ARTIST tips

WHY USE TEATS INSTEAD OF A BUCKET ?

In nature, calves suckle from a “teat”, a behavior that provides numerous advantages compared to drinking from a bucket.

Calf milk is a vital component of calf nutrition during the early stages of life. Achieving the correct ratio of water to milk powder—known as the dry matter concentration (DM%)—is critical. This balance ensures the optimal delivery of nutrients such as protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals.

As winter approaches, dairy farmers face the challenge of keeping their young livestock warm and healthy. For young calves, this is particularly crucial, as they are more vulnerable to cold stress, which can negatively impact their growth, immunity, and overall well-being. One effective tool for managing this challenge is the use of calf jackets. These specially designed jackets offer a range of benefits that can significantly improve calf health during the colder months.

For lifetime performance the first weeks of the calf’s life are critical but also a window of opportunity for dairy farmers. The health status in early life has been shown to be a major factor for milk yield, fat and protein production.  Just born calves are vulnerable for diseases because they lack an active immunity system. The gut epithelium still needs to develop, and microbiota colonization still needs to take place.