to download the brochure about Queen of Calves as a pdf.

BIGGER CALVESBETTER COWSMORE MILK

2Have a look at the picture on the next page…It tells astory of the Queen of Calves Programme . One of manycalving success stories that we love being part of atBell-Booth. And it’s a tale that could be yours too...If you want to grow bigger calves,that produce better cows, withmore milk, our Queen of Calvesprogramme has shown time andtime again that it delivers justthat… And it can for yourcalves too.Hi, I’m Stephen Bell-Booth andthis year we celebrate 50 yearsin business.Nigel Taylor has raised all his replacements for the past 4 years(autumn and spring) on the Queen of Calves Programme. Thesecalves were weaned at 9 weeks, weighing 90kg on average. At thesame time they were put on the runoff (the piece of land they’restanding on) and were there until 2 weeks prior to calving.At 6 months old, (pictured on the cover and amongst the groupon the right) these babies crashed the fence and got in with thebought-in yearlings that were not raised on a Queen of CalvesProgramme. Later the vet came to check on the yearlings. She wasunaware of the mix up and was slightly concerned some of theyearlings were a bit small to put to the bull. Nigel tried to explainto the vet they were only 6 months old. She didn’t believe him...Orange tags are yearlings and yellow tags 6mth old calves.

3“Here’s living proof of biggercalves, becoming better cowsthat produce more milk”NIGEL TAYLORDairy farmer, ManawatuBigger really is better. Pictured here at 22 months,these heifers (pictured as calves aged 6 months oncover and page 2) averaged 535 kilograms. Theyentered the milking herd at over 90% of their potentialmature liveweight and produced 29% more milk thantheNew Zealand average. Here’s living proof of biggercalves, becoming better cows that produce more milk.

4Thanks for reading on...• The experts tell us we get one shot at it.• The first 12 weeks. It’s make or break.• If we get that bit right, calves willintegrate into the herd like they ownthe farm.• They’ll milk well.• And they’ll reproduce. Even as secondyear calvers.Something to ponder.In the season just gone, the average R2 Friesian/Holsteinweighed 398kg. That means the majority of our nation’scows entered the milking herd at approximately 75%of their potential mature liveweight. This is a clearopportunity for improvement. And it’s not difficult orexpensive to achieve a 90% potential maturity at R2.Growing bigger calves will make a profound difference.

5QUEEN OF CALVES DELIVERSBIGGER CALVESCalves RAISED on Queen ofCalves, reached their targetIn a closed-loop 2007 Feed Conversion Study, conductedby Massey University, researchers found that sameprogeny calves of identical birth weight fed an identicaldiet, grew bigger and quicker, when the daily wholemilkwas supplemented with the high energy, highly digestibleQueen of Calves feed. The treated calves reached theirtarget weaning weight 8 days earlier, and required lessfeed to get there – 16% less meal and 9% less milk.Figure 1. Daily hip width development.63mm daily growth.78mm daily growthweaning weight 8 days earlier,and required less fEED to getthere – 16% less meal and 9%less milk.Massey used daily hip width measurements as thedetermining comparison for skeletal growth. At 12 weeksof age, the treated calves had produced an average dailyhip width growth of .78mm per day. The untreated calvesgrew .63mm per day.

6BIGGER CALVES PRODUCEBETTER COWSThese are better cows. Only because theywere raised on Queen of Calves.Born in the spring of 2006, mostof Colin and Shelley Pope’s calveswere very sick due to a devastatingrotavirus outbreak in the shed. Toquote Shelley, “It was depressingand devastating, and we struggledto get on top of it.” If you’veexperienced the effects of rotaviruson your farm, it’s fair to say thosecalves generally never do wellas milkers. And you’d hardly linethem up to be photographed for abrochure, would you!Colin and Shelley say “They werethe first calves to be raised on theQueen of Calves Programme andare now being milked. We’re verypleased with their production andgrowth, especially considering howthe virus knocked them about.”According to the Popes, this year’scalves have good body frames andlarge appetites.“They’ve got suchlarge appetites!”Colin & Shelley PopeDairy farmers, Kaponga, Taranaki

