How does the ECF system works?

Start

Start with colostrum of good quality and feed the calves plenty of it, quickly and often; 6 to 7 litres in the first 24 hours. This is easy and quick if you use a used teat. Use a new teat after the colostrum phase. The milk will be dispensed slowly, which is good. Leave the bucket in place. Once the calf has found the teat by itself, it will be able to do so again. Calves will search for the teat instinctively. Feed 5 per cent of the body weight. This means that during its first few days a calf weighing 40 kg must be fed 2 litres per feed, two or three times a day. Increase the milk yield gradually.

Go to the group

As soon as the calves move to the group, transfer the teat from the ECF1 single feeder to the ECF6 Milk Feeder, which is the group bar. Close the remaining holes with an ECF plug. The ECF6 group feeder stays with the group until the calves move on to solid feed. This allows for the systematic use of the teats; one teat per calf.

Cleaning

Rinse with warm water every day and with an alkaline detergent twice a week. This ensures that the fat in the milk is removed from the teat buckets and teats. Do not leave the ECF6 group feeder hanging up in the group the entire day. Remove it. Rinse it out and set it down or hang it up somewhere else. This way the teats will last longer.

Different colours

It is very useful to use buckets of different colours when rearing calves. It allows for easier management and makes it easier to give instructions to your assistants. Similarly, it is also a good idea to number the buckets and pens.
We would be happy to pay you a visit and give you useful and practical advice. Just give us a call!

Why feed slowly?

When a calf drinks under the cow, a lot is demanded from the instinct of the calf. She has to look for the teat herself and when she has found it, the milk also comes slowly and produces a lot of saliva. Her tail wags and that is a signal that she happy!

We mimic nature as much as possible with an open teat with a slow flow, where she has to suck vigorously. Due to the saliva production, the Ph remains stable, the digestion is efficient and we prevent calves from sucking together. (cross suckling)

Train your calves in a single pen. There they have no competition. After the colostrum period you give her a new teat. Maybe she only drinks 1 liter. That’s fine. Take the leftover milk away. Wait until the next feeding. And you will see, it goes without saying.

Changing teats

Changing teats is very women-friendly. You put the bucket with the top down on the group and push the teat down. You find out it’s very simple. Calf can not pull out. Because we make a total other movement.

Changing teats can be an annoying job, as you probably know. The ECF6 Milk Feeder makes it quick and easy.

The teat is always in the right position!

The teat sits in the wall of the ECF1 Milk Feeder. The opening is the same shape as the back end of the teat, which ensures that the teat opening is always in the right position and the teat cannot rotate.
You will probably be familiar with the fast milk flow of traditional valve teats with an outlet in the shape of a plus or cross. An essential feature of our system is that the teat is always in the right position. There are many advantages to pulling the teat through the opening. For example, it dispenses with the need to use sealing rings to prevent leakages.

Stuctur in using teats. 

Start after colustrum milk with a new teat. So the calves can train and get used to it. The milk comes slowly. After 14-21 days they go to the group. We take the teat out of ECF 1 single Milk Feeder to the ECF6 Group milk Feeder. If you have less calfs than 6, use the ECF Plug to close the holes. Give your ECF6 Group Milk Feeder a number. This will stay with the group till weaning.

Why use an adaptor instead of hooks?

  • The adaptor ensures that the teat is 60 to 70 cm above the ground, irrespective of the fence.
  • It prevents the ECF6 Milk Feeder from sliding sideways. It cannot fall off the fence as it is locked in position.

It may not always be possible to feed the calves in the same group pen. In that case, we advise you to buy multiple adaptors, one for each pen. However, do make sure that each group of calves has its own ECF6 Milk Feeder and that it stays with the group. Why? The teat will last long enough to wean a single calf. If one and the same ECF6 Milk Feeder is used for feeding two or more groups, the teat will wear out too quickly.

What risks does this carry?

  1. The health effects will be lost = milk is drunk too quickly, too little saliva is produced
  2. The milk flow will be too fast= risk of calves sucking on each other

The ECF6 adaptor (standard) is suitable for all sorts of fences with a maximum height of 1.15 to 1.20 metres. If the height of your fence exceeds 1.20 metres, you’ll need the ECF6 adaptor (extra).

Why is it important that the teat is 60 to 70 cm above the ground?

  1. most natural drinking position
  2. stooping first and then the nose up
  3. good oesophageal groove reflex
  4. no milk in the rumen

When you buy an ECF6 Milk Feeder, an ECF6 adaptor (standard) is included.

Note: The adaptor can also be ordered separately.

Take the time you need to mount the ECF6 adaptor properly in the first place. Follow the instructions supplied with the product.

It is much quicker and easier to mount the ECF6 Milk Feeder on the adaptor than it is to use the hooks supplied with all other milk bars.

 

Why are the teats not included in the price?

The teat is transferred from the ECF1 Milk Feeder so there is no point in selling the ECF6 Milk Feeder with teats. This is a system for feeding calves from start to finish.

Start with a new teat in the one-calf pen using the ECF1 Milk Feeder. When the calves move on to the group, transfer both the teat and the calf to the group. One teat per calf.

Close the remaining holes with an ECF Plug

Benefits of having a single system:

  1. no switching between various teats
  2. each calf is familiar with its teat
  3. no unrest in the group during the first days

 

Would you like to have a handle on the ECF1 teat bucket?

The ECF1 teat bucket is delivered without a handle. This is because on many farms the milk is carried to the calves using a milk taxi. In which case, it is useful to leave the buckets in place with the calves. This way, the bucket and the calf stay together.

However, if you would like to carry the milk in the ECF1 teat bucket, we will fit it with a handle.

The ECF1 teat bucket can be fitted with a handle.

  • Drill a 5 mm hole at the spot indicated.
  • Insert the handle and slide the quick fastener behind it.

Tip: The ECF1 teat buckets can be stacked alternately so that multiple (empty) buckets can be carried at the same time.