LifeStart science indicates that there are benefits to be gained in modern dairy herds from having higher energy levels and lower osmolality in milk replacers.

Vitality is the first in a range of Energized Calf Milk (ECM) products designed to revolutionise the way we feed calves. ECM has been designed to support the LifeStart objectives:

Early life nutrition for farm profitability

Key to every enterprise that rears young animals is the ability to achieve their full lifetime potential of both yield and longevity.

Understanding the role that a calf’s early growth and development plays in the lifetime cow performance is one of the most significant advances in calf nutrition in our time. We must move beyond traditional calf rearing and consider the need for investing for optimal performance to give improved profitability on farm.

Shifting rearing objectives from short-term to long-term The concept of early-life nutrition and its crucial role in adult health and performance is not new.

Having been well established in the human sector, the topic has dominated medical journals over the last few years. Recently, it has become clear that nutrition and management during the early life of calves can have long-term effects on the development, health and lactation performance of the herd.

OPTIMAL DEVELOPMENT

Soberon et al. (2017) revealed that the mammary glands of dairy calves are responsive to nutrient intake during the pre-weaning stage, especially the parenchyma tissue, which will develop into secretory cells in later life.

RESILIENCE TO DISEASE

Ballou et al. (2015) showed how calves that have been fed higher levels of nutrition, pre-weaning, have increased resistance when challenged with enteric pathogens one month after weaning, compared to those fed traditionally lower level.

LONGEVITY

Van Amburgh et al. (2013) indicated that, for every kilogram of pre-weaning Average Daily Gain (ADG), first lactation milk yield increased by 1,550kg.

Unlock the full potential of metabolic programming

Critical window of opportunity
Feed conversion is much higher in the first weeks of life than at any other point in the growth cycle. So kilogram for kilogram the animal gets more benefit in the first two months, than later in life. This is one reason why it is beneficial to set high growth targets in the first eight weeks.

The research also shows that calves never make up the shortfall in growth rates and organ development, if fed at lower rates, pre-weaning. This pre-weaning phase offers a unique and unrepeatable opportunity to set calves up for life.

Longevity and sustainability
Increased longevity has a positive effect on profitability per cow, and less greenhouse gas emissions will be produced per kilogram of milk. Hence the environmental impact of dairy production is reduced, while the longevity of each cow and the efficiency of milk production are improved.

Optimal development
Research has demonstrated that feeding calves LifeStart planes of nutrition has a significant impact on gene expression. Early life nutrition has been shown to positively influence an animal’s metabolism with the effects visible later in life. This is represented below in the number of genes altered per organ:

All the benefits of calf milk replacer plus…

Many farmers have already been convinced of the benefits of calf milk replacer and are successfully feeding a higher plane of nutrition to get the full benefits of LifeStart; so why should they change to ECM?
Moving from the traditional practice of restricted feeding to LifeStart means doubling the supply of milk or milk replacer and therefore reaching higher growth rates. However increasing the amount of calf milk replacer fed is only half the story. With ECM we have evaluated the nutrient requirements of the calf to develop a new formulation.

Nutritional requirements change with growth rates
Moving from the traditional practice of restricted feeding to LifeStart means doubling the supply of milk or milk replacer and therefore reaching higher growth rates. However increasing the amount of calf milk replacer fed is only half the story. With ECM we have evaluated the nutrient requirements of the calf to develop a new formulation.

ECM: feed for health, not just growth
Feeding calves a higher plane of quality nutrition will lead to a higher rate of growth. However ECM has been specifically formulated to ensure that the calf receives a balanced nutrient supply to ensure optimal development whilst supporting the health of the calf.

The formula is closer to that of natural milk with 10% more metabolisable energy. The difference in calf performance and appearance should become apparent.

Specification

Neonate package Vitality contains Carrs Billington’s unique neonate package made up of Safmannan® and EarlyBite®.

What is Safmannan?
Safmannan is a unique premium yeast fraction that is specially produced by Phileo.

How does it work?

Safmannan is rich in mannans, which have been shown to bind harmful gut pathogens.
Safmannan is also rich in specific betaglucans, which interact with a calf’s immune system via the gastrointestinal tract, helping support the animal’s immune system.

What are the benefits?

Helps support immune status
Helps bind gut pathogens to reduce challenge, thereby reducing growth checks

What is EarlyBite?
EarlyBite is a sensory feed additive that modulates the feeding behaviour in young calves.

What are the benefits of EarlyBite?

Motivates calves to eat solid feed earlier
Helps the transition from liquid feed to solid feed

DOWNLOAD

Click here to download the Energized Calf Milk leaflet

CONTACT

Clare Lawson (Calf & Youngstock Specialist)
T 07393 147509

David Paton (Milk Product Manager)
T 07767 460281

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Energized Calf Milk: a revolution in early life nutrition