A Testimonial on Holm & Laue Calf Expert at Auchenleck Farm, Auchencairn. Craig and Louis Marshall from Castle Douglas recently installed Holm & Laue’s Calf Expert with four hygiene stations.
Craig and Louis Marshall from Castle Douglas recently installed Holm & Laue’s Calf Expert with four hygiene stations. They have been very happy with how calves have settled in to the new shed and the machines, with around 20 calves per station.
Calves are initially reared on Britmilk’s Calf Defender for the first 7 – 10 days a transition milk that helps encourage a healthy gut, before moving to the machine and on to Britmilk’s Enterprise milk.
Mervyn Turkington from Britmilk said the two most important factors for feeding milk are the temperature and consistency. “The machines are successful in achieving consistent temperature and consistency. Calves also create an enzyme while sucking that helps with the breakdown of milk in the stomach – so calves feeding from a teat is always better than drinking from a bucket or trough.”
Craig added: “Having calves fed on a machine makes it more manageable for one person to milk cows and see to calves. We have seen an improvement in calf growth rates, and calves are also very content. The back up and support we have received from Fullwoodhead is excellent. The ability to monitor the machine by WIFI, enables Fullwoodhead to check and alter settings remotely."
