Raising calves is a serious business – one that has become increasingly precise in terms of nutrition, business operations, and health and management protocols.

Refractometers provide on-farm precision for a number of management protocols that support calf health and performance. The MISCO Digital-DairyTM Refractometer lends ease of use and accuracy to those processes, which include:

• Evaluating colostrum quality on a Brix scale. A reading of 22% Brix or higher is the current industry standard for high-quality colostrum.

• Measuring serum total proteins (STP) as a measure of passive transfer of immunity in newborn calves. The Dairy Calf and Heifer Association Gold Standards denote a STP level of 6.2 g/dL or higher as “excellent,” and 5.1 g/dL or lower as “poor.”

• Assessing milk solids levels to balance unsalable milk for nutritional consistency. All MISCO Digital-Dairy units can be programmed specifically for milk solids. The direct assessment of total solids allows for easy supplementation with milk replacer to achieve desired total solids levels. 

• Checking hydration status of mildly sick calves. By measuring specific gravity of urine, calves that are in the early stages of dehydration can be detected and treated before their conditions worsen.

Three MISCO models offer varying levels of function on the farm. With the most highly capable unit, it is possible to evaluate all 4 factors – colostrum, STP, milk solids, and hydration – with one refractometer.

Employees appreciate the ease of use of all of the units. Once programmed, it’s simply a matter of applying a few drops of specimen sample (colostrum, serum, milk, or urine) and pressing a button, with nearly instantaneous results. Compared to analog refractometers – which require human interpretation of results – MISCO digital refractometers deliver clear, straightforward results within .1% accuracy.

Calibration of units is also easy. Simply apply a few drops of distilled water to the prism and perform a zero reset. We advise that, unless you were the last person to use the refractometer, it’s always a good idea to calibrate before starting a new task.

We know durability for on-farm use is important, which is why MISCO refractometers are manufactured for longevity using heavy-duty materials. The prism in all of our units is made of sapphire rather than glass, making it virtually indestructible. They are rugged enough to withstand farm use, yet precise enough to deliver laboratory-quality results. Maintenance requires just a simple cleaning of the prism with isopropyl alcohol and a laboratory wipe.

Each unit has prompts for 5 languages – English, Spanish, Russian, French, and German. Workers who speak different languages can use the same unit with a quick switch of a button.

All MISCO refractometers are made in the USA at our headquarters in Solon, Ohio and have a lifetime service guarantee. We also have a full-service lab and will reprogram units for different tasks for a small fee.

Strauss Feeds is a longtime distributor of the MISCO Digital-Dairy Refractometers. Strauss has developed two excellent videos on the basics of refractometers and how to use them. Your Strauss representative can also demonstrate one for you in person and help set up protocols for using it in your operation. It’s a simple-to-use, multi-purpose tool that can deliver quick, accurate results for your business.

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