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Research carried out over many years has confirmed that heifers bred to calve at two-years-old have more calves in their lifetime and are more profitable than heifers calving for the first time at three-years-old – but these animals need to be grown and managed well. But offering them the new Crystalyx Heifer 730 feed blocks is.” “On many farms, feeding meals to stock at grass is not a feasible option. “Recent Irish research trials have confirmed the need to provide weanling calves with an additional energy source that is nutritionally balanced to meet this need.
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And fresh grass alone does not meet this requirement. “Encouraging optimal rumen development is critically important with these young animals. “This approach to management brings with it the importance of rearing heifers that can calve down sustainably at 24 months of age, while also ensuring that cows attain a calving index that is as close as possible to 365 days.”Ĭommenting specifically on the challenge associated with managing spring-born calves at grass, Dr. “Ireland is unique in having a dairy industry with an exceptionally strong focus on spring calving and producing as much milk as possible from grazed grass,” Dr. The new products have been developed with the over-arching theme: ‘ do dairy differently’. Specifically, the research results have been used to validate the merit of the new Crystalyx range of nutritional solutions, designed to meet the specific needs of dairy farms. “Beyond this the trials have highlighted the need to meet the specific nutritional needs of the transition cow and those animals during the first 100 days of their new lactation.” The research clearly shows that if the growth of heifers is stalled at any stage in their development, up to the first 100 days post calving, the end result will be a sustained and cumulative impact in their ability to produce milk on a consistent basis over a long number of lactations. “The challenge of heifer rearing is a case in point. “The research results will have a direct application on all Irish dairy farms. The Caltech Crystalyx funded trials were carried out at a number of Europe’s leading centres of dairy research.Ĭaltech Crystalyx technical director Dr. This work has also confirmed that such an approach will deliver for dairy farming businesses, across all measurable metrics of sustainability: production related and environmental.
Crystal lyx full#
The results confirm the absolute priority for milk producers to ensure that their management standards match the genetic merit of their animals from birth through to calving and, thereafter, the full lactational requirements of their stock on an ongoing basis.
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Crystal lyx series#
Possibly the largest series of dairy cattle nutrition research trials ever undertaken in Europe has recently been completed.
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