiﬁcant numbers of lungworm were observed after treatment, which is highly suggestive of resistance.“There’s no ﬁeld test for resistance, so it’s only detected after complete treatment failure,” says Mr Campbell, stressing the need for sustainable control measures like vaccination.“Due to lungworm’s unpredictable nature, vaccination allows cattle to develop reliable immunity while exposed to some lungworm on pasture, reducing the need for wormer treatment, which provides only temporary protection. No new wormers are coming soon in the pipeline, so we need to maintain the efﬁcacy of our current products.”Data indicates lungworm cases are on the rise, with a 10-fold increase in lungworm infections since the mid-1990s – particularly in Scotland and northern England. Between the 2018 and 2019 grazing seasons, cases diagnosed and reported to the GB Veterinary Investigations Diagnosis Network were up by 44% throughout the UK.Larvae ingestionLungworm infections occur when cattle ingest grass contaminated with larvae from the parasite Dictyocaulus viviparus. The larvae migrate to the lungs, where they mature and reproduce. The cycle can repeat rapidly as the larvae are passed out in faeces and consumed by grazing cattle. This increase in cases, coupled with growing industry pressure to reduce habitual treatment with anthelmintics, further underscores the need for producers to consider vaccination.“The industry’s use of wormers is under increasing scrutiny, and we are now seeing some milk processors pushing to reduce their use,” says Mr Campbell. “We are likely to see policies introduced, similar to those surrounding antibiotic use.“With lungworm, producers really want to be managing it before signs of clinical disease are seen. Vaccination, combined with good grazing management and careful stockmanship, offers the most effective long-term solution to preventing lungworm,” he says.MSD Animal Health vet adviser Kat Baxter-Smith adds that lungworm could be managed more effectively by UK producers through an increased uptake of vaccination, particularly for naïve ﬁrst-season grazers pre-turnout.“Unlike long-acting anthelmintics, which kill the parasite and reduce or even prevent ongoing exposure and necessary build-up of immunity, vaccination allows cattle to develop immunity to lungworm due to the use of irradiated larvae in the husk vaccine,” she explains.When cattle are given two doses of the vaccine orally (approximately four weeks apart) prior to turnout 33cowmanagement MARCH 2025Lungworm prevention: two doses of oral vaccine are required before turnoutin the spring, the irradiated larvae ingested will migrate through the lungs just like the ones cattle pick up on contaminated pasture. “But because these larvae are irradiated, they are unable to fully develop, which allows the treated animal to develop protective immunity, but not infection.”Financial lossesTo help safeguard against ﬁnancial losses from lungworm and potential developing resistance with long-acting anthelmintics, MSD Animal Health is encouraging producers to work with their vet on a farm parasite-control plan before turnout.“The most effective way to prevent lungworm infection in cattle is to build immunity through vaccination. While long-acting wormers can be used to control disease, they may limit exposure to lungworm larvae, which means that calves remain susceptible to infection in future years,” says Dr Baxter-Smith.“The industry must look at ways to minimise its use of these products to slow the development of resistance. And an increased uptake of pre-turnout vaccination against lungworm is an important way we can do this,” she adds. |

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can be an issue. If that’s the case and, for example, silages are wetter than ideal then using an additive could be hugely beneﬁcial,” she adds.The past few years have certainly presented producers with challenges when making ﬁrst-cut silage, with many crops typically being ‘stemmier’ than they should be. On some units second-cut silages have been better quality than ﬁrst-cut crops.Soil contamination“Winters are typically warmer than they were a few years ago and on many units grass continues to grow throughout the winter,” says Ms Millar. “So by the beginning of May, when ﬁrst-cut silage is made, swards are already quite stemmy.”She says that the UK is also experiencing wetter springs, so it can be tricky to take ﬁrst cuts at the optimal time. “There’s an increased risk that ﬁrst cuts will be taken late – or they will be wet. If ground conditions are wet there’s also an increased risk of soil contamination, potentially introducing clostridia bacteria, which reduces silage stability.”She says that producers and their contractors should take The early part of this year has already presented producers with all-too-familiar wet and stormy weather issues, and this underlines the need for the careful management of future silage stocks.Looking ahead, now is the time to start thinking about the management of silage-making ground, particularly slurry and fertiliser applications and timings.“Also plan now for the timing of cutting, if possible,” says Trident MicroNutri’s Anna Millar. “While taking cuts later may increase bulk, this sacriﬁces quality. So producers must evaluate what they are trying to achieve when making silage.“In many instances it would be better to cut a little earlier and harvest better-quality grass, but the weather Early spring heralds the start of the annual balancing act to ensure future forage stocks are not compromised by turnout delays, so producers should also be planning for possible weather challenges.TEXT STUART BOOKERSilage planning to maximise milk from forageAnna Millar: “Additive use provides options in a disrupted season”GRAZING & TURNOUT FORAGE PLANNING34 cowmanagement MARCH 2025

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35cowmanagement MARCH 2025GRAZING & TURNOUT FORAGE PLANNINGan additive provides an option if the grazing season is disrupted and turnout is delayed or cows need to be rehoused due to poor weather.“Eating into winter forage stocks is far from ideal. But if producers need to open clamps early then they can do this more safely – without compromising quality and increasing waste,” she says, adding that her company’s additive uses oxygen scavenging bacteria, selected for their early-clamp-opening abilities after just seven days.Fermentation controlBy providing fermentation control, the inoculant inhibits up to 98% of yeasts and moulds. “Better fermentation, with fewer moulds and less waste, produces more palatable ssilage. This increases forage intakes and, ultimately, supports milk production from forage,” adds Ms Millar.For more difﬁcult silages, such as: exceptionally wet silages, at lower than 23% dry matter; or those with high nitrogen levels or low sugar levels, using SiloSolve MC, which offers microbial control, can help to improve forage quality.“This product can also be helpful if there is slurry or soil contamination because it can help to reduce fermentation produced by clostridia bacteria,” she adds.“It’s key that producers are one step ahead and thinking about what may happen. They can then look at the options available, or different strategies that can be adopted, to help improve forage palatability and ensure that they are maximising milk from forage.” |steps to prevent and reduce contamination. “Likewise, if too much slurry has been spread on a sward, or has not ‘washed in’ properly, this also presents a silage-contamination risk.”Practical steps include testing nitrate levels pre-mowing. Samples of grass can be analysed to assess free-nitrate levels, which are a good indicator of how well fertiliser has been absorbed and used by the grass crop. If excess nitrates are present prior to mowing, this can impact silage palatability because it affects fermentation.“If there are high levels of free nitrates in the sample, this is more likely to result in poor fermentation. Silage will be black and foul-smelling, and palatability will be extremely low,” explains Ms Millar.Grazing delayIf turnout is delayed, or cut short, possibly due to waterlogging, using a silage additive, such as SiloSolve FC, can provide fungal control and help to prevent aerobic spoilage if clamps need to be opened early.“As soon as the pit is opened and exposed to oxygen it is in aerobic conditions,” says Ms Millar. “This means that oxygen is present and it can cause spoilage and secondary fermentation, resulting in reduced silage palatability and loss of nutrient value.“Using a silage additive can support aerobic stability when the front of the pit is opened,” says Ms Millar. “Promoting rapid silage fermentation allows producers to open clamps after just one week, if needed. So using

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YOUNGSTOCK FOCUSClose monitoring of heifer health is key to future herd performance. So, with staff under pressure on many dairy units, could embracing smart technology help to support more efﬁcient and productive youngstock-rearing systems?Yes, according to Vetoquinol’s Sara Etell, who says that harnessing technology and collecting key health data can help producers and their vets to monitor and benchmark performance both on farm and against other units. “There are a number of challenges when managing youngstock, not least is that producers and their vets frequently discuss the main herd but not necessarily calves. This means that information on youngstock health and performance can be limited,” she says. This can also be exacerbated by a shortage of labour on many dairy units, resulting in producers taking a reactive, rather than a proactive, approach to herd management. Key data“This is where technology can help,” adds Ms Etell. Vetoquinol’s VetIMPRESS allows producers and their vet-led teams to input and access key data on farm, using a mobile phone or tablet, which means the health and productivity of speciﬁc animals can be closely monitored. “Heifer data, such as birth weight, colostrum intake, vet spend, and vaccine status, can be collected and viewed, and this makes it easy to check how individuals are performing against the unit’s benchmark, and crucially, it can also help producers and vets identify any issues early that may restrict the calf’s ability to reach its full potential,” she says. Ms Etell urges producers to ‘get in early’ and invest time and resources in recording key data, such as Data use improves heifer-rearing outcomesSmart technology has the potential to support youngstock health and productivity. We ﬁnd out more about a data-based management tool.Sara Etell: “Smart technology supports data-driven management decisions”TEXT EMMA WALLER36 cowmanagement MARCH 2025p40 | Beef-calf contracts oer margins gains p42 | Colostrum pointers to help polish protocols p47 | Life-long monitoring tech beneﬁts p50 | Calf-rearing roadshow reportp52 | Keeping heifer growth on track at grass / CMR feeding protocols p54 | Take time to check CMR ingredientsThepower of mother natureOur latest innovation in Energized Calf Milk, featuring patent-pending LactoFat Pro technology to level up calf health and resilience.Find out moretrouwnutrition.co.uk/milkivitONEMilkivit ONE4708-07 Milkivit ONE_Launch ad_MASTER A4.indd 14708-07 Milkivit ONE_Launch ad_MASTER A4.indd 1 26/02/2025 09:4826/02/2025 09:48

