Posted on December 26th, 2017 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
With Ann Hoskins, Vita Plus calf products coordinator Cold temperatures are especially tough on newborn calves. In this edition of Calf Chat, Ann Hoskins, Vita Plus calf products coordinator, provides seven tips to give newborn calves the best start possible.
Posted on December 26th, 2017 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
Rachelle Krienke has two major goals for her calves: She wants them to be as healthy as possible and she wants to see good body condition at weaning. She has designed a system that allows her to consistently reach both goals for her farm’s replacement heifers.
Posted on December 26th, 2017 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
With Jonathon Hallock, MarBec Dairy Jonathon Hallock, MarBec Dairy, shares some of the features of his recently completed calf barn addition as well as some of the challenges he encountered through the process. Thank you to Jonathon for sharing his farm and calf raising strategies with us throughout 2017.
Posted on December 26th, 2017 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
By Dr. Jeremy Schefers, University of Minnesota, and Dr. Noah Litherland, Vita Plus dairy youngstock technical specialist Quality and hygiene are important considerations when feeding waste milk to nursery calves. Benefits of on-farm pasteurization include reduced diarrhea and respiratory disease. Proper pasteurization also kills Mycobacterium paratuberculosis (responsible for Johne’s disease), Salmonella and Mycoplasma, if present in milk.
Posted on December 26th, 2017 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
By Ann Hoskins, Vita Plus calf products coordinator The first days of a calf’s life set the stage for its health and performance as it grows.
Day 1 Colostrum is a loaded first meal for the young calf. Calves require fat and protein for energy and muscle development in the first days of life, as well as growth factors and many other nutrients that are concentrated in colostrum. Feed 4 quarts of high-quality colostrum to...
Posted on December 26th, 2017 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
By Pat Hoffman, Vita Plus dairy technical specialist, and Dr. Noah Litherland, Vita Plus dairy youngstock technical specialist Puberty in dairy heifers can be defined as a measurable increase in blood progesterone with the presence of a corpus luteum (CL) on an ovary, and heifers begin active cycling. Dairy heifers reach puberty at a defined stage of maturity (45 to 50 percent of mature size) rather than a certain age.
Posted on December 26th, 2017 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
By Dr. Noah Litherland, Vita Plus dairy youngstock technical specialist
Question: How Much Bedding Do My Calves Need?
Answer: Visually evaluate feet, knees and outer thighs of calves daily. If all three areas are clean, the goal of keeping calves clean and dry has been met.
A bit more: Clean and dry calves are a hallmark of elite calf raisers. Bedding management plays an integral role in the health, wellbeing and efficiency of...
Posted on December 26th, 2017 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
By Dr. Noah Litherland, Vita Plus dairy youngstock technical specialist Heifer weight at calving is an important determinant of first lactation performance. Our goal is to achieve 82 percent of mature size to achieve 80 percent of mature cow milk yield. Having a plan and setting benchmarks for heifer growth and development is key to successful replacement heifer development. The list below summarizes phases of growth and target weight at the end of each growth phase, as well as important highlights and factors that affect growth in each phase.
Posted on December 26th, 2017 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
By Charlie Kunisch, Vita Plus dairy & beef specialist With the beginning of December came the beginning of winter in northern Michigan. Areas across the northern part of the state have seen upward of 12 inches of snow and temperatures dropping into the teens. As producers dig out their calf hutches and thaw waterers, here are a few things to consider.
Posted on December 26th, 2017 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
By Ann Hoskins, Vita Plus calf products coordinator To properly store milk replacer, (1) keep milk replacer in a clean, dry area. (2) In mixing areas, keep milk replacer in a clean tote or covered container. (3) If milk replacer is kept in the bag, roll down the bag after each use.
Posted on December 26th, 2017 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
By Dr. Sheila McGuirk, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine Have resuscitation supplies close to the birthing area. The tools needed are simple: (1) clean, dry towels, (2) pieces of straw 4 to 6 inches in length, (3) 60cc syringe, and (4) ice water.
Posted on October 24th, 2017 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
In this edition of Calf Chat, Dr. Noah Litherland, Vita Plus dairy youngstock technical specialist, suggests weaning strategies based on the amount of milk fed.
Posted on October 24th, 2017 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
Since installing autofeeders in 2015, JDR Farms, LLC in Marlette, Michigan has enjoyed a more flexible chore schedule. But the team still makes sure they invest the time each day to observe calves and clean equipment to consistently raise healthy calves.
Posted on October 24th, 2017 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
In this segment of A Day in the Life of a Calf Raiser, Jonathon Hallock, MarBec Dairy, teams up with his nutritionist, Kyle Mathews of Ag Partners Cooperative , to weigh calves and also evaluate sanitation of calf care equipment.
Posted on October 24th, 2017 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
By Dr. Owen Mickley, Vita Plus dairy specialist The maternity phase is critical for both the cow and calf, and a high-stress period for the cow. We can help her be more productive by ensuring her transition into lactation is smooth.
Posted on October 24th, 2017 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
By Dr. Noah Litherland, Vita Plus dairy youngstock technical specialist Less is known about lactose digestion than protein or fat digestion in calves. We do know that, in all mammalian species studied, lactose alters the function of both the large and small intestine.
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