Demand for unique whole colostrum powder is growing at an exponential rate
Date Posted: 18th September 2023
Every dairy farmer is absolutely aware of the need to get high quality colostrum into a newborn calf within minutes of birth.
So much for the theory! But putting this into practice can be fraught with complications. Drawing colostrum from a cow can be a long and drawn out process, especially late at night. And where heifers are concerned, there will always be those animals that are slow to drop their milk in the first place.
The good news is that a whole colostrum powder is now available in Northern Ireland that provides calves with the best possible start they could ever expect to get. The product is called: ‘Calf Choice Total’.
It comprises only high quality colostrum powder that has been sourced from specifically selected cows.
As a result, when mixed with water at the recommended temperature, it offers all the nutrition and antibodies that a new born calf needs.
Calf Choice Total is available exclusively from Ai Services (Northern Ireland) Ltd.
“Demand for this product at the present time is very strong, so early ordering is essential,” confirmed the company’s James Compston.
“Large numbers of farmers now realise just how versatile and effective Calf Choice Total Really is."
The product is manufactured by Canada-based SCCL. The company is committed to offering products that are parallel to what Mother Nature intended for calves.
Cow colostrum is sourced from specifically licensed farms. It is then heat treated to kill-off any harmful pathogens. The whole colostrum is then dried into a convenient, shelf-stable powderform.
SCCL regional manager, Morven Watson, was a recent visitor to Northern Ireland.
She commented:
“Calf Choice Total can be mixed in seconds by adding water at 49°C. By the time it has been thoroughly mixed, the colostrum will have cooled to 35°C, which is body temperature for a young calf.”
In addition to feeding Calf Choice Total at birth, an increasing number of farmers are including 100g of the colostrum powder to mother’s milk or milk powder for up to 10 days after birth.
“When offered in this way, calves are receiving an enriched transition milk,” Watson explained.”
“However,it is recommend to reduce the powdered milk content of the transition drink offered to calves by 100g. This balances out the inclusion of the Calf Choice Total.”
Graeme Nicholl milks 200 Fleckvieh cows close to Richhill in Co Armagh. Three robots are operating on the farm. The herd is currently averaging 11,000L with good butterfats and proteins.
Graeme has been using Calf Choice Total for the past five months.
He explained:
“I was initially attracted to the product because of the convenience. Trying to get colostrum from a freshly calved heifer in the middle of the night is not fun.
“But we are well passed the convenience issue at this stage. Every calf born on the farm gets the colostrum as soon as possible after birth.
“We haven’t lost an animal due to scour or any of those calf-related illnesses since switching to Calf Choice Total.
“This fact alone speaks volumes for the product.”
For further information, please contact James Compston on : 07976 605701