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XXXXX XXXXX38 cowmanagement MARCH 2025YOUNGSTOCK DATA MONITORINGbetween producers and vets. Discussions about youngstock can become part of the routine vet visit, making every visit count. The producer/vet relationship is strengthened because instead of making judgements about what could work when it comes to youngstock health management, decisions are data-driven and centred around optimising animal welfare and the productivity of the herd. Bigger picture “Data provides that all-important bigger picture, providing producers and vets with an overarching view of herd and business performance, as well as a detailed snapshot of the health and productivity of each animal. “In an industry where producers are under unrelenting pressure from high production costs and low margins, not to mention increasing regulation around medicine use, sustainability, and animal welfare, smart technology and data-driven decisions represent a way to future-proof dairy businesses,” says Ms Etell. “This is not about collecting data for the sake of it. It’s about understanding the data and knowing how to use it to make heifer rearing and business management more efﬁcient, productive, and proﬁtable,” she stresses.For producers, being able to input youngstock data ‘on the go’ removes the need to go back to the ofﬁce at the end of a long day and input data from their notebook into a spreadsheet. It also enables them to see exactly what their vet has done on farm so they can easily keep track of herd health. “I was on a farm recently with a vet who uses VetIMPRESS. He was carrying out a calf health check and with the platform, and was able to enter everything he’d observed and tested for, right there and then. The producer was then able to access a report that gave them a detailed overview of each animal and also a wider view of what they may need to keep an eye on,” adds Ms Etell. |colostrum intake during the ﬁrst few hours and days of life, daily liveweight gains. “These are factors that will impact performance and milk production down the line. The goal is to quickly grow heifer calves to the optimal weight and size for breeding, so they calve for the ﬁrst time at 24 months old. And to then successfully move them into the main herd, healthy and milking well, so they are ‘paying for themselves’ as soon as possible. If they are sick, for example, they can fail to meet key milestones along the way.” Preventive actionCollecting and monitoring data can help producers take preventive action rather than reacting when there’s a disease issue. According to AHDB, more than 50% of calves on UK units suffer from disease, predominantly scours or pneumonia, before weaning. “Data provides producers and their vets with the information they need to have evidence-based discussions around disease-prevention strategies, such as vaccination,” says Ms Etell.“Data also supports informed decision-making about treatment and ensures heifers are given the correct medicines at the optimal time. This offers heifer health and welfare beneﬁts, as well as being more cost-effective for the dairy business.”The data collection and monitoring tool also allows producers to view youngstock vet-spend reports, showing a breakdown of the costs of medicines used and vaccine protocols. “If data shows that spending on antibiotics to treat pneumonia, for example, is high then this is ﬂagged and triggers a discussion about whether there’s a better and more ﬁnancially viable way to tackle the disease, such as implementing a vaccine protocol. Data helps producers make good decisions instead of ﬁreﬁghting, which often costs more in the longer term,” explains Ms Etell. Another happy side effect of having access to data that makes health planning easier is closer collaboration Early start: record data from birth weight through to age at ﬁrst calving

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Using technology to detect heat events and identify the early signs of potential health problems enables herd managers to maximise the productivity of adult cattle. But unless calves and youngstock are managed to the same accuracy, the herd’s longer-term productivity could be compromised.The health and growth of replacement heifers has a long-term and long-lasting impact on future herd performance. Any diseases, respiratory problems or welfare issues experienced during the heifers rst 12 months of life have the potential to reduce her fertility and productivity later in life.Ensuring youngstock are healthy and disease-free is, therefore, critical to the herd’s future viability.With the SenseHub® Youngstock system, herd managers can quickly identify signs of ill health in calves, with existing users reporting faster recovery of animals affected by scour or pneumonia thanks to earlier intervention.Calf-health parametersThe latest version of SenseHub Youngstock is compatible with all pre- and post-weaned calves, including those housed in hutches or larger group environments, and can be used to monitor calf-health parameters soon after they are born. As well as highlighting health issues often before any visible symptoms have developed, SenseHub Youngstock also reduces the need for staff to be on the farm around the clock to spot problems, and ensures each calf gets off to the best possible start so that it can make a positive contribution to the herd’s income sooner.Unique systemThe SenseHub® Youngstock system uses an electronic ear tag, which weighs less than 21 grammes, to monitor the behavioural patterns of calves from birth to 12 months of age. This lightweight design is ideal for young calves and, in addition to a secure locking mechanism that was designed with input from our Allex tagging business to ensure the male and female parts of the tag can’t become separated, SenseHub® Youngstock tags have higher retention rates compared to heavier, less secure alternatives.When SenseHub Youngstock system detects a reduction in feeding, or any abnormal behavioural patterns that could be symptomatic of a health issue, the SenseHub app automatically raises an alert. The relevant animal can then be isolated and/or treated as soon as possible and begin its recovery to full health.Programmable LEDDespite being the lightest monitoring ear tags on the market, SenseHub Youngstock tags also contain a programmable ashing LED that makes it easier and quicker to locate the animal in need of help. This not only saves time and labour, but also ensures any applicable treatment can be administered sooner.SenseHub Youngstock can be used as a standalone system or in combination with other SenseHub Dairy application plans that monitor the reproduction and rumination status of heifers and adult cows.SenseHub Youngstock can be paid for on subscription with: zero upfront costs; a SenseHub GO subscription, which provides access to all the necessary SenseHub hardware; software; and after-sales support with no hidden extras, additional costs or capital depreciation losses.Become the bestTo nd out how more about how SenseHub Youngstock can improve the health of your youngstock and boost your herd’s overall performance, please call the SenseHub team on 01207 265840 or email us at sensehubGB@msd.com. Alternatively visit msd.sensehub.com/youngstock/SenseHub is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease in cattle. For the diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevention of disease in cattle, consult your vet. The accuracy of the data collected and presented through this product is not intended to match that of medical or scientic measurement devices.Automated monitoring systems can also support managers looking to improve youngstock health, growth rates and future herd performance.Calf monitoring tags boost lifetime productivity

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James Worth:“Longhorn crosses are the easiest calves we’ve ever reared”later Bradley Wiggins won the ﬁrst of the team’s six Tour de France wins from 2012 to 2018.Since then, Dave’s ‘secret sauce’ has become known in sport and business alike as the ‘aggregation of marginal gains’. This involves pursuing improvements as small as 1% across every aspect of the sport, including the minor details. And these small gains, when added up, can make for a substantial and long-term overall improvement, as long as they’re made permanent in the team’s mindset and daily behaviour. Minor detailA good example of a minor detail on one UK dairy unit, where calves have ad-lib access to milk, is spraying the communal teats during the daytime and evening, with sterilising solution to help improve hygiene standards.Other aspects of the dairying system – such as beef-calf management and revenue – could also be enhanced signiﬁcantly by taking advantage of off-farm expertise in pursuing marginal gains. Changes made by two dairy businesses – one based in Cheshire and the other in Shropshire – have reduced overall workloads and freed up more time to concentrate What’s the similarity between managing a team of professional cyclists and a high-performance dairy herd? The answer is that the better you become, the harder it is to ﬁnd large-scale improvements.Back in 2003, GB cycling could be described as low- to mid-table among elite international teams, and won four medals – two gold, one silver and one bronze – in 16 events in Athens at the 2004 Olympics. But just four years later in 2008, the medal tally in Beijing was 400% higher at 14, including eight golds. And this was not entirely due to a generation of ultra-gifted riders.In 2003, Dave Brailsford was appointed team manager and he was the origin of 2008’s Olympic triumph. In 2010, he became the leader of Team Sky and two years Beef-cross calf-rearing decisions are resulting in assured, high-value sales for two dairy businesses and freeing up time to focus on cow management.TEXT PHIL CHRISTOPHERMarginal gains oer long-term improvements40YOUNGSTOCK BEEFCROSS CALVEScowmanagement MARCH 2025

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Delivering top-tier nutrition from day one, Volac Milk Replacers’ formulas set calves on the path to success, ensuring strong growth, enhanced fertility, and superior milk production down the line. Feed for Growth, your partner for performance.feedforgrowth.comVolac Milk Replacers Limited50 Fishers Lane, Orwell, Royston, Hertfordshire SG8 5QX, UK +44 (0) 1223 206207 | orders@feedforgrowth.com | feedforgrowth.com Feed for Growth® is a trademark of Volac Milk Replacers Limited. Copyright ©2025YOUR PARTNER FOR PERFORMANCEGB Start strong finish stronger-ad (134mm(H) x 190mm(W)_AW.indd 1GB Start strong finish stronger-ad (134mm(H) x 190mm(W)_AW.indd 1 13/01/2025 16:4213/01/2025 16:4241cowmanagement MARCH 2025on cow management while, at the same time, securing assured and fair values for high-quality beef-cross calves.At Worth Partners’ 400-cow unit, based near Congleton, the calving jack has seen little action recently, and what better indication could there be that the unit’s dry-cow management and sire selection are gold standard?Around 10 years ago, sexed semen was introduced and is now used on between 30 and 40 of the best performing cows and on all maiden heifers.Beef crossesCalving ease is a signiﬁcant factor when selecting black-and-white and Brown Swiss sires to breed replacement heifers. But a more recent change at Worth Partners about three years ago was to begin using male sexed semen to maximise the income stream from ‘high-value, low-risk’ beef-cross calves. The chosen breed is Longhorn and calves are sold on contract to Buitelaar, for its dairy-herd-to-ﬁne-dining production system. This superseded chasing high auction prices, often unsuccessfully, with Belgian Blue-cross calves, according to James Worth. “Too many only survived birth with help from the calving aid,” he says.All the sires he uses are selected from Buitelaar’s approved list for gestation length, easy calving, calf vigour, high growth rates and, ultimately, eating quality. The Worth’s Longhorn sweeper bull – used on cows and maiden heifers after three unsuccessful AI attempts – has also been screened for genetic merit.Calf average birth weight is now between 45kg and 48kg. “And they are the easiest calves we’ve ever reared,” says James. “The Longhorn is a robust breed and calves are pretty much bombproof,” he adds.At the Morris family’s Shropshire-based all-grass unit, Alison Morris makes similar observations about the business’ ﬁrst batch of 30 Longhorn-dairy crosses: “We saw zero assisted calvings, and calves are enthusiastic feeders and have lively temperaments from birth making them a pleasure to rear,” she says.The Longhorn-cross is set to supersede Angus for use on most cows outside the 140-cow pedigree herd’s top-ﬂight replacement heifer dams. Alison’s husband Nigel and their two daughters help run and manage the herd, with part-time help from Michelle Hanley. Buitelaar collects calves from all its contracted dairy herds on a weekly basis, at a minimum of 55kg and 14 days old, and they are moved to one of its specialist rearing units. On both the Worth Partners’ and Morris family’s units, calves are fed four litres of milk twice a day, which sees most achieve a daily liveweight gain of at least 1kg. So they are easily able to reach company’s contracted minimum liveweight for calves. Open book pricing means that herds supplying calves to the company know in advance what they’ll be paid. Both businesses report prompt seven-working-day payment, which makes budgeting calf income easy. And both units are rearing calves for fewer weeks each year, allowing them to spend more time focusing on cow management. |

