Harnessing the power of nature for the future of farming

Outline

1. The global challenge

2. From calf to cow

3. Where LifeStart makes a difference

4. The role of milk

5. Unlocking the full potential of calves

I. Accelerated growth

II. Enhanced mammary development

III. Lower age of calving

IV. Increased milk production

6. The LifeStart research project

7. Your LifeStart opportunity

1. The global farming challenge

Natural, sustainable methods of improving health and productivity are required

• Nine billion people to feed by 2050

• Pressure to become more sustainable

• Drive to improve animal welfare and health

LifeStart

• Natural and sustainable method for rearing more productive cows

• Potential to improve health and reduce costly interventions

• Dedicated to developing farming protocols and the science behind them

Your future as a cow is dictated by what and how much you eat as a young calf

”Early calf nutrition management can program the metabolism of the cow and help to determine life productivity.”

Fernando Soberon PhD, Technical Services Manager, Shur-Gain USA

2.

The LifeStart phenomenon

• Metabolic programming happens in nature

• Caused by availability of quality food in early life

• Results in whole life health and performance at ”full potential”

Metabolic programming

• Thought to be caused by epigenetics...

• ...the expression of genes outside the genome

• Precise mechanism not known but is being investigated by new LifeStart trials

The critical window of opportunity

• The first 8-9 weeks of pre-weaning period is critical

• Careful management is the key

• Virtuous circle of good health, quality nutrition and strong growth

5 critical control points

Cleanliness – hygienic birth and housing

Colostrum – 4 litres in the first 6 hours

Comfort – dry, bright, soft, well ventilated

Calories – 150g/litre of LifeStart approved CMR

Consistency – feed according to a schedule

❶

❷

❸

❹

❺

Where LifeStart makes the difference

“Raising calves is a huge opportunity to reduce workload and costs caused by unhealthy animals and to boost the productivity of individual cows.” Dr Klaus Daubinger, Calf rearing expert

3.

Aims of the LifeStart Program

• Strong healthy growth

• Less diarrhoea

• Less respiratory issues

• Optimal rumen development

• Higher milk yield

• Strong, durable cows

• Higher life time production

FROM CALF TO COW

LifeStart – calf rearing objectives

Holstein Friesian example

Low mortality rate < 5%

Low diarrhoea incidence < 10 %

Low incidence of lung problems < 10 %

Weaning weight at 9 weeks of age 85-95 kg

Weight at 3 months of age 115-120 kg

Insemination age From 14 months

Calving age From 23 months

Growth that leads to performance

1. Strong early growth

2. Excellent health

3. Optimal rumen development

4. Earlier insemination

5. Earlier calving

6. Increase milk yield

7. Strong durable cows

8. Higher Lifetime production

AN

IMA

L G

RO

WTH

AGE

The role of milk

Intensive feeding with whole milk or LifeStart approved high quality milk replacer is key

4.

Typical LifeStart feeding plan

Feed rates for quality heifers...

• 150g/litre x 6 litres/day

• LifeStart milk replacer for 40-42 days then start to reduce levels gradually to wean at 70 days

• 6 litres/calf/day x 150g/litre = 900g powder/day

Unlocking the full potential of the calves

I. Accelerated growth II. Enhanced mammary development III. Lower age of calving IV. Increased milk production

5.

Accelerated calf growth is the foundation for improved lifetime yields

l.

Early weaning = lower growth

Weaning 9 weeks CMR

125g/l + antibodies

Weaning 7 weeks CMR

145g/l + antibodies

Weaning 7 weeks CMR

145g/l - antibodies

Growth 0-17 weeks (kg) 128,3 116 115,8

Av daily growth 63d (g) 844 779 768

Av daily growth 12wk (g) 913 842 850

Intake milk replacer (kg) 39 23 23

Intake compound feed (kg) 273 286 282

Diarrhoea (% of calves) 3,8 4,2 8,7

Metabolic programmming growth is visible

The LifeStart program and accelerated growth

Accelerated growth is the fundation for improved lifetime performance

How CMR quantity affect growth performance

Trial South-Africa

Weaning age 60 days => ADG 400 versus 900 g

Control Trial

Beginning wt 40.9 40.9 kg

Ending wt 64.5 94.4 kg

Wt gain 24 54 kg

Total milk 285 579 l

Total starter 31 39 kg

Total treatments 3 0 n

Milk replacer equivalent 36 72 kg powder

Enhanced mammary development is a productive consequence of high growth rates

ll.

