Starter Plus™ Proves Worth as Calcium-based Energy Tonic After Calving
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The use of calcium-based energy drenches for cows at calving has, on many farms, become the normal practice over the past eight years because the real benefits far outweigh the difficulties sometimes experienced in carrying out this procedure, says Te Awamutu-based veterinary consultant Bryan McKay.
Dr McKay, who serves on Dexcel committees and regularly speaks to farmer and veterinary groups on cow reproduction and nutrition, was commenting on Starter Plus. “In the current economic climate all expenses on farm are under healthy rationalisation – and when speaking to farmers they are very reluctant to cease this procedure (of using calcium-based energy drenches)”, he said. “Calcium drenches have become an integral part of the armoury used to manage today’s high producing cow. They aid appetite maintenance over calving, which helps with managing cow condition and hence time to peak milk, energy balance and the ability to get cows back in calf,” said Dr McKay, a director of Dairy Production Systems Ltd.
“Dairy farmers have taken to this technology quickly and with enthusiasm. They are quick to retell stories of cows recovering that were ‘on the brink of death’ or ‘I no longer have to worry about my colostrum cows, they don’t go down with milk fever anymore and they are actively grazing rather than hanging around the gateway making a mess”.
The calcium, magnesium and energy booster was introduced 14 years ago and sales of Starter Plus has increased rapidly each year because farmers have found it helps their cows regain appetite and retain condition after calving, says IVS Commercial Manager Mark Wyllie.
Starter Plus provides the needed boost in a safe and economical way,” he said. A single one-litre dose for each cow is usually given within the first 12 hours after calving to help minimise potential metabolic crises such as hypo-calcaemia or ketosis. “The reason for this response is that each litre contains 52.8 grammes of elemental calcium, 12.5 grammes of magnesium to enhance calcium absorption and an energy ‘spike’ that kicks in 30 minutes later to stimulate appetite.”
Starter Plus can also be poured on hay, silage or meal as a nutritional additive.
Te Kawa West farmer Peter Harker, who farms with son Richard a 420-cow herd south of Te Awamutu, has been a regular user of Starter Plus for eight years and has almost eliminated milk fever from their jersey herd. He says the jersey breed seems more prone to milk fever and during calving “there was always this worry you would find a cow down in the morning and generally in a bad way”. “Now we could have the odd case five or six weeks into milking, but it’s usually mild,” said Mr Harker.
At first only the older and more susceptible cows in the colostrum mob were drenched with Starter Plus but the positive response led to a drench dose for every cow, including newly calved heifers.
“The first time in the dairy-shed they all get one litre and for the next two days they get a half-litre each day.” “The high energy gives them a boost and there’s no check at all in their progress,” said Mr Harker, who administers about 800 litres of Starter Plus each dairy season to the herd.
Starter Plus is also being made available for bulk refill at IVS’ Te Awamutu depot in Rickit Road, where farmers who have placed orders with their veterinary clinics can bring in their cleaned Starter Plus containers for refills at a discounted price.
June 2004