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42 cowmanagement MARCH 2025YOUNGSTOCK COLOSTRUM POINTERSTEXT RACHAEL PORTERpurpose behind it – it’s more likely to be done and also done well,” she says.So, with that in mind, how much colostrum should producers aim to feed the newborn calf and how should it be done? Birth weight“How much depends on the size or breed of the calf. Feeding between 10% and 12% of birth weight is the target. This would be at least four litres for a 40kg Holstein heifer calf, but as much as six litres for a ‘beeﬁer’ cross-bred male calf weighing 60kg. So weigh a few representative calves at birth now and again to make sure colostrum feed rates stay on track,” says Dr Denholm.With the larger beef-cross calves in mind, six litres is a lot of colostrum for a single feed. So that could be split. “Providing the ﬁrst colostrum feed is within the ﬁrst six hours of life, it’s ﬁne to split the daily feed. Three litres as a ﬁrst feed followed by a second three-litre feed within 12 hours of birth works well here. In fact it is preferable to not to give it all in one feed because giving a large volume could ‘ﬂood’ the calf’s gut and cause Producers and calf rearers are well versed in colostrum protocols and the targets that should be met when it comes to the ﬁve Qs – quantity, quality, quantify, quick and sQueaky clean. But there’s still room for improvement on many units.A more detailed look at why these parameters are so important may focus minds, according to Glasgow University-based vet Katie Denholm, whose research looks into colostrum and how it’s metabolised by the young calf.“Like anything, it always helps to understand why it’s important to do something a certain way rather than just stating ‘do this’ without further explanation. If something makes sense – and there’s more meaning or Colostrum quality and time, particularly when it comes to harvesting and feeding, are key to maximising immunoglobulin transfer and protecting calf health. We spoke to a specialist vet to ﬁnd out more.Need for SpeedKatie Denholm:“Harvested colostrum’s bacterial count doubles every 30 minutes”42 cowmanagement MARCH 2025

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43cowmanagement MARCH 2025Fusion Dairy FeedsSustainable High Performing FeedSINCE 2021• The Fusion range features high quality ingredients with high by-pass nutrients and varying protein levels to suit a range of dairy feeding systems.• Ultra Pro-R is a high-quality vegetable protein which, as a result of precise treatment of rapeseed meal, contains a high level of DUP.• Ultra Starch-W, a protected wheat, aids rumen health to achieve feed utilisation, reducing the rate of ‘quick zz’ in the rumen preventing a pH drop.• Formulated utilising 90% British and/or European sourced raw materials helping to reduce agriculture’s carbon footprint, keeping raw material provenance in mind. • Manufactured at UFAS accredited NWF feed mills in Cheshire, Cumbria and Devon.The NWF Fusion Dairy feed range excludes soya, soya hulls and palm kernel. An efcient and cost-effective feed range for early lactation and high yielding cows.Scan for NWFDairy BulletinGet in touch for feed and expertise0800 756 2787www.nwfagriculture.co.ukSupports animals during scouring, as an eective oral rehydration therapy.It can also be used proactively to support calves and lambs that are potentially at risk of stress or infection e.g. • if slow to suckle• weaning or feed change• from handling and transportation • when in contact with other scouring animals.Rehydion is an oral rehydration therapy gel that provides sucient essential electrolytes to correct acidosis and still allows continued milk feeding (when given at the recommended levels), as it does not disturb milk clot formation or delay abomasal emptying1.REFERENCE: 1. Constable 2009. Comparative eects of two oral rehydration solutions on milk clotting, abomasal luminal pH and abomasal emptying rate in suckling calves. J. Dairy Sci 92:296-312. For further information visit ruminants.ceva.co.ukCeva Animal Health Ltd, Explorer House, Mercury Park, Wooburn Green, Buckinghamshire, HP10 0HH. Tel: 01628 334 056 www.ceva.co.ukWhat farmers tell us:“We have used Rehydion successfully for many years. It is easy to administer as it can be diluted in milk, which means there is no interruption to milk feeding.”

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XXXXX XXXXX44 cowmanagement MARCH 2025YOUNGSTOCK COLOSTRUM POINTERSoptimum colostrum feeding window, in terms of gut permeability to absorb IgG, will also be well and truly closed at that point. So quick really does mean quick – there’s no time to waste.”That said, practicality does need to come into it. “Setting a target of both harvesting and feeding the colostrum within that six-hour window means producers can be assured that they are, on the whole, feeding good-quality colostrum and within the newborn calf’s optimal timeframe. Colostrum ‘degradation’“But understanding how colostrum ‘degrades’ and why time is important does help to focus minds and encourages a speedy approach. Keep in mind that if colostrum harvest and feeding is delayed for more than six hours this may impact both colostrum quality and calf immunity,” says Dr Denholm.Another issue can be where producers race to milk the dam to harvest colostrum, but then let it sit in a bucket. The bacterial count of colostrum will double every 30 minutes, so it’s important to harvest it and then feed it straight away, where at all possible. “Standing colostrum can very quickly become a soup of bacteria.”Dr Denholm cites New Zealand and Scotland-based trial work (the latter was completed by her and her colleague Ali Haggerty this year) where the bacterial count was close to zero at the point of colostrum harvest and by day three it was in excess of 500 million colony-forming units per millilitre of colostrum. “And keep in mind also that some of the bacteria will be pathogenic and even the more benign ones will impact the effectiveness of the IgGs in the colostrum. The bacteria break apart the IgGs in the colostrum, which stops their uptake by the calf. So speed is of the essence when it comes to feeding colostrum for myriad reasons.”Time, again, can also impact the calf’s ability to absorb IGs. At birth, its intestinal wall is open and permeable to IgGs, but this gradually declines and the cells that absorb immunoglobulins begin to ‘shut down’. “So it all knits together and speed – and good hygiene – really are key when it comes to ensuring that calves can absorb plenty of IgGs from top-quality colostrum.” |bloat and discomfort. Not the best start in life.”After colostrum – be it one or two split feeds – many producers move straight to a milk replacer. But research has highlighted the beneﬁts of feeding ‘transition’ milk for the ﬁrst few days of life. “This essentially mimics what would happen in nature. But there’s some science behind it too,” she says.Transition milk is produced by the dam for the ﬁrst few days post calving, and when fed to calves for the ﬁve days after colostrum feeding it offers health and growth beneﬁts. Testing transition milk immunoglobulin (IgG) revealed that although there is a decrease in levels compared to colostrum, it is still really high – at about 15% using a Brix refractometer compared to 22% for ﬁrst colostrum. “On a sliding scale, compared to whole milk, it’s well worth feeding transition milk to the young calf.”Ticking clockTime is, of course, of the essence when feeding colostrum. “The clock starts ticking from the moment the cow begins to calve. The colostrum quality is typically at its peak while still in the dam’s udder, prior to calving. Once she calves and certainly within an hour of calving, the quality, or IgG level, begins to decline – rapidly.“So it’s important to take the colostrum quickly to ensure it’s at least 22% on the Brix scale. Keep in mind that its IgG level typically falls at a rate of 3.7% on the Brix scale per hour after calving. So waiting for 12 hours, for example, to milk the calved cow will be a colostrum ‘disaster’. Never mind the fact that the calf’s Liquid gold: colostrum harvesting and feeding requires a ‘speedy’ approach● Between 10% and 12% of birth weight fed ideally in ﬁrst six hours of life (or 12 hours if split feeding larger calves).● Timing of colostrum harvest is crucial – IgG levels will decline in the udder at a rate of 3.7% per hour after calving. ● Avoid leaving harvested colostrum standing. Bacterial count will increase rapidly and IgGs are degraded by bacterial contamination, preventing the calf from absorbing them.● The calf’s gut’s ability to absorb IgG also begins to decline immediately after birth and is closed by 24 hours old.‘Quick’ colostrum feeding guideAre your dairy cows getting the mineral nutrition they deserve?Maxcare minerals and packs are expertly balanced with Selko IntelliBond minerals and no sulphate and oxide sources to optimise health and productivity.Why chooseSelko IntelliBond?• Reduces carbon footprint*• Improved fibre digestibility for a healthy rumen environment• High bioavailability for maximal trace mineral delivery• Healthier, more productive animalsFor more information visit trouwnutrition.co.uk/maxcare* Replacement of sulphates with IntelliBond has been shown throughLCA to have the potential to reduce kg CO2eq/Kg ECM by up to 2%.4720-02 Maxcare ad_DAIRY A4.indd 14720-02 Maxcare ad_DAIRY A4.indd 1 27/01/2025 11:4327/01/2025 11:43

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being grouped and moved into one of 12 igloos, each accommodating 14 head. Groups are then reduced to eight animals per igloo after weaning to give the growing calves more space to grow.Then, as they mature, they are moved onto straw yards in an adjacent building where they remain until they calve and join the milking herd, or leave the unit as fattened beef cattle.Future success“Irrespective of whether it’s a beef or dairy animal, each calf is key to the future success of the herd, so they’re managed on an equal footing to ensure they have the best opportunity to reach their full potential,” says Andrea.She adds that it takes three years of hard work for each generation of calves to hit the ground. “It’s always disappointing to see a sick calf or a heifer that isn’t up to One of the ﬁrst UK-based units to use a system to provide 24/7 monitoring of its youngstock, to detect any developing health or welfare issues in pre- and post-weaned calves, is seeing myriad beneﬁts.Lancashire-based Myerscough College’s mixed farm comprises a 200-cow dairy unit, as well as rearing facilities for 240 beef cattle and 1,000 sheep.The dairy herd, managed by Andrea Gardner and Michael Dewhurst, is milked through three Lely robots, which also monitor the milking herd’s milk yield and lactation status. Collar tags, based on MSD Animal Health’s SenseHub technology, are also used to monitor fertility and rumination.“The insights the robots give us in terms of each animal’s performance and fertility have improved the effectiveness of herd-management decisions,” says Andrea. “All cattle, from ﬁrst-time calvers through to mature cows, are monitored around the clock, and this means we always know if or when there’s a problem. But, until recently, we’ve been unable to use the same technology to monitor calves and youngstock.”The unit has now installed a youngstock monitoring system that also allows the management team to keep a closer eye on the entire herd, from birth right through to the end of their ﬁnal lactation.Newborn calves are housed in pairs in hutches before One college unit is demonstrating the myriad beneﬁts of adopting youngstock monitoring tech to support life-long, whole-herd health and fertility management.TEXT PAUL JENNINGSLife-long close monitoring begins at birth47cowmanagement MARCH 2025YOUNGSTOCK MONITORING TECHMichael Dewhurst: “We can monitor youngstock while we’re o site”