7BETTER COWS PRODUCEMORE MILKSomething to ponder.If a 400 cow Friesian herd, with a 25% replacement policy,producing milk at the national average 08/09 level could lift theproduction to just the average performance of the herds using aQueen of Calves programme, then on a $6.05 payout the increased49 kilograms additional milksolids/heifer (year 1) would equate toanother $295/heifer/season or, an additional $30,000 more grossrevenue per year.And in the second lactation, those cows could produce another58 kg/MS, bringing an additional $35,000 gross revenue.6,900 cow studyProfessor Chris Triggs, Head ofStatistics, Auckland UniversityIn a study involving 6,900 dairy cowsof all the major breed types that wereraised on Queen of Calves, ProfessorChris Triggs, Head of Department,Department of Statistics, Faculty ofScience, The University of Auckland,compared the daily milk production ofthese cows against given breeds andyear with the comparable publishednational LIC data for that year for allLIC herds. In Professor Triggs opinion,analysis of the data shows that thesefirst year milking cows producedon average 18.4% additional dailymilksolids compared to the 2007/08published New Zealand nationalaverage data from LIC. In their secondlactation, these cows produced 18.8%additional daily milksolids using thesame reference.Professor Triggs is currently studyingthe data from a survey involving 10,000cows of major breed types, raised on aQueen of Calves Programme, details ofwhich will be posted on thewww.queenofcalves.com website.Supporting DataIn first lactation:100 x 2 year heifers@265 kg/MS (LIC national average milk production 2007/08)@314 kg/MS (Queen of Calves average milk production 2007/08)Total additional revenue/heifer = $295 in first lactationIn second lactation:100 x 3 year heifers@307 kg/MS (LIC national average 2007/08)@365 kg/MS (Queen of Calves average 2007/08)Total additional revenue/heifer = $350 in second lactationTotal revenue at the end of two year period is $645/heifer frominvesting in an additional $9.00/calf to implement a Queen ofCalves Programme.

8THE LATESTRESEARCHMore efficient digestionQueen of Calves is a microfine powder. It’s made from highlydigestible foods and the way it digests into the animal’s system isvery unique. Because Queen of Calves is added to the milk and the calfsucks the mixture via a teat, the milk and the feed are delivered directlyinto the simple stomach (abomasum). Normally, when the calf eats, thefeed goes to the rumen.Evidence suggests that through this unique delivery mechanism, theenergy conversion ratio is about 42% more efficient than a conventionalcarbohydrate conversion process. In practical terms, adding Queen ofCalves energises a calf’s diet enabling it to reach weaning weight up to14 days earlier * . This saves a lot of labour, milk and meal.*Massey University Queen of Calves Trial 2006Reduced methane emissionsThe addition of Queen of Calves produces more frame andless gas.Because methane is generated in the rumen, and Queen of Calves isdeposited into the simple stomach, less methane is produced duringfeeding. A preliminary feed intake analysis by research consultancyCatalyst R&D Ltd estimated that at weaning there may be areduction in methane emissions of up to 0.21 kg 1 for a calf raisedon a Queen of Calves Programme compared to a calf raised on anidentical diet less Queen of Calves.For a mob of 200 replacements raised on a Queen of CalvesProgramme these reductions in methane emissions would be 41kg.This has the equivalent greenhouse warming potential of 880kg CO 2– the same as that produced by driving a medium sized petrol carfrom Auckland to Wellington 6 times, or burning 450kg coal.1Based on a calf emission factor of 19.75 kg methane per kg DMI

9“It makes a realdifference.”Gavin & Sally RodenDairy farmers, Waiuku, South AucklandIn practical terms,this is not only good forthe calf – it’s good forthe country

10FAQsQ.1A.1Will my cows produce 18% more milk just by changing to aQueen of Calves programme?Likely. Other factors like disease prevention, pasture management and shed set-up will influence your results.Q.2A.2We’re already a high producer. What’s our chance of increasingmilk production by 18%?The chances are good because you already have the infrastructure and ability to raise high-producingcows. There are many top-producing dairy farms throughout New Zealand and Australia that have changed to theQueen of Calves programme, and their evidence shows milk production has increased. Some farms have exceeded thatfigure. But even if you achieved just 5%, that extra revenue would pay back your investment in the programme manytimes over.

