Greater Need for Energy Tonic for Today's Higher Producing Dairy Cows
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More New Zealand farmers are feeding their cows energy supplements such as Starter Plus immediately after calving , says a veterinary clinic manager.
"The higher producing cows definitely need an energy boost because the more they're putting out, the more needs to go into them," says veterinary manager Ian Livingstone at Otorohanga Veterinary Services, in the heartland of New Zealand's dairy farming industry.
He says cows that go down with milk fever after calving can also benefit from the booster drench - usually one litre of Starter Plus to fill in the energy gap until they've recovered and are full throttle again.
"Even if they do stay down, they get enough energy to keep going and will eventually jump on their feet and start feeding again."
Dr Livingstone says veterinarians in the dairy-rich Waikato region and elsewhere in the country regard the extra boost of calcium and energy as a wise preventative health measue for cows, as well as for sheep after lambing.
Starter Plus has been develloped by Te Awamutu based animal feed supplement manufacturer, Independent Veterinary Supplies Ltd. (IVS) to offer more calcium and energy content while improving the mix storage stability.
Volume sales of the pick-me-up starter drench have increased significantly each year. "Fieldays feedback was very positive. Farmers know of the cow's increased need for more energy and more calcium after calving - and Starter Plus does provide that boost". He says that without effective energy supplements dairy cows were at risk of losing condition and appetite, and at worst can develop sad cow syndrone (ketosis).
Starter Plus is usually fed as a drench, ideally the first time a cow is in the dairy shed or while in the colostrum mob, but is also poured on hay, silage and meal as a feed additive. Ingredients include elemental calcium (48gms/Litre), monopropylene glycol (MPG), feed grade molasses, bypass fat and elemental magnesium.
Independent testing by an animal nutritionist has shown that Starter Plus can provide:
• reduced incidence of metabolic disorders
• reduced health costs
• more efficient feed conversion
• reduced weight loss inearly lactation
• higher cow condition scores
• improved early appetite, peaking at 6 weeks after calving (usually 12 weeks)
• appetite gains in step with peak milk yield at 6 to 8 weeks post-calving.
The conclusion of the independent testing was that Starter Plus can assist in better production prospects, less metabolic problems, a reduced risk of reproductive failure in a herd and the reduced cost of managing anoestrus cows, replacements and carry overs.
August 2001 
© Copyright - freely available for reprint as long as attribution is made to Independent Veterinary Supplies Ltd (NZ) as source of material.
