Vantage Feeds

The “Vantage” system with FERMENTEN

1) The Calf-Vantage System:

Designed specifically for dairy calves. This is based on a coarse ration and fed to calves between 3 days to 8-10 weeks of age.

Ensure that the calf gets at least 2.5 litres of colostrum within 6 hours of birth and a further 2.5 litres within 12 hours of birth and continues to have access to colustrum for 3 days after birth. Use either wholemilk or a quality CMR such as Volac Blossom or Heiferlac and feed twice a day, building up to 3 litres a feed (6 litres per day) or a minimum of 600gms of powder per day. Fresh drinking water should be available at all times.

“Calf-Vantage Mix”:

• Offer small amounts of feed on a regular basis from 3 days of age.
• Initially adding a tiny amount of mix to the milk bucket, as they drink, will help speed up dry feed intake.
• Calves can be weaned between 4 to 8 weeks, but never before they are eating at least 1.25 – 1.5kgs of Calf-Vantage Mix per day.
• Ensure that only clean, bright straw is used for bedding.

2) The Heifer-Vantage System:

Designed specifically for dairy heifers post weaning up to breeding age.

“Vantage 4 Pellets”:

• Two weeks post weaning, or when the calf is eating 3 – 3.5kgs of Calf Vantage Mix offer calves a 50:50 mixture of Calf Vantage Mix and Vantage 4 Pellets for a week.
• Ensuring that calves maintain or increase daily intakes remove the Calf-Vantage Mix from the diet.
•  Heifers should be fed Vantage 4 Pellets at 4kgs per day until 18 weeks of age.
• At 18 weeks silage can be offered in small amounts, ensuring that heifers are still eating 4kgs of the Vantage 4 Pellets.
• Ensure that only clean, bright straw is used for bedding.

“Vantage 2 Pellets”:

• By 18 weeks start weaning them on to Vantage 2
• By 20 weeks they should be fed Vantage 2 Pellets at 2kgs / heifer / day, with forages offered ad lib.
• Vantage 2 Pellets should be fed to breeding (13 months of age).