South West Jersey Club News 2009
Calf losses are a major source of ‘wastage’ on
dairy farms
Dianna Allen of QNM Dairy Consultancy led an excellent discussion
on Calf Rearing among twelve Somerset Jersey Cluster farmers,
plus an additional five guests from Devon. The meting was held
at the farm of Maundrills Partnership where organic Holsteins,
Friesians and Jerseys are kept.
Calf losses are a major cause
of ‘wastage’ as identified
on dairy farms by DairyCo.
The first six months of a calf’s
life are critical in terms of the future health prospects for
the animal, and this is particularly the case for organically
reared calves where boosting the immune system is more demanding.
| Calf deaths (age) |
% |
| First 24 hours |
8 |
| Day 1 to Day 28 |
3.5 |
| Month 1 – Month 6 |
3.5 |
| 6 Months to 1st Service |
4 |
| Calving to end 1st Lactation |
12 |
These staggering figures show that over 30% of calves live
to complete their first lactation at approximately three years
of age.
Milk feeding
At Maundrills Jersey calves receive 3 ‘poly-bottle’ feeds
for the first 7 days and then go on to 3.5 litres per day on
a twice-a-day feeding regime.
The Holsteins have 4.4 litres for the first eight weeks.
As an organic herd, milk feeding continues until 12 weeks of
age. Weaning at times of stress, for example disbudding or
extremely cold temperatures, is to be avoided.
Dianna Allen recommended investing £2000 in a pasteurising
machine, believing that there are a number of health benefits
from feeding pasteurised milk, including a big reduction in
Johnes susceptibility.
In general terms rearing Jersey calves is less problematic
as the calving is easier, resulting n the calves being quicker
to get to their feet and suckle.
Weight for Age
Dianna Allen questions the economics behind the US approach
of accelerated calf growth, believing that a steady 0.75kg
per day liveweight gain for Jerseys enables calving at two
years of age.
Routine weighing was discussed and Maundrills uses a weighband,
although there was a difference of opinion about the effectiveness
of this method for poorer quality calves.
One participant weighs monthly, through a crush. On this particular
farm, which is also organic, cull cows averaging 415kg liveweight,
and target bulling weight for heifers is +/- 60% of this level
at 198 to 220kg.
The herd at Maundrills was viewed as being quite exceptional
as it is free of BVD, Leptospirosis, IBR and Johnes diseases.
This has benefits with 61% of cows in-calf to first service
and a Calving Index of 373 days. With Jerseys averaging 6600kg
milk per lactation the herd is averaging 70 days to first service,
and has a target of 45 – 50 days.
North Devon Jersey Cluster Technical Reports
Export market enquiries offer financial opportunity for Jersey
breeders 
Management and survivability of newly born calves
Maintaining herd fertility in an expanding herd
Robots force focus on teat placement
Cornish herd gets to the top in 4 years
Factors affecting the profitable farming of Jersey Cattle
Animal selection for breed improvement and longevity
Results of young handlers classes at Honiton Agricultural
Show 6th August 2009
Class one 10 years & under
1st Chloe Fewings (10)
2nd Emily Davis (7)
3rd Oliver Schuster-Wood (10 )
4th Andrew Stanbury (9)
5th Emily Stanbury (6 )
Class two 11 -21 years
1st Samantha Fewings (18 )
2nd Sunny Selway (17 )
3rd Jessica Ravenhill-White (15)
4th Emily Vallis (15 )
5th Mary Scott (11)
Champion Handler: Chloe Fewings
Reserve Champion Handler: Samantha Fewings
Well done Mary, Emily and Andrew Stanbury, it was their first
show with their calves.
south west club news 2008
south west club news 2007
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