Our trained vet techs have been out and about weighing calves through our Weigh It Up programme.
Weighing allows you to be more accurate with weaning and drenching, plus it helps you better understand how your animals are tracking at crucial stages of their development.
Replacement calves are the future of every herd. Getting weaning weights right will give them the best chance post-weaning. Focusing on targets during this part of their life can help your animals grow well and become good milk producers, maximising lifetime productivity when they enter the milking shed.
Most dairy farms aren’t set up with any weigh equipment, but Weigh It Up’s portable scales means we can make weighing calves in calf sheds or dairy yards possible. We can also work with yards at grazing blocks.
While they’re in, it’s a great time to do any drenching and vaccinating as well – there’s no point yarding them twice right? We think the same and are happy to work around your plans.
To make things easy, clients have the option of giving us MINDA access, so all weights can be uploaded to MINDA directly. Afterwards, a summary email is sent with results and MINDA graphs showing where calves are sitting on the target line and the percentage of animals in the ideal, or above, weight range.
Data like this is vital for knowing how your stock are tracking and making informed decisions. Frequent weighing every month or two is recommended so you can benefit from a full picture as your calves grow.
This programme is run out of our Winton clinic. Call 03 236 6090 or 027 281 1661 for more information, or to make a booking with the Weigh It Up team.
