LinoVit | Healthier Calves and Earlier First Calving

The operation

• 230 lactating dairy cows
• Average herd production: 12,100 kg
• 4 milking robots and automatic feeding system

Our solution

• Linovit has been used in the operation since 2022 with a 30% inclusion rate in the dry calf TMR.
• Linovit dry TMR is offered to calves aged 2 days to 15 weeks.
• Cow’s TMR is added to the feed from 12 weeks of age in order to enable a gradual transition.
• Composition of the dry TMR: 30% Linovit, barley (ground), corn (ground), molasses and straw.
• Six tons of dry TMR are produced in mixing wagons and stored for approx. 6 months in Big Bags and containers. More recently, the TMR has been successfully pressed into round bales and stored.

The goal

• Improve the development of the calves
• Save time and costs by in-house mixing of high-quality dry TMR

The success

With Linovit TMR, the calves consumed a larger amount of feed at an earlier stage. Even in the igloo phase, the acceptance was higher and no selection was observed. The calves developed markedly better with a combination of Linovit TMR and intensive liquid feeding. Fewer diseases occurred and the calves became more vital. When the first group that was fed with the new concept became ready for insemination, it soon became evident that a reduction of the age at first calving of about two months had become possible.