Nigel Brock’s 800-cow dairy in Montana, Tasmania introduced X-Zelit into its transition program and saw clinical milk fever cases fall dramatically after years of calving pressure in wet, cold conditions.
Hear how X-Zelit fitted into the dairy’s transition program and what changed after Nigel introduced it across the herd.
cases in one season
fewer clinical cases
based on the standard X-Zelit milk fever cost model
Nigel Brock has been dairying since 1990, growing the herd from 180 cows to 800. As the operation grew, calving pressure became a serious issue.
In wet, cold Tasmanian conditions, Nigel described clinical milk fever pressure affecting the herd, along with the subclinical milk fever that goes with it.
Stephen Howland introduced Nigel to X-Zelit. Rather than relying on the claim alone, Nigel ran a split trial with half the herd on X-Zelit and half off.
Nigel described the result as instant, and found X-Zelit easy to administer through the dairy and simple to use in practice.
The first full season on X-Zelit was decisive. Clinical milk fever fell from around 40 cases to just two.
After seeing the product perform across two seasons, Nigel described X-Zelit as having a proven track record and said it was good value for money.
This model applies the standard X-Zelit milk fever cost assumptions: A$400 per clinical milk fever case, up to eight subclinical cases per clinical case, and A$1,000 estimated cost per subclinical case.
40 cases before X-Zelit minus 2 cases after introducing X-Zelit.
38 avoided clinical cases × A$400 per clinical case.
Based on up to eight subclinical cases per clinical case.
304 modelled subclinical cases × A$1,000 per subclinical case.
Visible clinical impact plus hidden subclinical exposure.
“Last year there was 40-odd cases of milk fever. This year there was two.”
“We certainly saw an instant result from using X-Zelit.”
“Easily administered to the cows through the dairy.”
“It is good value for money.”
Speak with Quadrant Farming Solutions about X-Zelit for your close-up transition program.