“MilkGuard is the link in the chain.” Simplifying Calf Management on Paul Hyland’s Co. Laois Dairy Farm
Paul Hyland farms in partnership with his brother David in Clough, Ballacolla, Co. Laois, operating a 100% dairy enterprise. The farm runs a spring-calving, grass-based system, alongside an autumn contract where a proportion of the herd calves later in the year. Like many progressive dairy farmers, Paul is continually looking for practical ways to support calf health while keeping calf management as efficient and straightforward as possible.
Inform Nutrition’s Conor Delaney recently visited Paul to discuss his experience using MilkGuard and the role it now plays within the farm’s calf-rearing programme. Suitable for use in both whole milk and milk replacer, MilkGuard is formulated with Inform Nutrition’s C-Guard blend to support calf digestive health. Designed to improve milk digestibility, it helps support digestive function, reduce nutritional diarrhoea and promote healthy growth, while providing greater flexibility when feeding calves.
Maintaining a strong herd health programme has always been a priority on the Hyland farm. Paul explains that they “vaccinate extensively– everything from rotavirus to salmonella. The calves get their RSV, they get the IBR. We rely heavily on vaccines.” Despite these measures, the farm continued to experience challenges during the calf-rearing period. “We had a big problem there for the last couple of years. It was a scourge actually, it was crypto.” Alongside the impact on calf health, these challenges also placed additional pressure on labour during the busy calving season. As Paul explains, “There’s a lot of labour required here, and there’s an awful lot more labour required if it goes wrong.
Looking for a practical way to support calf management, Paul introduced MilkGuard into the system. Since then, it has become part of the farm’s daily calf-feeding routine. “MilkGuard is a link in the chain really. We add MilkGuard to all fresh milk going to calves now.”
One of the biggest advantages has been the confidence it gives when feeding calves during the busy spring period. “You can feed a calf adequately, and even more than adequately, with MilkGuard without causing any nutritional upset.”
For Paul, the simplicity of the system has been just as valuable as the feeding flexibility it provides. “Very simply, it was to simplify the operation with calves, not to be involving another product treating calves. We started as a trial, and it seems to be working so far.”
Commenting on Paul’s experience, Conor Delaney of Inform Nutrition said:”It’s great to see how MilkGuard has become part of Paul’s calf-rearing programme. Formulated to support digestive calf health, MilkGuard continues to deliver practical benefits that help simplify day-to-day calf management and support healthy calf growth.”