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XXXXX XXXXX48 cowmanagement MARCH 2025YOUNGSTOCK MONITORING TECHappropriate course of action,” adds MichaelThe app sends two classiﬁcations of health alert, indicating how severely the highlighted animal has deviated from its ‘normal’ activity levels and behavioural patterns.“How we respond to health alerts depends on the severity of the symptoms,” he explains. “For low level alerts, where the deviation from typical behaviour is relatively minor, we’ll visually inspect the calf and take its temperature to determine if any further action is required. Respiratory rate“In more serious cases we’ll also monitor the calf’s respiratory rate. Usually, any laboured or excessive breathing will be due to pneumonia, so we’ll use a calf coat to keep the animal warm and administer non-steroidal anti-inﬂammatory pain relief. That’s usually enough to help the calf recover on its own, but we’ll always keep an eye on it in case any additional treatment is required.”The other main cause for health alerts is scour, which typically occurs within the ﬁrst six days after birth. “We also see some scour in older calves, but we’re seeing fewer severe cases now that we’re using monitoring system,” says Michael. “As soon as the app highlights a problem, we’re able to immediately check if the calf is eating and drinking properly and treat accordingly. We’re administering more NSAIDs as a result but, at the same time, we’re also using fewer antibiotics.”As well as monitoring calf health, the tags are also used to detect heats. “We can tell the AI tech when each maiden heifer came into heat for the ﬁrst time and how many times she has cycled so that an informed decision can be made about when she is ready to be served. This helps us to maintain a ﬂat calving proﬁle, which is all-important when milking through a robotic system.“Being able to monitor every animal from birth enables us to focus on those calves and heifers that need a bit of extra support,” adds Michael. “Over time, that will translate to higher fertility rates, better milk yields, and a more sustainable herd.” |scratch. So we’re doing everything possible to improve the health and welfare of all our youngstock. “As well as being the right thing to do both ethically and ﬁnancially, this approach also makes farming more rewarding. It’s good to see each and every animal successfully progressing through the system.”Since August 2024, every calf born at the unit, based near Preston, is ﬁtted with a SenseHub Youngstock ear tag as soon as possible after birth. With four staff involved in managing the herd and youngstock, it’s vital to keep accurate records so that everyone is kept up to date, according to Michael. “From colostrum feeding and group changes, through to health incidents and vet intervention, everything is accurately logged so that regardless of who is on shift, the whole team knows exactly what has been or has to be done,” he says.Health index“As well as a handwritten diary and computer records, we also use the app to assess each calf’s health index and to determine if any problems are ‘brewing’.“Our primary goal is to reduce antibiotic use by reducing stress and removing sources of infection. We’re routinely vaccinating against key diseases, such as pneumonia and scour, but monitoring and visual inspections are still essential to ensure nothing has been missed,” adds Michael.“The graphs and alerts that the app sends to our phones help us to spot problems before any visible symptoms have developed. This allows us to react more quickly to any developing situations. “The app also supports less-experienced staff, highlighting when something isn’t quite right. And it allows Andrea and I to monitor youngstock population while we’re off site or in meetings.”Minimising calf mortality rates and reducing heifer age at ﬁrst calving are also key targets for the team. “The system has already proven its worth through providing early warnings of potential problems, but it can’t diagnose what the cause of the issues may be. So we still need to use our own intuition and stockmanship skills to make an accurate diagnosis and implement an Smartphone app: alerts mean team can react quickly to developing health issues

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50 cowmanagement MARCH 2025YOUNGSTOCK CALFREARING ROADSHOWTEXT PHIL EADES“We know considerably more about how to tailor the diets of pre-weaned calves to unlock their potential for long-term productivity and survivability,” he said. The Trouw Nutrition Lifestart programme continues to highlight evidence-based practices, which are implemented on farm and can have a signiﬁcant impact of growth and performance. These are built on a better understanding of calf requirements and the most important KPIs for efﬁcient heifer rearing.”Growth-rate potentialDr Brown suggested that the traditional approach to calf rearing was to move them off milk as quickly as possible because CMR was more expensive than other feeds. “But we now know that to capitalise on the superior growth-rate potential of pre-weaned calves it is important and cost-effective to keep calves on higher feed rates of milk for longer,” he said. “This increases energy intakes because milk is the most effective energy source for these calves.“Increasing milk and energy intakes not only helps the calf to grow more quickly but it also supports the development of key organs. And it has a huge impact on gastrointestinal tract development.”Dr Brown explained that calves fed on a higher plane of nutrition through milk solids have been shown to be Successful calf rearing forms the foundations of sustainable dairy businesses and, as such, it’s an area where there has been considerable investment in developments and innovations that support producers who are striving to improve calf health and welfare, reduce age at ﬁrst calving, and cut the carbon footprint of heifer rearing.Today’s calf milk replacers (CMRs) are very different from those fed 20 years ago and research is continuing to shape knowledge and understanding around efﬁcient calf nutrition.Speaking at a calf-rearing roadshow organised by Trouw Nutrition GB, and sponsored by MSD animal health and SCCL, Trouw Nutrition GB’s Aaron Brown said that he appreciated that calf rearing is not easy and is expensive, and that there must be a demonstrable return on any investment.A recent roadshow introduced producers to the latest developments in calf rearing and the beneﬁts they oer to pre-weaned calves.Feed more milk and check its componentsAaron Brown:“Feeding more milk maximises daily energy intakes”

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Figure 1: Whole milk macronutrients compared to traditional calf milk replacerFigure 2: Intestinal development after ﬁve weeks – the villi are longer, oering a greater absorptive area51cowmanagement MARCH 2025better able to recover from many disease challenges both pre- and immediately post-weaning. “These calves also had better fertility performance when they entered the milking herd after calving, with increased survivability.”However, while calves will readily consume more than eight litres of milk replacer per day, market research shows that 65% of farms were still feeding six litres per day or less. This is partly due to concerns about cost and achieving sufﬁcient dry feed intakes at weaning to promote rumen development.“Rather than having a negative impact on dry feed intakes, feeding more milk maximises daily energy intakes and this must be a priority in calf-rearing systems. Solid feed intake is negligible in the ﬁrst three weeks of life, whether calves are on ad-lib or restricted-milk feeding systems,” he added. “The key to achieving sufﬁcient starter intakes in calves fed elevated levels of milk is the feed curve and weaning management. Gradual weaning allows unrestricted milk feeding to be implemented during early life and to then rapidly accelerate solid feed intake.”Dr Brown also emphasised the need to examine CMR formulations, stressing that the closer a milk replacer is to cows’ milk the better for the calf. Most CMRs have lower protein and fat content than cows’ milk, but higher lactose (see Figure 1). “Increasing fat in milk replacer should be a priority because fat is the highest energy component of milk and increasing fat will increase ME/kgDM.”Energised Calf Milks are formulated to be closer to cows’ milk, with higher fat and protein contents, to better meet calf requirements.Full picture “The label on the bag will contain some basic information but not the full picture,” said Dr Brown. “Low fat and protein intakes will mean lower levels of amino acids and energy, which will compromise growth and development. High ﬁbre or high lactose should be a cause for concern, particularly if ﬁbre is greater than 0.05%.”Increasing the volume of milk fed and the energy content can play a signiﬁcant part in boosting energy intakes, producing better developed and more robust calves at weaning. Delegates were told that new research shows there are big beneﬁts to be realised by looking more closely at the makeup of cows’ milk, particularly milk fat.Trouw Nutrition’s Georgina Thomas stressed the importance of understanding whole milk in more detail. She said no component in milk is there by chance and each has a key role to play, many of them signalling speciﬁc aspects of calf development.“The fat in bovine milk contains more than 400 different fatty acids, making it one of the most complex fats in nature,” she explained. “Fat composition is crucial to calf development. When we compare whole milk with the vegetable fat blends typically used in calf milk replacer there are some signiﬁcant differences. Vegetable-based fats are missing the shorter chain fatty acids, meaning the overall fat is unbalanced and deﬁcient compared to cows’ milk.”Ms Thomas added that these shorter chain acids offer multiple beneﬁts to the calf. Most signiﬁcantly they play a key role in the development of the rumen and gastrointestinal tract, helping make calves more resilient and less prone to scours. The challenge has been how to supplement milk replacers effectively because the two common methods both have drawbacks, impacting palatability and having a strong smell.Ms Thomas explained that a fatty-acid product, LactoFat Pro successfully overcomes these issues, meaning milk replacers containing it will provide a more complete fatty acid proﬁle. This product is available in Milkivit ONE Energized Calf Milk.Bovine milk“Trials conﬁrm the beneﬁts of feeding a fatty acid proﬁle that more closely resembles that of bovine milk,” she said. “The biggest difference is in the development of the gastrointestinal tract. The villi, the absorptive area in the gut, were longer and more developed. This means there was a bigger surface area for absorbing nutrients.”Improved gut integrity plays a vital role in protecting calves against scours. Feeding Milkivit ONE compared to a traditional Energized Calf Milk was shown to reduce the incidence of scours. And calves fed Milkivit ONE required fewer treatment days and had a reduced risk of mortality.LactoFat Pro has also been shown to improve rumen development, meaning calves are better placed to move onto solid feed. “They consume 26% more starter feed during the milk-feeding period when fed milk replacer ad lib,” said Ms Thomas. “The combination of a greater intake of a higher-energy milk replacer and solid feed intake increase overall energy for faster growing, stronger and more robust calves.” |Typical macronutrient proﬁlewhole milk milk replacerlactose protein ash otherfatIntestinal development after ﬁve weekscontrol group Milkivit ONE

