Alister and Teegan Hall run 460 heifer replacements in Southland and use one animal health supplement to help them do it.
Calving season brings the pressures most dairy farmers know well — scours, nutritional transitions, and the ongoing effort of keeping young stock healthy without stretching labour budgets. Over the past two seasons, Calf Renova boluses by TechMix have become a standard part of how they manage that workload.
World Wide Sires New Zealand rep John Bonnatyne first brought the product to their attention. After understanding how it worked, the Halls felt it was a good fit for their operation.
“Our WWS rep explained what it was all about and we felt it was something we could utilise well in our system,” Alister says.
Getting animal health supplement boluses into the programme
The Halls administer boluses as a blanket treatment at three days of age, giving calves additional immune support during the window when it matters most. Calf Renova also features when calves move from whole milk to milk powder and onto calf meal — a transition that regularly triggers nutritional scour outbreaks on dairy farms.
Results showed up quickly in the first season. Calves bounced back faster from scours and held their appetite through recovery better than before. Over two seasons, electrolyte use has dropped noticeably, reducing the time calf rearing staff spend on treatment.
Supporting calf health when it counts most
Newborn calves arrive with an underdeveloped immune system, leaving them exposed during the first weeks of life. Gut microflora is particularly vulnerable at this stage — imbalances develop quickly, and scours can strip condition, appetite, and growth momentum in a short period. Animal health supplements help close that window of vulnerability by actively supporting gut function before problems develop.
Calf Renova works by restoring balance to the gut environment. It feeds beneficial bacteria, regulates microbial activity, and delivers antioxidant support to help calves manage oxidative stress through illness and nutritional change. For farmers working to reduce antibiotic use, it provides a practical alternative within a structured calf rearing programme.
A staple two seasons in
The Halls are clear about where Calf Renova sits in their operation — it has become a fixture, not an occasional tool. The reduction in electrolyte use and treatment labour across two full seasons reflects the kind of consistent performance that earns a product a permanent place on farm.
Using an animal health supplement makes up just one part of World Wide Sires NZ’s offering, farmers wanting to learn more can speak with their local WWS rep or visit the TechMix Global website.