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ADVERTORIAL LIZA BOHLMANN Byboost helps
with healthier calves and cows
Calf health, as well as good production and reproduction are the reasons why the Byboost Mproducts are used in the Disco Bonsmara herd.
r Phillip Taylor is the lecting since their birth, are very good.” herd manager of Disco The careful upkeeping of the herd’s Bonsmaras, owned by production and reproduction figures is Mr Boeram Venter. supported by the data collected at the The farm is located near phase C station and shows the progress Addo, in the Sundays in the herd.
River Valley in the Eas­ “In the summer of 2014, the average tern Cape. The stud herd exists of about weaning weight for heifers and bulls was 210 Bonsmaras. 230kg. The 2019 group’s average weaning
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AREA
Addo, Eastern Cape
Mr Phillip Taylor, herd manager of Disco Bonsmaras, says the range of Byboost products plays a key role to improve the herd’s production and reproduction.
to improve heifers’ condition and fertility. The product contains, among others, se­ lenium, which makes a big contribution towards improved fertility.”
Calves typically weigh 34­35kg when they are three days old.
“We are looking for growth. At the end of the day there must be a steak on the plate, and therefore we like sturdy calves.”
According to Phillip, the dosage of By­ boost Kickstart gives the calves a good lead at this stage that helps them to put on good weight. Calves are typically wea­ ned when they are 205 days old and must then weigh more than 250kg – a target they are reaching that much easier since using Byboost.
“We work with Mr Rabé Kok (the Bayer agent in the southern coastal regions of the Eastern Cape), who assists us with the livestock health program.”
The herd is largely kept on natural Uitenhage bushveld pastures. In critical periods, such as calving and mating time, the cows and heifers are kept on kikuyu pastures under irrigation.
“In the veld we give a production lick and on the grass, they get a phosphate lick.”
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“We use Bayer’s Byboost Kickstart from early in the calf’s life. We apply it orally after we have weighed them when they are three days old. It especially helps to get the young calf’s rumen function going. When weaning we use Byboost Calf for the calves and the cows get Byboost Cattle. Just before the start of the mating sea­ son, the cows get another dose of Byboost Cattle,” says Phillip.
He says they started seeing an increase in weaning weight after they started using Byboost in the herd. It definitely contri­ butes to the calves’ condition.
“We installed a phase C test station in 2017 on the farm and kept a group of 46 young bulls there in September 2019.
“This was the first group we dosed with Byboost Kickstart and Byboost Cattle and the results of the data we have been col­
weight stands at 262kg. It’s an increase of 32kg in four years!” says Phillip.
He adds that factors such as better bree­ ding material and breeding decisions also make a significant contribution to this im­ provement.
“What we brought into the herd by bree­ ding, is however supported by Byboost. To realise that genetic potential, you need the right circumstances. This includes pro­ per nutrition and supplements. I believe Byboost’s range of products made a huge favourable impact on the growth and health of the herd.”
FERTILITY AND GROWTH
The heifers between 20 and 24 months get a dose of Byboost Cattle before mating for the first time.
“Byboost definitely gives an extra boost
The condition, production and reproduc­ tion of cows and calves are supported by the dosage of Byboost Kick Start, Byboost Calf and Byboost Cattle.
Heifers and cows are dosed with Byboost Cattle before the mating season and after calving to be in the best possible condition during these important stages.
Product registration numbers in terms of Act 36 of 1947 on page 3.
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