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, Cathy Speirs of Shiloh Dairy LLC gives an insider's tour of Shiloh's maternity facility and walks us through newborn protocols. She also shares how her management practices change with cold weather.
Posted on November 9th, 2012 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
Long, cold winters are hard on everyone and it is always a constant struggle to keep vital areas of your dairy operation warm. One of these important pieces is baby calves. Many people rely on heat lamps to keep newborn calves from catching a chill once they are born. But, are heat lamps really a calf’s best friend?
The Good
“The most common time to use a heat lamp is immediately after the calf is born,” says Dr. Steve Hayes of...
Posted on November 9th, 2012 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
Failure of passive transfer is one of the biggest factors affecting calf health and mortality. Not only is it important to make sure your calves are getting colostrum in a timely manner, but it is also important that the colostrum you are feeding is of the highest quality. How do you evaluate colostrum quality? Several great devices are available to make sure the colostrum you are feeding your calves is getting them off to the right start.
Posted on November 9th, 2012 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
By Ann Hoskins, Vita Plus Calf Products Coordinator
I recently had a very interesting discussion with a producer’s calf, and she asked if she could share her “Dear Santa” letter with me. Brought to you right from Cali the Calf:
Dear Santa,
Santa, I have been very good this year. I drink my milk and water, eat lots of grain and I even try to keep my hutch clean. Seeing as how...
Posted on November 9th, 2012 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
Every once in a while, it’s beneficial to leave the farm and take in the big picture of the dairy industry. More than 400 producers, industry partners and Vita Plus employee owners did just that at the recent Vita Plus Dairy Summit 2011 .
During his kick-off presentation, Al Gunderson, Vita Plus vice president of sales and marketing, challenged dairy producers to take advantage of new opportunities to learn how global events and economies can impact their everyday decisions on the farm.
Posted on November 9th, 2012 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
Dr. Neil Michael comes to Starting Strong with nearly 30 years of experience as a veterinarian specializing in dairy. He currently works as the director of dairy initiatives for Vita Plus.
Q: How do I know that my calves are getting enough energy during cold weather conditions to maintain and gain body weight?
A: One of the best methods to ensure your young calves are maintaining a positive energy status during temperatures below 59 degrees...
Posted on November 9th, 2012 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
We track growth when we’re looking at calf performance, but it sometimes slips our mind when it comes to the simple things.
Remember, calves grow quickly and the calf jackets and collars (for autofeeders, tethering, etc.) they received on day 1 might not fit as nicely a couple of weeks later. Once a week, make it a point to look closely at calf jackets and collars and make sure they aren’t too snug. If they are, take the time to adjust them to keep...
Posted on November 9th, 2012 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
In this edition of Starting Strong Calf Chat with Ann, we're reminded that chilly temperatures and lots of snow will be coming our way soon. Ann covers the basics of bedding, nutrition and more as we look to winter.
Posted on November 9th, 2012 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
Vir-Clar Farms: A Look Back at the Last Five Years Five years ago, Katie (Boyke) Grinstead jumped headfirst into her lifelong dream. She returned to her family’s dairy to build the calf operation and raise her kids on the farm.
Building success
Vir-Clar Farms, LLC is owned and operated by Gary and Rose Boyke. Their daughter, Katie, and son, J.R., are also partners in the operation. Together, the family milks about 1,250 cows and runs 2,500...
Posted on November 9th, 2012 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
We know that feeding starter early in the calf’s life helps develop the rumen and boost performance. But a lot more goes into a good starter than oats, corn, molasses, fat and a pellet. During his presentation at the 2011 Dairy Calf and Heifer Conference , Dr. Mark Hill with Provimi North America shared his insight into what makes an optimal starter.
According to Hill, 20 published trials show an increase in average daily gain (ADG) as starter consumption increases. That means that good...
Posted on November 9th, 2012 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
Vaccinations can play a valuable role in ensuring calf health in any season. That said, they should never be used as a way to overcome poor management.
That’s according to Dr. Chris Chase with the South Dakota State Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences Department .
“In general, vaccination is used too much and too often,” Chase said. “It’s used to make up for holes in management.”
Calf raisers can do a lot of good by sticking to the basics...
Posted on November 8th, 2012 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
By Ann Hoskins, Vita Plus Calf Products Coordinator
Cold weather is approaching. In order to maximize performance and health, you need to provide the key ingredients, including enough calories, high quality starter and water. Are you prepared to offer water this winter? Even in cold temperatures, providing free choice water is essential for a successful calf program.
Water is necessary for the following functions:
Maintaining body fluids and proper ion balance Digesting, absorbing, and metabolizing...
Posted on November 8th, 2012 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
By Ann Hoskins, Vita Plus Calf Products Coordinator
The 2011 World Dairy Expo was a great opportunity for me to meet with many of you and learn more about what’s happening on your calf operation. Here are the top three questions I was asked as we went “around the world of dairy in five days.”
What is the advantage of using Secure 175 versus the current Secure and will Secure 125 stay on the market? ...
Posted on November 8th, 2012 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
By Dr. Steve Hayes, DVM, Day 1 Technology
Q: I am starting to have some high fevers and signs of pneumonia in my younger calves that are still on milk. I am not used to seeing this in such young animals. Is this a Salmonella issue or something else?
A: Respiratory disease or pneumonia is the second most common disease (after scours) reported in preweaned calves. The key signs of respiratory disease are:...
Vita Plus is pleased to introduce to you the latest product to join our milk replacer line. Calf Precision is a 24/18 milk replacer designed to captialize on the rapid early growth potential of calves, while allowing a seamless transition to consuming calf starter. It provides increased nutrients for optimal early growth, improved immune function and health, while supporting starter consumption. Calf Precision is designed to feed well in both conventional calf feeding systems and automated systems.
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