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Raising healthy calves on the McCloy–Peoples farm in Co. Donegal
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Just outside Ramelton in Co. Donegal, Bert McCloy and his son-in-law, Jason Peoples, run a busy dairy farm milking around 200 cows.
Around 60% of their calves arrive in the spring, with a smaller number calving in the autumn.
Each year, they keep roughly 40 replacement heifers, while the remaining calves are either sold at weaning or carried through to beef on the farm.
With calves arriving during two distinct periods, Bert and Jason have always placed strong emphasis on housing, hygiene, and consistent feeding.
Bert said: “Calves are the future of the farm, so getting them off to a good start is everything."
Upgraded housing for young calves
Ahead of the 2025 spring calving period, they converted a former dry stock shed into a dedicated calf house.
The new space provides a warm, dry lie-back area, Yorkshire boarding to improve air circulation, and a run-off tank to manage wash water and maintain hygiene.
“These improvements have made a huge difference,” Bert explained.
“The calves are much more comfortable, even in colder weather, and it’s easier for us to keep everything clean and consistent.
"It just makes life simpler and the calves thrive better.”
Introducing an automatic feeder
In spring 2025, Bert and Jason took the next step by installing a three-stall automatic calf feeder.
Calves are introduced to milk replacer from three-days-old and stay on the system until weaning.
Their feeding plan gradually builds from 4L per day to 6L after day 12, with calves weaned from 60 days onwards.
Jason said: “The feeder has brought real consistency to how we rear calves.
“They get small feeds little and often, which suits them better, and it’s taken a lot of pressure off us during peak calving.
"It’s freed up time to focus on calf health rather than constantly carrying buckets.”
Nutrias Nutristart Plus: Proven Performance
Bert and Jason have now been using Nutrias Nutristart Plus in their automatic feeder for two years, after previously feeding manually with Nutrias Nutristart.
The transition was seamless, thanks to their prior trust in the product and seeing first-hand how well the calves progressed.
Bert said: “The calves have been thriving on Nutristart Plus.
“They’re bright, active, and growing steadily, and we’ve had very few digestive or respiratory issues. That’s a huge relief, especially during the busy period.”
Jason added: “It mixes well and flows through the feeder without any blockages, which keeps the system running smoothly.
"But more importantly, the calves are healthy and consistent across all groups, which makes a big difference to us.”
The farmers also note that the product’s formulation supports gut health and overall early growth, helping them rear strong calves without extra fuss.
Bert confirmed: “There’s nothing better than seeing a group of lively, healthy calves running around - it makes all the hard work worthwhile."
A practical system that works
Rather than chasing complicated solutions, Bert and Jason focus on practical, sensible improvements that fit their farm and workload.
Upgraded housing, a reliable automatic feeder, and Nutrias Nutristart Plus have combined to deliver a proven and dependable calf rearing system.
“Nutristart Plus has ensured our calves have thrived,” Jason reflected.
“They’re strong, even and healthy, and they’re hitting their targets, which is what matters.”
For Bert, the results speak for themselves.
“When you see a pen of lively, healthy calves, you know the system is working,” he said.
“That gives us real confidence for the future of the herd.”
Nutrias Nutristart Plus is available from 34 Homeland Store locations.
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