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52 cowmanagement MARCH 2025YOUNGSTOCK MILK FEEDINGTEXT LAURA BOWYERchallenge; better ability to eliminate E coli one month after weaning; enhanced resistance when exposed to Salmonella one month post weaning; lower levels of inﬂammation and fewer signs of clinical disease; and reduced risk of disease from non-nutritive oral behaviours, such as licking and sucking.Milk replacerCalf milk replacers (CMRs) provide not only fats, proteins and carbohydrate, but also vitamins, minerals and antibodies. All are required for calf health, growth and immunity.In terms of energy concentration, fat is the most energy-dense nutrient in CMR, followed by protein and carbohydrate, which is typically found in the form of lactose. There has been a shift towards CMRs with higher fat and slightly lower lactose content, to maximise energy supply and support higher growth rates. Dairy ingredients, such as skim milk and whey, are the primary protein sources in CMRs. The choice of a skim- or whey-based milk replacer is down to individual Management and the environment can have a greater impact on the long-term health of calves than genetics, so it’s important to focus on getting them off to a good start to ensure future productivity. So says ForFarmers’ Peter Whittal-Williams, adding that young calves initially use energy to meet basic needs, and any surplus is used for growth. Calves that receive a higher level of nutrition, particularly milk solids, are more resilient to challenges. They will, for example, exhibit: improved hydration and faecal consistency after a cryptosporidium Rearing healthy youngstock is key to establishing a thriving and proﬁtable herd. We look at the important factors for successful calf rearing and feeding practices.Milk-feeding tips for top performancePeter Whittal-Williams:“Increase feeding levels closer to calf’s natural intake”

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53cowmanagement MARCH 2025Table 1: Mixing guide for dierent methods of calf feedingCalf-growth: optimising feeding maximises DLWGsproducers, but it’s important to remember that there are differences in the way the types of milk replacer are digested by the calf. CMRs based on skim milk contain casein, which will form a clot and then be slowly digested. Powders based on whey do not form a clot in the stomach and are more readily digested and absorbed. Both types of milk powder can be used successfully, but if choosing a skim milk-based powder, it needs to contain at least 25% casein for formation of the clot.The choice of ingredients is important and so is the manufacturing process. Milk products are sensitive to temperature and so the way skim- and whey-based products are spray dried, and the degree to which fats are homogenised, will impact their solubility, stability, absorption and, ultimately, calf growth rates. “Our low-temperature processing preserves natural bioactives and maintains the integrity of valuable proteins,” says Mr Whittal-Williams. Higher volumesTraditional feeding practices have often limited the volume of milk replacer fed due to concerns about overloading the abomasum, which could in turn lead to digestive upsets. With careful management, consistent feeding practices, and good-quality CMRs the quantity of milk fed can be increased to support higher growth rates. Research shows that for every 100g of average daily liveweight gain during the ﬁrst two months of a dairy heifer’s life, an additional 225kg of milk can be produced during the ﬁrst lactation.But care should be given when feeding higher levels of CMR, in terms of quantity and concentration, due to the potential for higher levels of lactose to draw water across a concentration gradient – a term referred to as osmolarity. “Lower osmolality also helps to balance water levels, which can reduce the risk of gastrointestinal issues like scours and bloat. This creates an opportunity to increase feeding levels closer to a calf’s natural intake,” explains Mr Whittal-Williams.Whether feeding a skim- or whey-based CMR, there are some important pointers to remember to give calves the best start in life. Weigh out CMR accurately, using a set of scales and a clean jug or scoop. “And for producers using automated feeding systems, the recommendation is to calibrate the machine to feed at a concentration of between 140g and Method based on mixing 10 litres of milk with 180 grammes of powder per litre. ● Add ﬁve litres of hot (between 40OC and 45OC) water to the bucket.● Add 1.8kg of milk powder to the water and mix.● Add the remaining 3.2 litres of water.● Feed the calf with the milk at 38OC and 40OC.CMR mixing protocolquantity of milk replacer (g)quantity of warm water (ml)total (l)standard twice-a-day feeding140g 860ml one litreadvanced twice-a-day feeding180g 820ml one litread-lib feeding 140g 860ml one litre180g to mix one litre of milk, depending on whether a standard or advanced feeding system is in use,” he adds.Calves should be fed no more than 6.25% of their body weight in one feed. For example, a 40-kilogramme calf should be fed no more than three litres per feed initially, and ideally be fed three times per day if the system and resources allow.“The highest growth rates in early life can be achieved when feeding up to 1,260g of milk replacer per day, but this needs to be split across at least three feeds per day when mixed at a rate of 140g per litre,” says Mr Whittal-Williams. “Once calves can drink three litres per feed they have the ability to consume 1,080g of milk replacer per day in two feeds when mixed at a rate of 180g per litre.“It is important to feed the milk replacer at the correct temperature of between 38OC and 40OC. If mixing manually then monitor the temperature, with a thermometer, because feeding milk that is too hot or cold can cause digestive issues and potentially lead to scours.“Consistency is key when feeding CMRs,” he adds. “Feeding milk at the correct temperature, at a consistent mixing rate, and feeding calves at the same time each day will all help to ensure that calves get off to the best possible start and set them up for a healthy and productive life.” |

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54 cowmanagement MARCH 2025YOUNGSTOCK INGREDIENT SOURCINGTEXT PHIL EADESpotential feed conversion efﬁciency and growth potential that they will ever have,” she says. “So exploiting this potential represents a huge opportunity to ensure that calves get off to the best possible start and are well-grown and ‘robust’ at weaning.Organ development “It is also the time when the development of key organs, including the heart, liver and mammary tissue, begins. The majority of organ development occurs within the ﬁrst 50 days of life, so providing optimal nutrients during this crucial window will result in superior mammary gland development. “This, in turn, increases future milk yield potential. Trial work has shown that for every additional kilogramme of pre-weaning weight gain, ﬁrst-lactation milk yield increased by 1,550kg,” says Miss Freeston. “It may be that costs are higher, but the return will be signiﬁcant.”The key objectives of calf nutrition are to maximise nutrient intakes while ensuring the highest potential Selecting the correct milk replacer is crucial for efﬁcient calf rearing and, with that in mind, it pays to challenge claims made my manufacturers and suppliers, and to carry out due diligence to ensure the product chosen is going to the best for calves – and the future of the herd.So says TBA’s Mollie Freeston, adding that the pre-weaning phase is the most critical period in the entire heifer-rearing process, because it establishes the foundation for future growth and development.“During the pre-weaned period, calves have the highest ‘Homework’ on calf milk replacers, to ensure maximum nutrient uptake, can pay myriad dividends. We spoke to a nutritionist to ﬁnd out more.Ask questions about CMR ingredients and osmolalityMollie Freeston:“Milk powder must be fed at the correct concentration”

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Calf growth: select a CMR to maximise DLWGs55cowmanagement MARCH 2025digestibility to ensure the calf can make the best use of the nutrients consumed. But Miss Freeston warns that calf milk replacers (CMRs) vary in key factors that affect digestibility and, therefore, performance. “All CMRs are not equal and it is vital to look beyond the label. “Before committing to a particular milk replacer, producers should do their homework,” she adds. “Research the products and challenge the supplier to provide additional information to help inform purchasing decisions. “They should be able to tell you if the product is skim or whey based, the size of fat globules, energy levels and energy sources, and whether ingredients are from plant or dairy sources, or a combination of both.”“Feeding a CMR that is not readily digested will compromise performance and increase the cost per kilogramme of liveweight gain, as nutrients are fed but not used.”Miss Freeston stresses that all fats and proteins are not the same. “Fats are made up of a blend of fatty acids, some of which calves are unable to digest for several weeks. While calves can digest milk fat from day one of life, other fat sources can not be digested until they are up to six weeks old. These include fats from soya, linseed and rapeseed.Protein digestibility“Long-chain fatty acids, which are found in vegetable sources, are more difﬁcult for calves to digest for several weeks. So avoid calf milk replacers containing ingredients such as soya and rapeseed.” One milk powder range that meets this is TBA Britannia Advanced ECM, which contains 100% milk protein and ensures that calves are able to digest the liquid diet.“In simple terms, when looking to optimise calf growth and health, the closer a milk replacer is to cows’ milk, the better it will be for the calf.”A key factor impacting digestibility and calf performance is osmolality, which is a measure of the concentration of particles in solution in a liquid and is calculated by adding the concentration of sugars, such as lactose, and minerals, including sodium, magnesium and chloride. “When a feed with high osmolality is fed it can result in damage to the gut wall, predisposing calves to scours and reducing feed conversion and growth,” says Miss Freeston. “The higher the osmolality, the more damaging a feed can be to gut integrity.” Calf milk replacers mixed at higher concentrations, or milk replacers with high levels of minerals and lactose, tend to have higher osmolality. This can be a particular problem where lactose rather than fat is used as the primary energy source because this increases the risk of nutritional scour. “To have the correct osmolality, any milk powder must be fed at the correct concentration as stated by the manufacturer,” she adds.The osmolality of cows’ milk is close to 300mOsm/kg, which is optimal for the absorption and digestion of nutrients by calves. Britannia Advanced Energized Calf Milk is formulated to have an osmolality of 350mOsm/kg when mixed at the correct concentration. “But many traditional milk replacers have levels between 400 and 600mOsm/kg, increasing the risk of damage to the gut wall – particularly when mixed at high concentrations.” Skimmed milk-based replacers are more effectively digested than whey-based products. But the digestibility of skimmed milk is affected by the processing method, meaning it is important to ask how the skim was processed. “High-heat treatment, for example, can denature protein making it less digestible. And different drying processes can result in different-sized fat globules. For optimum digestibility fat globules should be no bigger than two microns,” says Miss Freeston.Check researchIn addition to requesting more information about the ingredients and digestibility of the milk replacer, she urges producers to take the time to look at the research supporting the product and its formulation. “Ask for details of independent, peer-reviewed research along with any farm trials that have been carried out.”Britannia, which is a True Advanced Energized milk replacer is supported by both scientiﬁc studies and six years of on-farm growth data. This is backed by extensive research from the Trouw Nutrition LifeStart programme, an evidence-based best practice programme related to the critical period in the ﬁrst months of life. LifeStart accredited guidelines for calf milk replacers ensure the nutritional and physical parameters are carefully considered to satisfy calf requirements.“Producers only have one chance to get calves off to the best possible start, and this is why it is so important to choose a proven milk replacer with a research-proven formulation containing the optimum balance of digestible nutrients. This is the time to invest in the future of the herd. “Challenging suppliers to give full details of ingredients and osmolality, and to provide details of the research supporting the formulation should be an integral part of product selection,” adds Miss Freeston. |

