27th September 2023
Milk powder for calves provides good well-being
Every cattle producer wants to create the best conditions for his animals so that they thrive and grow. At Toejsbo Beef on Funen, Denmark, DanMilk Eminent is used with good results.
Ronald Kristensen, operations manager at Toejsbo Beef on Funen, Denmark, uses DanMilk Eminent milk powder for his calves, and it has been a good decision. It gives the calf the necessary nutrients it needs and ensures its health and well-being.
"I am very satisfied. The growth of the calves is as good as with other mixtures, at the same time it has a good price, and the calves have less diarrhoea problems," he says.
Ronald says that at Toejsbo Beef they primarily raise bull calves for slaughter. They receive the calves from dairy farmers every three weeks when the calves are from 14-45 days old. There, they weigh approximately 60 kilos on average. The calves are offered milk until about 2.5 months of age.
In addition to milk, the calves are also given concentrate mixes from day one, and when the calves are around 2.5 months old, they eat concentrate exclusively. When the calves are 10-11 months old, they are sent to slaughter.
At Toejsbo Beef, around 700 calves are fattened per year. Alongside, Ronald and his colleague also have nature care with grazing by Galloway cows.
Switched to DanMilk
Ronald has been with Toejsbo for approx. two years. Previously, the calves received a milk replacer from another supplier, but Ronald switched to DanMilk Eminent in the autumn. He says that the price played a decisive role. There is little money to be made from veal calves, so the price is important – when the quality is at least as good as others.
DanMilk Eminent is produced in Denmark and of course meets all requirements and standards.
When it comes to the daily use of the milk powder, Ronald uses 150 grams of powder per liters of water, which corresponds to 750 grams of powder per day per calf that receives five liters of milk.
Ronald mixes the powder with water in a milk van and adds citric acid to avoid problems with an upset stomach.
"It's easy to handle," he says.
A clear recommendation
When asked about the well-being and stomachs of the calves, Ronald says that the calves are doing well and without problems with diarrhoea at DanMilk Eminent. He says:
“I like DanMilk Eminent. The increase is just as good as with other products, and it helps lower the feed cost.”
DanMilk Eminent is produced by AB Neo in Videbaek, Denmark, and the sparring and guidance that comes with the product is of great importance to Ronald.
He concludes by giving a clear recommendation of DanMilk Eminent to other farmers:
"It is clearly a recommendation. I always speak positively about it at erfa meetings (experience meetings), and I have always suggested others to switch if, for example, they have problems with other blends," he says.