The effect of strong growth on mammary development

Source: Brown et all 2004

Early growth is a key factor for future productivity

Isometric growth Allometric growth Isometric growth

Naturally high growth rates allow earlier insemination and calving

lll.

The LifeStart program and earlier calving

The effect of early growth on age at first calving

Source : institut Babcok

How age at first calving affects replacement herd size

Change in replacement size from 24 months

Source: Raising Dairy Replacements A1485, University Wisconsis

If achieved consistently this has a major effect on overall productivity

Source: Meyer et al 2004

● 8-yr-old group

● 7-yr-old group

● 6-yr-old group

● 5-yr-old group

● 4-yr-old group

● 3-yr-old group

Enhanced early growth is proven to increase milk production

lV.

The effect of pre-weaning growth on milk production

The LifeStart promise to farmers

4 litres/gram

Referencing the studies summarized previously where milk production is increased by proper colostrum administrations in the first hour as well as increased ADG pre-weaning, the LifeStart Program aims to deliver an average first lactation increase of 4 litres per gram of growth.

The LifeStart research project

6.

The LifeStart research project

• Undertaken by Nutreco R&D with support from Cornell University

• Trial underway monitoring 70 Holstein Friesian calves from birth

• Half fed 30kg of CMR in 1st 8 weeks the other half fed 60kg

The LifeStart research project

Access the results as they happen at lifestart.nutreco.com

Objectives:

• To determine the precise metabolic changes at play

• To define the impact of early life nutrition on milk production through successive lactations

The LifeStart research project

In a unique first for the global ruminant industry, the LifeStart trial will be made public every step of the way.

You can follow it here on: LifeStart.nutreco.com

Your LifeStart opportunity

7.

LifeStart on farm

• Look for the LifeStart logo on bags of approved high quality calf milk replacer

• Find out how to adapt to the LifeStart program from your professional calf rearing farm advisor

Your LifeStart opportunity

• Improve herd performance

• Be at the forefront of the global dairy industry

• Improve sustainable farm production protocols

References

1. E.G. Brown, M.J. VandeHaar, K.M. Daniels, J.S. Liesman, L.T. Chapin, J.W. Forrest, R.M. Akers, R.E. Pearson, M.S. Weber Nielsen, 2005. Effect of Increasing Energy and Protein Intake on Mammary. Development in Heifer Calves, American Dairy Science Association, J. Dairy Sci. 88:595–603.

2. M.J. Meyer, R.W. Everett and M.E. Van Amburgh, 2004, Reduced Age at First Calving: Effects on Lifetime Production, Longevity, and Profitability

3. A. Shamay, D. Werner, U. Moallem, H. Barash, and I. Bruckental, 2005, Effect of Nursing Management and Skeletal Size at

Weaning on Puberty, Skeletal Growth Rate, and Milk Production During First Lactation of Dairy Heifers, J. Dairy Sci. 88:1460–1469

4. S.N. Faber, Pas, N.E. Faber, T.C. McCauley, and R. L. Ax, 2005, Effects of Colostrum Ingestion on Lactational Performance, The

Professional Animal Scientist 21:420–425

5. U. Moallem, D. Werner, H. Lehrer, M. Zachut, L. Livshitz, S. Yakoby, and A. Shamay, 2010, Long-term effects of ad libitum whole milk prior to weaning and prepubertal protein supplementation on skeletal growth rate and first-lactation milk production, J. Dairy Sci. 93:2639–2650

6. M. Raeth-Knight, H. Chester-Jones, S. Hayes, J. Linn, R. Larson, D. Ziegler, B. Ziegler, and N. Broadwater, 2009, Impact of conventional or intensive milk replacer programs on Holstein heifer performance through six months of age and during first lactation, J. Dairy Sci. 92:799–809

7. J. K. Drackley, Ph.D, 2007, Accelerated Growth Programs for Milk-Fed Calves, Department of Animal Sciences, University

of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, High Plains Dairy Conference, 87-96

8. M. Terré, C. Tejero and A. Bach, 2009, Long-term effects on heifer performance of an enhanced-growth feeding programme

applied during the preweaning period, Journal of Dairy Research 76: 331–339.

Additional slides for use