By Charlie Cooper-Harding, Senior Dairy Specialist at Wynnstay
For years, calf and heifer nutrition has followed a traditional path, steady growth, loosely controlled energy and a very cautious approach to starch. The industry has prioritised average rumen health and frame development, usually at the expense of pushing early life performance to its true potential.
However, what if that balance can be changed?
New thinking in ruminant nutrition is challenging past assumptions about metabolisable protein (MP) supply and starch utilisation in youngstock nutrition. Research suggests that the traditional approach is leaving performance behind, particularly during the critical pre pubertal growth phase.
At the centre of this re-thinking stage, there are two key drivers:
- The role of supplying MP in supporting lean tissue deposition and mammary development.
- The strategic use of starch to fuel growth and rumen development.
Traditionally, high starch inclusion in youngstock diets has been treated with caution, largely due to concerns around acidosis and suboptimal rumen development. However, with advancements in ingredient processing, rumen synchrony, and protein and fibre balancing the reshape of high starch diets are possible.
When Metabolisable Protein supply is optimised, not just in quantity but in amino acid availability, as well as balanced fibre levels to correctly meet short, medium and long term NDFd (Neutral detergent fibre digestibility) the animal is better equipped to utilise higher levels of fermentable energy efficiently. Therefore, higher levels of starch are no longer simply an energy source, or a concern they become a key driver for metabolic efficiency and higher levels of growth and development.
The new generation of Calf and Heifer compounds may not look too different on paper, but functionally we are designing with a different objective, by unlocking accelerated development and growth through rumen fermentation and systematic MP supply.
Key concepts:
- Elevated MP supply to target early growth, rather than later correction.
- High starch inclusion, focusing on digestibility and rumen fermentation.
- Improved rumen synchronisation between rumen degradable protein and carbohydrates.
Importantly it is about focusing on nutrition to meet the animal’s genetic potential earlier, with greater efficiency and consistency.
Early on farm trials show strong results in daily live weight gain, frame and rumen development and most importantly improved feed conversion efficiency.
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technical@wynnstay.co.uk
www.wynnstayplc.co.uk