11Q.3A.3My vet knows about the research work but wants to know moreabout the make up of the product?Queen of Calves is a probiotic and nutritional derived from land and sea plant extracts.X-Factor is a probiotic. Both products were developed within Bell-Booth Limited and are trade secrets.Therefore we cannot disclose formulation details.Q.4A.4I’ve heard it’s hard to mix. Correct?No. There are easy to follow mixing instructions on every bag and it is easy to mix. But as nothing’sas easy as pouring milk out of the vat into a calfateria, if you want good results, make sure your staffappreciate the benefits of the programme and follow simple procedure:(1) Pour the powder in a bucket (2) Hose with water to hydrate (3) Leave overnight.Q.5A.5I run a low input farming system. How can it work for me?(1) To raise a replacement calf on a Queen of Calves Programme costs $9.00 ** more per calf than a traditionalmilk and meal programme, this is without factoring any labour savings gained from 8-14 days earlier weaning.(2) Research suggests the opportunity cost of not achieving early weaning is evidenced in (a) lower R3 reproduction, (b) nomilk production from heifers that failed to mate because of poor skeletal growth, and (c) the cost of grazing empty cows foranother 12 months. If we conservatively estimate that cost at $3,000 per cow, how can you afford not to?* & ** See page 13 for full details

12Something to ponder.For farmers who run low-input systems.We have studied a number of models involving theuse of Queen of Calves fed with low milk rates. Andwhen we first started the programme, we promoted alow milk model because of the cost savings. But we’reconvinced by the research and the anecdotal evidencethat the lifetime benefits associated with providing acalf a balanced, high energy and high ME (metabolisableenergy) nutrition outweigh any cost savings from a lowinput scheme. Lifetime economics, better milk productionand better fertility.

13WHAT’S THE COSTCOMPARISON?ProgrammeWHOLEMILKMEAL /PELLETSSTRAW /HAYX-FACTORQUEEN OFCALVESDAYS TOWEANINGTOTAL COSTPER CALFTraditionalProgrammeQueen of CalvesProgramme4L/day 50kg 1 bale - - 70 $2404L/day 38kg 1 bale 50g/day 200g/day 63 $249Additional investment in a Queen of Calves Programme is only $9In our 50 years of business we’ve worked with literally thousands of farmers andin recent years have collated a substantial amount of calf rearing data.A standard dairy heifer replacement diet consists of milk, meal and straw and runs for 10-12 weeks. A Queen ofCalves Programme consists of milk, meal and straw with the addition of X-Factor for the first 18 days and Queenof Calves from Day 19 to weaning and runs for 9 weeks.A $9 increase in feed investment canpotentially yield a $295 ** additional return in thefirst lactation.ADDITIONAL COST: 100 calves x $9 = $900ADDITIONAL GROSS REVENUE: 100 heifers x $295 = $29,500IMPROVED PROFIT: $28,600* Based on a payout of $6.05/kg/MS and calfmeal prices as of February 2010.** Based on the average milk yields measured over 6,900 cows reared onthe Queen of Calves Programme, when compared with the national herdaverage and a $6.05 payout.

14BIGGER CALVESBETTER COWSMORE MILKIt all adds upThe Dairy Industry has spent many millions of dollarsresearching genetics, automation, management systems anddisease prevention. But there is a large gulf in studying theearly nutrition requirements of high performance genetics.We believe that the early Queen of Calves research work by MasseyUniversity clearly shows that raising high performance calves ona traditional low FME diet of milk and meal deprives them of theenergy they need to reach their genetic potential.The experts say that if we get thefirst 12 weeks wrong, we can neverrecover that lost opportunity.In practical terms, a slowermaturingcalf transitions into asmaller-framed, less productiveand reproductive cow for life.At Bell-Booth we’re serious about calf nutritionand the link to milk production. If you’re serious,our product specialists are trained to help yougrow your replacement calves into high-producingand reproducing cows.Talk to us today about how Queenof Calves can help you set your herdup for life – call 0800 80 90 91 andstart this season.For specific feeding guidelinesand technical information visitwww.queenofcalves.com

15“It really works.”Alan & Paula Bryant & son CameronDairy farmers, Te Awamutu, Waikato

BIGGER CALVESBETTER COWSMORE MILKBell-Booth Limited15 Tiki Place, Palmerston North, New ZealandP: 0800 80 90 91 +64 6 358 9052F: 0800 80 90 93 +64 6 358 9051E: qoc@bell-booth.co.nzwww.bell-booth.co.nzwww.queenofcalves.comDisclaimer: E&OE. As the feeding of X-Factor and Queen of Calves is beyond the manufacturer’s control, the manufacturerlimits all responsibility and limitation for their use. The manufacturer reserves the right to amend the specifications andprogramme recommendations without notice. Not suitable for human consumption.Copyright February 2010, Bell-Booth Limited, Palmerston North, New Zealand. All rights reserved. Queen of Calves is aregistered trademark of Bell-Booth Limited.BEL 6401