Christian McSweeney farms full-time with his father near Blarney,in Co. Cork. They milk Holstein-Friesian cows, calving all year round, and rear their own replacements and beef calves — selling the rest through the mart.
Last January, Christian picked up a drum of BioBalance from Country Farm Supplies to trial on the calves. It didn’t take long to see a difference.
Side-by-Side Trial Settled It Quickly
Christian didn’t take the decision lightly. He ran a direct comparison — two groups of five calves, matched for age, penned side by side. “We did one group of five that we started putting it into the milk, then another group of five that we didn’t. And you could see a difference,” he says.
“There was a better coat on the ones we gave the BioBalance to. They had a bit more appetite. They were faster to eat a bit of roughage as well — picking out a bit of silage, a bit of haylage — which is very important for the calves because the second they can start eating, that means their stomachs are starting to develop.”
The trial was short-lived — in the best sense. “We saw them maturing and thriving a lot better. We didn’t take long to decide to change over and put them all on the BioBalance.”
Better Coats, Better Appetite, Better Calves at the Mart
With all calves on BioBalance at 20 mls per calf, the improvements carried through the shed and out to grass. “They had a better appetite. They were kind of eager to eat a bit more silage. They were always a bit hungrier,” Christian says. On the automatic calf feeder, the difference was obvious. “We found they were kind of always waiting for it, killing up for it nearly, compared to what they were before.”
The calves going through the mart reflected the investment. “When you look at the calves at the mart, you’ll see some calves look better than others, and the better looking calves, you’ll get the better money and more of a demand for them. It is about trying to have the best animal there.”
The phone started ringing too. “We’re actually getting phone calls from a couple of guys saying, look, have you any calves? It’s not hard for us to sell the calves when they know they’ll get a good calf in the end.”
Replacement Heifers Above Target Weight for Age
The McSweeneys invest heavily in genetics — sexed semen and AI across nearly all their heifers and top cows — so getting the start right is non-negotiable. “We pay a lot for it. And it’s not just about all the research into bulls and breeding — from when the calf is born, if they’re struggling or falling behind, you need to cover every aspect of that animal’s growing up stage,” Christian says.
The replacement heifers from last year proved the point. “They were above target weight for age. They were thriving. There was no problems with health or anything. Good appetite. And they were ready for grass — when the time came, they were in good order. They adjusted very well.”
Christian sees it as setting up the next generation. “We’ve heifers there and they’re the start of our next generation — two years’ time now, they will be our heifers going in calf. You’d see them — they’re going to lead the herd on.”
Less Time, Less Vet Bills, Less Pressure
With large numbers of calves in the shed at once, management time matters. “When they’re in good order, all you have to do is feed them and vaccinate them and just make sure they’re looked after,” Christian explains. “When there’s a calf that doesn’t have everything he needs, he could struggle. He could create a lot of work for you — create vet bills, create costs, create time. Time is valuable.”
The routine itself takes almost nothing. “Pour 20 mls of the BioBalance into a measuring jug per calf. Our buckets would feed five calves — 100 mls of BioBalance — give it a quick whisk and into the feeders or into the hand bottles, and off you go.” The drum sits next to the bulk tank. “You could be putting it in while you’re waiting for the milk to fill. You’re not losing any time.”
Even Christian’s mother, who does much of the day-to-day calf work, noticed the change. “She found a great difference. She calls her calves ‘her babies’ and she wants to see them thriving. Anything to keep them in top form.”
A Farm That Never Stops Improving
For the McSweeneys, BioBalance fits into a broader philosophy of continuous improvement. “Every month, we’re always looking at the farm. We’re always trying to see if we can make some improvement — whether it’s fixing a gate or a door or a shed or machinery, or generally improving animal health.”
The logic is simple: “If you’re not expanding or growing as a business, you’re going to go nowhere.”
BioBalance earned its place. “We tried one drum of it and we were happy enough with it. And we got a couple of drums and put all the calves on it. And if it works, we’ll keep using it. To be fair, we’re using it again. So we’ll keep going while it’s going good.”
His recommendation is straightforward: “I know that there’s a difference — great condition, good appetite, more energetic. A bit happier in themselves as well. It takes a lot of pressure off rearing them. When there’s no problems — less vet bills and less vet visits.”
To find out how BioBalance can support your calf-rearing programme, visit the full product range or get in touch with the Natural Stockcare team.
