Te Awamutu-based sharemilkers Natalie and Ryan Johnstone made the switch to feeding their calves a calf milk replacer (CMR) for the first time last season – and they couldn’t be happier with the results.
The Johnstones milk 650 cows and rear 150 replacement calves on their spring-calving operation. Like many farmers, they’ve always relied on milk straight from the vat to feed their calves. But with a healthy payout, they decided to crunch the numbers, using the NZAgbiz online calculator.
“We worked out that it was cheaper to leave the milk in the vat and send it to the factory rather than take it out to feed the calves,” says Natalie.
While the financial savings were the initial motivator, the Johnstones were blown away by the performance of their calves on Ancalf milk replacer.
“I’ve reared calves all my life, and I’ve never used milk powder before. To be honest, I was a little hesitant,” Natalie admits.
“But we decided to just go for it – and the results speak for themselves.” Natalie recalls a conversation with their grazier that confirmed their decision was the right one.
“He rang up and said, ‘Those are the nicest-looking, well-grown calves I’ve ever had.’ He grazes a lot of stock, so hearing that was a huge confirmation that the operation was working well. When he asked what we did differently this season, the only change we made was using milk powder.”
Ancalf’s casein-rich formula, which closely mimics the composition of natural whole milk, proved to be a game-changer for the Johnstones.
“Our calves did really, really well. We didn’t have to drench them this year, which is a first for us,” Natalie says.
“By December 1st, all of our calves were 100kg and ready to go. Transitioning them was easy too – no scours, no problems.”
The Johnstones also appreciated how easy Ancalf was to use. “We’ve got a proper mixing trolley with a built-in mixer, and I also bought a drill attachment to make things even easier. It’s simple to work out how many bags to mix with water, and the system works seamlessly,” Natalie explains.
For farmers considering making the switch to CMR, Natalie has one piece of advice: “don’t be afraid of change.”
“I know it’s tempting to stick with what’s always worked, but sometimes change can lead to even better results. It might have added 15 minutes to my day, but it was 100% worth it for the financial savings and the health of our calves.”
After their first season using Ancalf, the Johnstones are convinced.
“Would we recommend Ancalf? Absolutely. I’ve already heard my husband recommending it to others on the phone!”
Pop into your local Farm Source store, shop online or talk to your Technical Sales Representative to find out more about the benefits of using Ancalf.