Optimum nutrition during the first weeks of a calf's life is based not only on liquid feeds, but also on dry feeds. Getting calves to consume clean, fresh, dry feed early in life is a key in decreasing rearing costs, and getting healthy, well grown calves.

Dry feeds have two functions in the nutrition of young calves: providing nutrients and the development of rumen function. The latter is the most important so a calf can get the nutrients it needs for rapid growth; there is no rumen development from liquid feeds. A calf fed only milk will not develop a normal rumen even if it's several months old because the calves esophageal groove is closed when suckling, so milk is diverted around the rumen.

If the dry food is not clean and dry, young calves will not eat the amount required to develop the rumen, and bird droppings can be a major source of pollution. The Bird Proof Meal Bar is an economical and effective tool for keeping birds out of the calves dry food, and it also helps to keep rain out when feeding outdoors.

The Bird Proof Meal Bar is a rail or fence mounted meal or pellet feeder, with flexible, transparent, PVC strips which hang over the opening. Calves have no hesitation in pushing their heads through the curtain to gain access to the food, but birds cannot fly through the curtain, so the food is not fouled.

To make best use of your Bird Proof Meal Bar, you should introduce it to the calves when they are only a few days old with a small amount of dry food. You will notice that the calves curiosity will draw them to the Bird Proof Meal Bar, and they will soon start to nibble at the food.

One or 2 Milk Bar Braden Start Bottles per pen will help to get any slow calves started on the dry food. The Bird Proof Meal Bar is ideal to use while your calves are on ad-lib rations. As soon as you put your calves on restricted rations it is necessary to put some of the food in an open trough next to the Bird Proof Meal Bar to prevent the whole group trying to push into the Bird Proof Meal Bar at once.

Only put as much as they will eat immediately into the open trough and the balance into the Bird Proof Meal Bar. When your calves are on restricted rations it is best to feed them in the evening so all food left in the open troughs will be consumed while the birds are sleeping.

Features award winning Ezi Lock Hooks that allow you to hang the Bird Proof Meal Bar on any rail size from wire up to 75mm, and lock in place.