| 11 nzdairy DAIRY AWARDS » Ben Purua: Waimakariri Lands Ltd motivator for dairy industry high flier Ben holds the 2024 Ahuwhenua Trophy Excellence in Maori Farming Award. Photo by alphapix.nz "I stopped using Calf Xtreme for 2 seasons. But then my milk records showed the two years I had used Calf Xtreme were averaging 40kgms more than any other years" www.probioticrevolution.co.nz Matt 021 234 1713 Chris 027 459 1061 HELPING YOUNG STOCK REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL 4.8/5 SATISFACTION RATING AVE 11.2 DAYS EARLIER WEANING 100,000 CALVES IN 2023 Stuart 021 247 7405 "With Calf Xtreme we proved we could feed more milk while amazingly lifting meal consumption" -Ben, Tokoroa - Rob, Canterbury Xtreme results with probiotic supplement Increasing milk volume for calves doesn’t automatically have to result in reduced consumption of meal, hay and grass. In fact, with Probiotic Revolution’s Calf Xtreme probiotic supplement to stimulate hard feed consumption, a higher milk intake is advantageous - helping calves grow faster and wean sooner. Calf Xtreme is a powerful combination of bene cial bacteria and live active yeast that support the immune system, increase feed breakdown and promote rumen balance and development. Probiotic Revolution’s data shows that the majority of the 100,000 calves raised last year with Calf Xtreme were fed higher milk volumes and weaned 11 days earlier, on average. At the Zwiers’ dairy farm in Tirau (Waikamariri Land Ltd), Holstein Friesian calves have been fed three litres of milk twice daily since 2020, along with Calf Xtreme. Farm manager Ben Purua says the heifers raised in this time have been the best they’ve ever raised: heifer milk production, compared to that of mixed-age cows, rose between 70-80%. Probiotic Revolution director Chris Collier advised Ben to slightly adjust their milk feeding strategy this autumn. He suggested splitting the daily six-litre milk feed into four litres and two litres, adding Calf Xtreme to the four-litre portion. This adjustment aimed to improve digestion and increase consumption of hay and grass, when milk spills into the rumen. The farm’s adoption of Calf Xtreme, alongside a modi ed milk feeding strategy, led to remarkable outcomes. Ben reported immediate results. Ashleigh Zwiers, who rears the calves, was astonished to observe the sudden rise in meal consumption, when the opposite result was expected. Within a week, the night feed was increased to three litres, then to four litres, and calves easily handled the increased volume of milk. With an eight-litre daily intake, the calves are now growing better than ever. They have exhibited improved digestion, increased meal consumption and better handling of higher milk volumes, ultimately contributing to their enhanced growth performance. The Probiotic Revolution team has also witnessed Holstein Friesian calves, previously raised for six weeks on two litres of milk twice daily, reaching seven-eight litres by day 10 with Calf Xtreme. “This led to weaning two weeks earlier, with post-weaning growth rates signi cantly improved,” Chris says. “Heifer milk production, compared to mixed-age cow production, rose from 74% to 86%. For a herd producing 440kgMS/cow, this represents a 48kg increase in heifer milk production – a huge gain for adjusting the calf rearing system.” The testimonies from farms implementing Calf Xtreme highlight its role in achieving ambitious production targets. Chris’ aspiration to elevate heifer milk production underscores the transformative potential of the supplement. “My goal is to assist farmers in boosting growth rates of young calves, aiming for heifer milk production to reach 90% of mixed-age cow production,” Chris says. Weaning calves faster isn’t just about reducing workload; it’s about optimising their growth potential and overall health. Through earlier weaning and optimised feeding practices, farms can realise substantial gains in milk production, translating into signi cant economic bene ts and a more ef cient calf rearing system. Mid-July heifers - 155kg by mid-December.
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