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SUSTAINABILITY FOCUSIt is possible to reduce emissions in a range of ways and when it comes to forage production, this starts with seed selection. With this in mind, Germinal has launched forage mixtures that will make it easier for producers to select seed to reduce emissions and meet environmental targets while protecting grass and forage production.The Climate Smart ranges, called CLEAN, THRIVE, ADAPT, CAPTURE and RESTORE, are seed mixtures, containing grazing and cutting grass and clover and herb varieties, that deliver environmental beneﬁts to help producers meet net-zero targets while building greater plant resilience against the effects of climate change and maintaining proﬁtability.“During the next 40 years, the UN predicts that farmers must produce as much food as they have during the past 1,000 years,” says Germinal’s Paul Billings. “Food producers will play a vital role in securing supplies, but farming is also central to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and tackling climate change.”He says that in the face of these challenges, how food is produced will change. “Climate Smart is about growing the ‘right’ crops in the ‘right’ places. These grass-seed mixtures will make it easier for producers to select the best varieties for their speciﬁc needs while, at the same time, helping the industry to meet food production targets, lower environmental impacts, and adapt to changing weather patterns with improved crop resilience.“Producers have to build sustainable herds and businesses for future generations that can remain Reduce emissions and protect grass and forage outputPaul Billings:“Mixtures support production and reduce emissions”57cowmanagement MARCH 2025A range of seed mixtures has been launched that oer increased performance, as well as helping to meet climate-change mitigation targets.p60 | Replacing soya and protecting herd productivity is possible p63 | Micro-AD plants oer sustainable slurry options for small-scale unitsTEXT RHIAN PRICEFocused on nutritionWant to know more?Holmes Chapel: 01477 536300 |Preston: 01772 206200 Email: info@masseyfeeds.co.ukQHS Range@masseyfeeds @masseyfeeds @massey_feeds @masseyfeedsFacebook “f” Logo CMYK / .eps Facebook “f” Logo CMYK / .eps@masseyfeeds @masseyfeeds @massey_feeds @masseyfeeds@masseyfeeds @masseyfeeds @massey_feeds @masseyfeeds

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58 cowmanagement MARCH 2025SUSTAINABILITY FORAGE MIXTURESconditions. It includes a hybrid clover variety called DoubleRoot, which combines stolons and rhizomes.CAPTURE is a range containing atmospheric nitrogen-ﬁxing clovers that require fewer nutrient inputs, support improved nutrient efﬁciency and provide environmental and herd performance beneﬁts. This range is ideal for producers looking to reduce artiﬁcial nitrogen inputs and increase protein self-sufﬁciency. Future innovationsFuture plant breeding innovations being developed by Germinal Horizon will also be added to the ranges as they become available. These include the grazing-resistant red clover RedRunner, which allows cows to capture more protein under grazing conditions. Future varietal and on-farm system innovations being developed as part of the government-funded Nitrogen Utilisation Efﬁciency-Legume (NUE-Leg) Project will also be incorporated into the Climate Smart range. A speciﬁc objective of the NUE-Leg project is to use new clovers to help producers maximise atmospheric nitrogen ﬁxation, which could be as much as 300kg of nitrogen per hectare per year.“It’s important to continually look ahead to anticipate the proﬁtability and environmental challenges that producers are facing now and in the future,” adds Germinal’s Ben Wixey. “Plant breeding already holds the key to unlocking the solutions producers need to build sustainable dairy businesses, and there are more variety and grass and forage mixture developments in the pipeline.” |proﬁtable, produce food and reduce emissions.”Each Climate Smart range offers beneﬁts – from reducing GHG emissions and fertiliser use, through to improving soil health and biodiversity.CLEAN, for example, comprises varieties that produce higher levels of soluble carbohydrates (sugar). This range is ideal for dairy producers, for grazing and cutting, because it contains Aber high-sugar grasses. Trials show that these support milk yields and heifer growth, and also reduce ammonia and nitrous oxide emissions, because cattle can utilise more protein from grazing and forage. Environmental schemesRESTORE is a range tailored to meet the requirements of government-supported environmental schemes. These mixtures include multispecies varieties to meet various environmental scheme requirements, including the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) Scheme in England and Growing for the Environment in Wales.Climate Smart THRIVE, which contains grasses, herbs and Legumes, has been formulated to support soil health and improve biodiversity. Deeper rooting varieties, such as festulolium-hybrid DeepRoot, help to sustain grass production and performance. DeepRoot has been bred by crossing the North African fescue species Atlas with Aber high-sugar grasses to produce a festulolium-hybrid grass with the persistence and deep-rooting drought tolerance of Atlas fescue. Similarly, ADAPT comprises varieties with deeper roots and greater persistency that can survive volatile weather Ben Wixey: plant breeding holds the key to unlocking forage-sustainability solutions

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60 cowmanagement MARCH 2025SUSTAINABILITY REPLACING SOYATEXT PHIL EADEStheir country of origin, the formulation of the diet, and the efﬁciency with which cows are able to convert it into milk. Each of these represents an opportunity to evaluate the diet and feeding system to reduce emissions without compromising performance.”Dr Homer adds that by using a precision-nutrition approach, which can reduce the impact of feeds, improve feed and forage efﬁciency, and cut waste and emissions, it is possible to feed cows for lower emissions without squeezing margins. Quality foragesImprovements will start on-farm by making better quality forages and utilising them more effectively, but there are also signiﬁcant opportunities to reduce emissions from purchased ingredients.She emphasises the need to work with feed suppliers to understand the carbon footprint of all raw materials and how they contribute to the carbon footprint per litre of milk. “The country of origin of any ingredients being fed can account for between 85% and 90% of the Results from a major trial at University of Nottingham conﬁrm that removing soya from dairy diets can be achieved without compromising performance and can also make a signiﬁcant contribution to reducing emissions. Feed is a major contributor to dairy herd emissions, as well as being the biggest single cost of production, so it is a prime candidate when looking to improve overall system efﬁciency, according to Trouw Nutrition GB’s Liz Homer.“Feed contributes to emissions in many ways,” she says. “There is the total composition of the diet, the contribution of the individual ingredients including Soya-free rations can deliver both in terms of herd-nutrition requirements and performance, as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the carbon footprint of dairy herds.Is it time to look beyond soya?Liz Homer:“Processors are focusing on reducing soya use”

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Soya-free: switching ingredients without compromise is possible61cowmanagement MARCH 2025carbon footprint of every raw material used in animal feeds, with the balance made up from transport from the country of origin to the feed mill prior to compounding or inclusion in blends,” says Dr Homer.“For example, swapping soya and palm kernel associated with land-use change to a source without land-use change, but leaving inclusion rates the same would reduce the carbon footprint of a compound by almost 50% with no impact on nutritional speciﬁcation and only a marginal impact on cost. This reduction can also be achieved by reviewing nutrient supply and all ingredients in the diet.” By using a programme like Trouw Nutrition’s MyMilkPrint, producers are able to evaluate the choice of ingredients, their impact on production and cost of total ration, and what these changes do to the overall carbon footprint per kilogramme of fat-and-protein-corrected milk (FPCM).First-choice proteinDr Homer says a good example of changing the mindset on diets is soya. “For years this was the ‘go to’ ﬁrst-choice protein source, but now processors are focusing on reducing its usage in, or its total removal from, diets. “As a result, feed manufacturers are formulating diets with no soya that can deliver good results on-farm, meaning the whole chain beneﬁts. That said, the priority must always be to put production and cost ﬁrst when formulating diets and to avoid ‘tunnel vision’ when it comes to reducing carbon footprint.”The results of changing practice at farm level, in work carried out by Wynnstay, Trouw Nutrition, and the University of Nottingham, demonstrate the real opportunity to effectively move away from soya in dairy diets.The research, conducted using the University’s 400-cow Holstein Friesian herd, milked through seven Lely Astronaut A4 robots, resulted in a 4.8kg per day increase in milk per cow compared to 2023. And milk urea levels also dropped from 249mg/litre to 176mg/litre, signalling improved protein efﬁciency.The move was driven by the University’s goal of reducing farm emissions and improving its overall carbon footprint per kilogramme of FPCM, in line with its milk buyer’s requirements. Herd manager Nigel Armstrong says the University is focused on reducing emissions, both as a working farm and as a teaching facility. A range of approaches has been investigated, but reducing emissions related to feed was the highest priority.Wynnstay’s David Howard says that the diet reformulation, fully implemented in March 2024, involved a number of stages. The ﬁrst change was to rebalance the nutrients in the ration. Rolled barley was replaced with ground maize and a molasses product was switched for a time-release protein blend. In May 2024 the soya-based 18% robot compound was replaced with an amino-acid-balanced soya-free product. Mr Howard says cows must be fed crude protein to meet their requirements for amino acids. “By more closely meeting amino-acid requirements through supplementation with speciﬁc acids, overall crude protein can be reduced and this offers environmental and economic beneﬁts.”Finally, in July 2024, the rape:soya blend was replaced with a blend comprising rapeseed, distillers’, heat-treated rapeseed, and urea. The impact of the changes was that crude protein levels were reduced from 17.5% to 16.7%, and starch content increased from 18% to 22.5%. This further supported milk yield and fertility.Soya-free dietSince moving to a 100% soya-free diet, the herd has consistently outperformed previous production levels due to a better balance of nutrients. Forage intake increased by 14%, leading to a signiﬁcant boost in milk from forage. This contributed to a reduction in CO2e per kilogramme of milk produced of more than 10%, and a decrease in the dietary emissions per cow per day from 37kg CO2e to 21kg CO2e.Mr Howard stresses the importance of these ﬁndings for the wider industry. “We’ve proved that cows can thrive without soya in their diet, which is a huge step forward in reducing the carbon footprint of dairy production,” he says.“Our approach not only beneﬁts the environment, but also supports farm proﬁtability by increasing milk from home-grown forage. Results show that rethinking ration formulation with amino-acid precision can unlock efﬁciencies and deliver better results for both cows and the planet.”Looking ahead, the University of Nottingham team aims to exceed a milk yield from forage of 5,000kg per cow, and will focus on further reﬁning feeding strategies for ﬁrst-lactation heifers to maximise growth and efﬁciency. “This application, and thinking outside the box, demonstrates how innovative approaches in dairy nutrition can help close the gap even further,” added Mr Howard. |

