Posted on November 13th, 2012 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
Basic sanitation practices go a long way in helping you limit the disease pressure calves experience. When it comes to storing calf supplies, follow these simple guidelines and you'll be on your way to a clean, healthy environment for your calves:
Make it easy: All of your supplies should be easy to reach and easy to put away. Keep the whole area clean: It's easier to keep supplies clean if they're not stored in a dirty place. Moisture is the enemy:...
Posted on November 9th, 2012 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
Because they often require much less maintenance than baby calves, it can be easy to overlook transition calves when they move to group pens. However, you could be missing out on performance and health of these animals. In this edition of Calf Chat, Ann reminds us of the areas we should review frequently to make sure transition animals have adequate access to feed, water and bedding space. Check out Ann's article below to get a few more details on managing transition barns.
Posted on November 9th, 2012 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
Two Entities, One Goal – Quality Calf Care
Located near Philips, Wis., in the heart of the state’s northwoods, United Pride Dairy started as a partnership between two neighbors in the 1990s. In 2000, the farm milked 200 cows and, by 2010, it had fully expanded to its current herd size of 1,650 cows, which are milked in the farm’s 60-cow rotary parlor. The calves were custom raised off-site until 2005 when Quality Calf Care was created.
Posted on November 9th, 2012 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
In this edition of Starting Strong A Day in the Life of a Calf Raiser, we meet Brooke Miller of Enchanted Dairy in Little Falls, Minn. and get a quick glimpse of the farm's calf program. A recent college graduate, Brooke has returned home to manage the Enchanted Dairy calf program. In future editions of Starting Strong , Brooke will share details about her calf nutrition, health and management strategies.
Posted on November 9th, 2012 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
By Laura Zagorski, Dairy Service Specialist
Like many areas in the Midwest, Michigan faced above average temperatures and dry conditions this summer. For calf raisers, this has created a need for a greater management emphasis on many of the basics.
Even though fresh, clean water is always a vital nutrient required by our calves, it becomes especially important during periods of heat stress. Calves should be offered free choice water at three days of age to...
Posted on November 9th, 2012 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
By Dr. Becky Brotzman, DVM , University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine associate outreach specialist, and Dr. Ken Nordlund, DVM , UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine clinical professor
Q: With the huge temperature swings in the late summer and early fall, I am always wondering how to handle the curtains in both my nursery and transition barns. What’s a good gauge for managing curtains in various weather conditions?
With Rod Martin, Vita Plus Dairy Technical Services
An unusually hot summer has led to higher heat stress not only for employees, but also dry cows. Even though summer is almost over, and the cooler temperatures are around the corner, dairy operations will still see a drop in milk production. Rod Martin, Vita Plus dairy technical services, explains why that happens.
According to Martin’s research, several factors play into lost milk production, but heat...
Posted on November 9th, 2012 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
We all know replacement heifer health is important. When we think of this topic, we often think of respiratory health, foot and leg health, and other more common, physical health issues. But we also need to watch for heifer mastitis.
You may be asking, “How does a heifer get mastitis before her first calving and lactation?”
During the first pregnancy, the milk-producing tissues in the udder undergo the most development. It is important to protect the mammary gland from...
Posted on November 9th, 2012 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
By Ann Hoskins, Vita Plus Calf Products Coordinator
Transitioning a calf from its individual pen to a group pen can be very stressful. We always say three strikes and you’re out. That can really hit home for your transition calves.
Stressors that can affect these animals are new location, socializing, feed change, locating feed and water, vaccinations, dehorning, etc. Too many stressors at once, and you’ll significantly miss out on heifer health and performance.
Posted on November 9th, 2012 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
By Kate Griswold, Cross Plains Wondermakers 4-H Club and Waunakee FFA Chapter
Ever since I can remember, agriculture has been a part of my life. When I was eight, my dad bought our first Angus cow. Our herd has since grown to include multiple beef cows and a diverse realm of other animals including sheep, hogs, chickens and even a donkey.
When I entered third grade, I became a 4-H member and, like my elders, became...
Posted on November 9th, 2012 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
It's mid-morning and the rain clouds are approaching. Your calves' starter and water pails sit outside the hutch. You know most of the calves still have a little grain left in their pails. You hate to throw it out and waste feed, but you know you can't leave it in the rain or you'll have an even bigger mess. What do you do?
Here's a very simple solution: Simply stack the water pail on top of the grain pail to block...
Posted on November 9th, 2012 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy, located in Kewaunee, Wis., is the largest single family-owned dairy in Wisconsin. It all started in 1946 when Carl and Garnett Pagel purchased the farm with eight cows, eight pigs and some chickens. Since then, Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy has gone through tough times, but always managed to grow from those experiences. Pagel’s Ponderosa is now entering its fourth generation.
Today, Pagel’s Ponderosa has about 4,250 milking cows. The cows are milked in a 72-cow rotary parlor three times a...
Posted on November 9th, 2012 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
The team at Dairy Dreams LLC values high quality calf care on its operation to ensure the best calf health around. Six years ago, Dairy Dreams purchased hutches and brought the calves home. The farm is currently building a heifer barn on the main farm to bring all heifers home and have all livestock in one location.
It all starts with the maternity pens. Located in one of the freestall barns, Dairy Dreams has several maternity pens where the cows will go when they...
Posted on November 9th, 2012 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
Download a printable PDF Presentation
When it comes to milk replacers, Dave Kuehnel, president of Milk Products LLC, knows the "in’s and out’s" of an ingredient label. During his presentation at Vita Plus Calf Summit, Kuehnel focused on an ingredient of milk replacer that may be more valuable in human food and medicine products: whey.
This is remarkable, said Kuehnel, considering the fact that even as recent as 30 years ago, whey was considered a...
Posted on November 9th, 2012 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
University of Wisconsin-Madison veterinarian Sheila McGuirk has several helpful hints when handling calves, particularly in stressful situations for youngstock, such as dehorning and vaccinations.
She kicked off her wet lab presentation at Vita Plus Calf Summit by evaluating an animal for respiratory disease. She advised growers to look for the following symptoms, and if they noticed two or more, they likely have a problem:
Drooped ears, flicking ears or calves scratching at ears (could indicate an ear infection) Discharge, pus...
Posted on November 9th, 2012 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
Dr. Max Thornsberry, veterinarian with Milk Specialties Global Animal Nutrition, has many years of experience in working with calves.
Reiterating a few of Dr. Sheila McGuirk’s points, Thorsberry reminded calf raisers of the importance of proper handling during his Vita Plus Calf Summit wet lab presentation.
Like McGuirk, Thornsberry urged producers to take their time when tube-feeding a calf. He said he typically spends about three to five minutes to ease an esophageal feeder into a...
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