Facility design

By Dr. Noah Litherland
Every one of us in the dairy industry has an inborn fondness for cattle, and value newborn calves and the promise they bring. Let’s get wise about thermal support for our calves in the first 24 hours of their lives during cold weather.

More than 175 calf raisers, Vita Plus consultants and industry peers came together June 20 and 21 for Vita Plus Calf Summit 2018 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Follow the links in this post to access full event coverage, including speakers' PowerPoint presentations, articles and more.

By Dr. Michelle Windle
Many farms have a limited amount of space on the feed pad to store their homegrown forages. This leads some producers to store multiple crops in close proximity. January and February mark the time of year when many producers move from one crop to another. Although avalanches can occur in a wide array of situations, it is especially common to see an avalanche at the interface between two crops. This creates a dangerous situation.

By Ann Hoskins, Vita Plus calf products coordinator
Before you decide to turn that old dairy barn into a calf barn, you should do some research. An old barn may provide more warmth and protection from the elements for calves and caretakers. But consider calf flow, ventilation, sanitation, ease of feeding, and the overall health benefits and risks before you begin renovations.

By Dr. Darin Bremmer
Heat stress can start to impact high-producing cows once the temperature reaches above 65 degrees F. With warmer temperatures on the horizon, now is the perfect time to assess your heat abatement strategies and make any necessary changes to avoid substantial economic impacts.

By Dr. Noah Litherland, Vita Plus dairy youngstock technical specialist
Fresh air is something we sometimes take for granted out in the country. We give considerable thought and effort to making sure our milk replacer program is right or our pasteurizer is working correctly, but perhaps we should think more about the quality of air in our calf and heifer facilities.

By Dr. Nicole Barkley
You have many options to choose from when it comes to feeding dry cows. You may favor a single dry cow group over a two-group system, feed anionic salts and high or low calcium, or incorporate high levels of straw.