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existing store, as it would be on a unit without an AD system. “The big advantage of this tech is that it easily ﬁts into existing slurry infrastructure with minimal disruption,” adds Mr Hague.Housed herdsSlurry-powered micro-AD plants are suitable for housed herds ranging from between 60 and 900 cows, typically generating between 11kW and 75kW of power. In comparison, large centralised AD plants tend to generate 250kW, or more. “The electricity produced can be used to power dairy operations and homes on-site, with any surplus exported to the National Grid, connections permitting,” adds Mr Hague. “Heat generated can also be used for domestic housing, parlours, or other farm buildings, depending on the farm’s requirements and infrastructure.”Rising input costs and volatile energy prices have Anaerobic digestion plants in the UK have been synonymous with large-scale operations, processing millions of tonnes of organic material to generate renewable energy. With around 650 operational anaerobic digestion (AD) plants across the country, the sector has played an important role in sustainability and decarbonisation efforts for many years. To date, the focus and incentivisation has largely been on centralised, industrial-scale facilities. But the beneﬁts of smaller-scale AD plants are beginning to be recognised by UK dairy producers as a viable option to reduce methane emissions and generate renewable energy.Unlike large-scale anaerobic digestion plants that require additional feedstocks, micro-AD plants are designed to work solely with slurry. “There are around 90 million tonnes of slurry produced on dairy units in the UK every year,” explains Gary Hague from micro-AD company Biolectric. “Micro-AD systems work by pumping slurry directly from the cow shed into a covered, circular stainless-steel digester, where bacteria break down the organic matter in an oxygen-free environment.”This process produces biogas, which is then puriﬁed and used to generate electricity and heat through a combined heat and power (CHP) unit. The slurry that has passed through the plant is then pumped onto the With rising energy costs and increasing pressure to decarbonise, could micro-anaerobic digestion plants be the next big opportunity for the UK dairy industry?TEXT JAMES MARSHALLMicro tech reduces input costs and emissions63cowmanagement MARCH 2025SUSTAINABILITY ANAEROBIC DIGESTIONGary Hague: “Micro-AD tech improves self-suciency and resilience”

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XXXXX XXXXX64 cowmanagement MARCH 2025SUSTAINABILITY ANAEROBIC DIGESTIONdairying more ‘circular’ and sustainable but barriers still exist, including initial investment. “While this is reasonably signiﬁcant, the ROI case is usually strong – providing producers install an appropriately sized AD system based on herd size, energy needs, and grid connection potential,” says Mr Hague. “We are also seeing local councils recognising the environmental beneﬁts of these plants and subsidising projects from their ‘net zero’ funds.“It’s a rare win-win situation, where producers and the environment both beneﬁt,” he adds. “When you tally up all the positives, which include energy savings, fertiliser improvements, emissions reductions, and potential income from surplus power – the tech can add up to 5ppl of milk produced by the herd. It’s a tangible way for producers to improve proﬁtability while meeting the industry’s growing sustainability expectations.” |made cost control a priority for producers, making renewable energy increasingly appealing. “Solar and wind power can only generate energy in the appropriate weather conditions, but micro-AD can produce energy all year round, 24/7, if you have a continual supply of slurry” he says. “Producers are installing plants to not only secure their own reliable source of energy, but also to insulate themselves against price spikes and to give themselves a predictable cost per kilowatt-hour for the life of the plant.”That said, the beneﬁts of micro-AD go beyond energy production, with the system also providing a valuable by-product in the form of digestate. Slurry is pumped into the digester, then, once processed, it’s returned to storage as digestate. “While it still looks and handles like slurry, digestate has a higher percentage of readily available nitrogen, making it more effective as a fertiliser. One customer recorded ammonium N content of around 76% in digestate on his unit, compared to 40% in untreated slurry. This translates to about 190kg of ammonium N per hectare,” explains Mr Hague.“The tech is about making dairy businesses more self-sufﬁcient and resilient in a rapidly changing agricultural landscape.”Reducing emissions Methane emissions from slurry storage are a major concern for dairy processors and retailers, so tackling on-farm methane is also becoming a priority. “The industry is under increasing scrutiny from policymakers and environmental groups due to its methane emissions, much of which comes from enteric fermentation and slurry management,” adds Mr Hague. “While cow digestion is harder to control, micro-AD provides a direct and practical solution for reducing methane ‘leaks’ from slurry management.“We estimate that processing slurry through a micro-AD plant can cut a unit’s greenhouse gas emissions from slurry management by as much as 82%. “It’s actively contributing to the sustainability metrics that dairy buyers are now prioritising.”So micro-AD systems have a role to play in making Herd sustainability: micro-AD units can help to reduce emissionsUK-based success stories Micro-AD ﬁnance and ﬁguresYork-based unit, milking 170 cows, with a 22kW unit● Reduced purchased energy by 60% ● Projected monthly savings of £1,800 in heating and £1,200 in fertiliser costs● Part-funded by York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority Net Zero FundLeeds-based robotic unit, milking 230 cows, with a 33kW unit● Digestate with ammonium N content of 76% compared to 40% in untreated slurry● Monthly savings of around £5,000 in electricity, £2,000 in heating, and £1,600 in fertiliser costsSomerset-based unit, milking 355 cross-bred cows, with a 44kW unit● Monthly savings of between £3,000 and £4,000 in electricity, £1,500 in heating, and £2,000 in fertiliser costs● Feeding AD unit 32 tonnes of slurry per day● Installation cost: 11kW-unit - £170,000, 74kW-unit - £489,000● Payback period: between four and eight years (ﬁve years, on average) ● Micro-AD system lifespan: 20 years● Emissions reduction: up to 82% reduction in GHG emissions from slurry management● Added value: up to 5ppl of milk produced on farm● Space required: between 300m and 800m close to cow housing and slurry storage● Installation: typically three days ● Best suited to: housed herds with all-year-round slurry production● Maintenance: 10-minute daily checks, plus 24/7 remote monitoring by Biolectric

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• Ideal for sand laden slurry• Timer clock to schedule cleaning• Easy control system• Lowest cost maintenance• 5 year extended warranty availableCowcare Rope Scraper SystemManufacturing & installing rope scrapers for over 25 yearsFor a no obligation quote or more information please contact:Scotland/N.England07591 833853Wales/Midlands/S.England07762 800149N.Ireland/R.O.I07803 124235info@cowcaresystems.comwww.cowcaresystems.com07732 34822566 cowmanagement MARCH 2025NEW PRODUCTA portable plastic calf house – large enough to accommodate up to 10 weaned calves – is set to be launched to the UK market by Northamptonshire-based supplier Intershape. The Mammoth, which was showcased at Dairy-Tech 2025, is the largest plastic calf-housing unit available from Calf-Tel.Measuring 2.1m tall x 3m wide x 3.5m long, the hutch oers 10.5m of space for calves. Its ventilation system features a large front opening, two rear windows, and six roof portals, and this ensures optimal airﬂow, helping to prevent heat stress and reduce condensation even in adverse weather.Designed for ease of use and cleaning, as well as durability, the calf house comes in kit form and comprises just four structural components, making assembly and transport simple. Made from polyethylene plastic, which is UV resistant, it also has a long working life – it comes with a 10-year conditional warranty. The smooth plastic surface makes it easy to clean and reduces the chance of harbouring disease.Its twin-sheet thermoformed plastic base, reinforced with steel, is virtually indestructible, according to the company. And because it is instantly portable housing it requires no planning permission, and the shape of its base allows easy movement across a variety of terrains.The calf house will be available in the UK in July and price is on application. To ﬁnd out more visit: www.intershape.com.Calf-housing solution oers space and durability

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An innovative device to improve the management, health and welfare of ‘down’ cows, as well as sta safety, has been developed and launched by a Dorset-based producer and a dairy vet. CowRecovery is a handling system based on a modiﬁed telehandler bucket and moving technique designed to maximise cow welfare while minimising the risk of injury – to both the cow and sta. Launched at Dairy-Tech in early February, the system has been reﬁned and perfected by producers and vets in an extensive ﬁeld trial involving 15 UK-based dairy herds and more than 10,000 cows during a 10-month period. The device comes with straps and a halter, as well as a comprehensive training programme, developed by Synergy Farm Vets, to ensure safe and consistent use. The system was invented by producer James Yeatman, who runs a 400-cow herd in north Dorset. “Dealing with a ‘down’ cow is a common incident on farm and is a distressing experience for both cows and sta,” he says. “Moving animals in a welfare friendly way is often a challenge due to a lack of manpower, limited availability of appropriate equipment and poor sta training. Having spent more than 30 years in dairying and dealing with the challenges of moving ‘down’ cows, I decided it was time to ﬁnd a solution.”Cows can go down due to a dicult calving, milk fever, grass staggers, metritis, mastitis, a bone fracture or nerve paralysis. “It’s important that they are moved to a well-bedded yard, with A monitoring solution for youngstock, designed to provide producers with a comprehensive solution to optimise calf-rearing systems and build a healthier and more productive herd, has been launched by CowManager.The Youngstock Monitor system uses durable, lightweight ear sensors to track behavioural development and health from calf to cow. The tech is powered by AI and continually evolving algorithms to adapt to each herd and unit, as well as the behavioural development of each calf. It provides real-time alerts and insights throughout the calves’ critical growth stages, which are sent to either a phone app or an online application.The monitoring system provides early detection of health issues, such as diarrhoea and respiratory diseases, and this allows producers to focus on calves requiring attention and subsequently to make timely interventions, reduce antibiotic use, and tailor care to each animal’s speciﬁc needs and age. It helps to improve overall calf health and welfare, and makes youngstock management more targeted and ecient, according to the company. To ﬁnd out more visit: www.cowmanager.com.Device improves ‘down’ cow health and welfareCalf-health monitoring system launchedNEW PRODUCT67cowmanagement MARCH 2025food and water within easy reach, and are medically treated. They should also be helped to shift sides at least twice daily to release the pressure on their muscles and nerves,” adds James. The device, with its green-and-white ‘ambulance’ livery, is manufactured by Albutt, which has a reputation for making high-quality equipment designed to last a lifetime.CowRecovery is on the market for £4,995, including delivery to anywhere in the UK. The cost of a fatality in early lactation is estimated to be £3,499, so saving fewer than two cows during the lifetime of the device will repay the investment. For more information visit: www.cowrecovery.com.

