With forage reported to be (variably) reduced in quality and quantity this winter feeding season, neither grass or silage can be relied on. This makes feeding pre calver minerals to bolster nutrition even more critical, especially in the calving transition.
Fully meeting the nutritional needs of pre-calving suckler and dairy cows in the six weeks directly prior to calving is nothing short of vital. This window is the most important period in every breeding cows’ annual production cycle, and where a lot of problems can creep in if the nutrition isn’t right. The same principle holds where replacement dairy and suckler heifers are concerned.
The birth of a healthy and vibrant calf in tandem with inter dam’s ability to either rear it or produce milk destined for a bulk tank are critically inter twined with the management systems put in place throughout the preceding dry period.
Factors coming in to play here include the availability of high quality forages and the feeding of a mineral and trace element mix that totally fulfil the pre calving nutritional needs. Getting all of this right will deliver the required end result. Making a mistake will result in problems and challenges that are complex in nature and very difficult to sort out, for example:
- Difficult calving’s
- Poor calf vitality
- Milk fever
- Ketosis
- Displaced abomasum’s
- Poor milking performance
Farms must critically assess every aspect of dry cow management. For example, offering pre-calving cows silages that are high in potash will predispose these animals to a host of metabolic disorders at and post calving.
Research has repeatedly confirmed the critically important role that mineral and trace elements play in meeting the nutritional needs in full of both dairy and suckler cows in the weeks directly prior to calving.
Crystalyx Pre Calver Minerals: Will They Work For You?
Crystalyx pre calver minerals have been formulated to meet these specific requirements. Containing a low calcium/high magnesium balance, the feed bucked reduces the risk of metabolic disorders and difficult calving’s. In addition, Crystalyx Pre-Calver is research-proven to boost calf vitality while also maximising colostrum quality.
Researchers have extensively studied all Crystalyx products to evaluate their specific formulations and the responses they generate at the commercial farm level. In the case of Crystalyx Pre-Calver:
- Three studies undertaken in New Zealand by the University of Auckland, with group sizes averaging approximately 200 cows, confirmed that access to Crystalyx Pre-Calver maintained normal blood magnesium and calcium levels right up to calving.
- Research scientists at Parma University in Italy reported that the colostrum IgG yield achieved by the Crystalyx-fed cows was double that of the control group.
- Furthermore, additional research confirmed that supplementing dairy cows with Crystalyx Pre-Calver significantly reduced instances of milk fever, mastitis and retained placenta.
In addition to the extensive independent research, for many years, Irish dairy and suckler farmers have reaped the rewards of using Crystalyx Pre-Calver.
Suckler Farm Improves Calving Ease And Calf Health
Desmond Young is a suckler beef and sheep farmer from Ardara in Co Donegal. Charolais cows predominate within his herd with the enterprise very much focussed on autumn calving. Maximising cow and calf performance from grass and silage is a priority for the enterprise. Ensuring that cows calve down easily underpins all of this.
Desmond fully ensures the implementation of the highest possible dry cow management procedures at all times. He knows this approach will ensure that calves are born with lots of energy and vigour: having had access to large quantities of top-quality colostrum.
Desmond has traditionally included Crystalyx Pre-Calver buckets as an integral part of his dry cow management programme. “Since taking this approach, calf health has always been excellent. In addition, the cows have always had lots of good quality colostrum,” he commented. “The buckets are out six to seven weeks before calving. I have always found them to be an extremely durable product”.
“Since using the buckets, difficult calving’s have been very much the exception. The dry cow diet comprises good quality silage and the Crystalyx Pre-Calver buckets only. I do not feed any meal at all, pre calving.”
Dairy Farmer Masters Metabolic Challenges
William Drumm, a dairy farmer from Co Kerry, takes a very similar approach to dry cow management. He milks 43 spring calving Holstein: Friesian cows close to the town of Castleisland. The herd is currently averaging 6.000L with high levels of constituents. A livestock enterprise also features on the farm with calves born within the dairy herd brought through to finishing weights.
Drying-off starts off in earnest on the Drum farm around the middle of November. William explained: “The cows are placed on a hay-based diet for the first week after their lactations have been completed. I find this helps the transition into the dry cow period. After that they are offered good quality silage and the Crystalyx Pre-Calver buckets. Giving calves the best possible start is critically important. It is a key factor in determining the success of the beef enterprise on the farm”.
Previously, difficult calving’s and cows succumbing to metabolic problems directly after calving would have been an issue on the Drumm farm. “But this is no longer the case,” William further explained. “I started using the Pre-Calver buckets in 2021. Since then, the cows have calved down without a problem. Calves are born with lots of vigour and colostrum quality is excellent.”
Interested in high-performance pre calver minerals?
Find your local Crystalyx stockist or speak to a member of our team.