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68 cowmanagement MARCH 2025NEW PRODUCTA trace mineral premix for cattle in a superior organic form is now available from Zinpro. Zinpro Availa ECM3 is designed to increase cows’ dry matter intakes, support higher milk yields and improve body condition scores Trace minerals play a vital role in regulating various functions, including the immune and reproductive systems, muscle development, milk production, glucose metabolism and insulin activity. The optimal balance of trace elements help cattle to better cope with stress.The foundation of Zinpro Availa ECM3 is its patented metal-containing amino acid complexes, where one metal ion is connected to one amino acid ion. These amino acid complexes have the highest metabolic availability, ensuring that the trace elements are best absorbed by animals, providing maximum beneﬁts. In trials, this product improved dry matter intakes by up to 4.8% during lactation, increased milk production by up to 2.5 litres, and reduced body condition score losses by as much as 2.1%.Increased dry matter intake and utilisation of glucose contribute to better energy status in transition dairy cows, which reduces body condition loss during lactation. Excessive BCS loss contributes to increased incidence of lameness and poor fertility. Feed eciency is also impacted by changes in body weight.Premix supports intakes, yields and cow condition

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DisclaimerCowManagement does not necessarily share the views expressed by contributors. No responsibility is accepted for the claims made by advertisers. No responsibility can be accepted by Davies Porter Media Ltd for the opinions expressed by contributors. While every eort is made to obtain reliable and accurate information, liability cannot be accepted for errors. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system without the express prior written consent of the publisher.Printer: The Lavenham Press Ltd.Phone: 01787 247436ADVERTISERS’ INDEXSHOWS AND EVENTSCowManagement is published 10 times per year by Davies Porter Media LtdEditorial teamEditor Rachael PorterPhone: 01394 270587E-mail: rachael@cowmanagement.co.ukDesign and production David Tokeley & The Lavenham Press LtdContributing writers Sarah Alderton, Stuart Booker, Laura Bowyer, Phil Christopher, Rebecca Dawson, Phil Eades, Roger Evans, Louise Glenn, Sara Gregson, Charlotte Grime, Paul Jennings, Allison Matthews, Rhian Price, Wendy Short, Emma Waller, Karen Wright and Laura YatesPublishers Jason Davies and Rachael PorterCONTACTSAdvertising salesSales Director Jason Davies Phone: 07813 603179E-mail: jason@cowmanagement.co.ukIllustrations/pictures Ruth Downing (8, 9 and 10), James Robinson (front cover)CowManagement onlineFacebook: www.facebook.com/CowManagementUK/Twitter: @cowmanagementWebsite: www.cowmanagement.co.ukCirculationCowManagement is published 10 times a year. Copies are sent out free to owners and managers of dairy farms in mainland UK and Northern Ireland. If you think you are eligible, or if you no longer wish to receive CowManagement, please email jason@cowmanagement.co.uk.Agrimin Boehringer Ingelheim IFC, Bonanza OBCCargill , Ceva Cosycow Cowcare Dairy Spares DP Agri , Farmplus Feed For Growth ForFarmers Galebreaker Kersia Lallemand Lely Massey MSD Allﬂex Neogen Nettex NMR NWF Opico Progiene STRIDE TB Agri The Calf Company Thompsons Trouw Nutrition , , Zinpro Zoetis APRIL 15 – this issue will focus on transition-cow management during what can be a turbulent time of year. And we’ll also focus on housing, equipment, milking, and machinery APRIL 2025 HOUSING & EQUIPMENT COMING UP69cowmanagement MARCH 2025Dear Reader,For data protection purposes it is important we have the correct mailing address for all our readers.To continue receiving your free copy of CowManagement magazine, please enter the link bit.ly/cm-subshttp://subs into your browser and complete the short form.It will only take 30 seconds to complete and means you will continue to receive the UK’s progressive milk producers’ magazine for free. Thanks for your support.April  to  British Society of Animal Science (BSAS) Conference, Galway Bay Hotel, Galway, IrelandMay  to  Balmoral Show, Eikon Exhibition Centre, Lisburn, Northern IrelandJune  British Mastitis Conference, Sixways Stadium, WorcesterJuly  National Youngstock Conference, International Conference Centre, BirminghamSeptember  UK Dairy Day, The International Centre, Telford, ShropshireOctober  The Dairy Show, Bath & West Showground, Shepton Mallet, SomersetNovember  AgriScot, Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, EdinburghNMR feature correctionNMR’s feature in the February issue of CowManagement referred to an annual test for Johne’s disease as part of the HerdWise service. It would like to point out that HerdWise is NMR’s quarterly rather than annual testing service. NMR oers whole-herd Johne’s screening tests at a frequency to suit individual herds, to all milk producers. These are carried out using milk recording samples, or via sample kits supplied to the farm for non-recording herds. For more information contact NMR customer services on 03330 043 043, or email customerservices@nmrp.com.cowmanagementMARCH 2025WWW.COWMANAGEMENT.CO.UKYoungstock: keeping health and growth on track Sustainability: future-prooﬁng dairy businessesGrazing & turnout: planning for spring and summer successBOOK TODAY

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How feeding transition milk can optimise calf health and performance Selina Field07471 034031 SField@bonanzacalf.comTable 1Bonanza Calf Nutrition, Coes Rd Ind Estate, Dundalk, Co Louth.UK: 0808 1781017 IRL: 00 353 (0)42 9336001 Fax: 00 353 (0)42 9336002www.bonanzacalf.ieA trial has shown weight gain advantages in calves fed a transition milk (TM) replacer for the 21 days immediately following colostrum feeding. TM is a highly nutritious and immune-boosting milk produced by the cow in the rst ve to six milkings after colostrum production.A recent trial in France looked at the eects of feeding a TM replacer, Transformula, manufactured by Bonanza Calf Nutrition. Calves were split into two groups, both receiving the same colostrum treatment for the rst three days after birth.On day four, calves in Group A were fed a good quality 40% skim-based milk replacer (MR) at 23% crude protein and 19% fat for 21 days while those in Group B received Transformula for that period.Precisely the same quantities of powder were fed in each group throughout the trial period. The results showed that the Transformula group had, at 650g/calf/day, signicantly higher weight gains when they were 30 days old compared to calves that received the standard MR – these grew at 480g/calf/day (see Table 1).This meant that in their rst month of life, the Transformula group gained an average of 5.1kg, 35% more than calves fed the standard MR. This extra growth can be a major contributory factor in heifers calving at 24 months.A similar study (Kargar et al., 2021) saw partial TM feeding extended to three weeks of age.One group received two litres a day of TM together with four litres a day of milk while the control group didn’t receive any TM.The TM group showed signicantly higher weights post-weaning, with a 137g/day advantage; overall they grew by an extra 89g/day.These calves were weaned on day 60 and monitored until day 90.A reason for these growth dierences is the positive impact the properties found in TM has on gut health up to weaning and beyond.Other studies investigating the eect of giving further feeds of colostrum and TM have reported enhanced morphological developments of the gastrointestinal tract, including increased surface area of the small intestine (Pyo et al., 2020). This is advantageous to the calf as it is better able to digest and utilise its feed for growth. The rst month of life is often dicult for calf rearers as the calves are at their most vulnerable to disease. But TM has been shown to help with this too.Over a quarter of the calves in Group A in the French trial, which received standard MR, experienced scours during the rst month of life while there were no cases in the group fed TM replacer. This nding correlates with other recent studies (Kargar et al., 2021).TM is Nature’s ideal follow up feed to colostrum as the levels of immunity-stimulating components are much higher than standard whole milk/MR. Ingredients include an insulin-like growth factor, and glucagon-like peptide 2, which enhances the growth of epithelial tissue, and oligosaccharides, which promote the closure of the intestinal wall. TM supports the rapidly evolving gut of the young calf. Repeated feeding of TM helps to promote intestinal development and protects the calf against pathogens. Lining the gut with TM tops up the nutrients and bioactive material to nourish the intestinal wall. For practical reasons it is not always possible to feed cow TM in the rst three weeks and there is also the risk of spreading milk-borne diseases such as Johnes and mycoplasma from cow to calf.Transformula, the rst replacer of its kind, oers an alternative. It contains ingredients that help protect and develop the small intestine, improving health, weight gains, and general contentment in calves which would otherwise receive regular MR. References:Pyo, J., Hare, K., Pletts, S., Inabu, Y., Haines, D., Sugino, T., Guan, L.L. and Steele, M., 2020. Kargar, S., Bahadori-Moghaddam, M., Ghoreishi, S.M., Akhlaghi, A., Kanani, M., Pazoki, A., Ghaari, M.H., 2021