Animal health

The chore list on a dairy farm is seemingly endless and everchanging, yet cows and calves do best with consistent care. The team at Dolph Dairy LLC in Lake Mills, Wisconsin has designed a system that gives each fresh cow, newborn, and preweaned calf the attention and consistency needed to thrive.

In this edition of Calf Chat, Dr. Jenn Rowntree walks us through the importance of biosecurity protocols within the maternity pen to give calves the best start to life.

By Dr. Noah Litherland, Vita Plus dairy youngstock technical specialist
Successful maternity programs directly impact the present and future state of the herd. These pre- and post-calving protocols have effectively improved cow and calf health.

By Dr. John Ambrosy, Waunakee Veterinary Service DVM
Until the dairy industry moves toward polled genetics and we never have to disbud/dehorn calves again, farms must have set standards and protocols to safely and humanely disbud calves with pain mitigation strategies.

By Ann Hoskins, Vita Plus calf products coordinator
Good ventilation can go a long way in promoting calf health, and these five checkpoints can help ensure your ventilation system is ready to meet your calves' needs this summer.

​By Dr. Jenn Rowntree, Vita Plus calf and heifer specialist
Building a functional rumen is important for a calf to be a successful producer later in life. In addition to offering starter grain and water, here are several other guidelines to ensure proper rumen development preweaning.

By Courtney Halbach, The Dairyland Initiative associate outreach specialist
Air quality is important to ensure calf health.  With spring being a tricky time to manage ventilation in calf and heifer barns, use these recommendations to make sure your ventilation systems are ready for the seasons ahead.

By Ann Hoskins, Vita Plus calf products coordinator
Keeping a well-stocked maternity pen with these 7 must-have items can help give calves a successful start to life.

In this edition of Calf Chat, Ann Hoskins walks transition heifers with Shawn Miller, Pagel's Ponderosa Dairy calf manager, and shares the steps his team takes when transition calves get sick.

By Dr. Noah Litherland, Vita Plus dairy youngstock technical specialist
Energy balance is the net effect of energy intake and energy use. Weight gain and loss are direct reflections of a shift in energy balance.

By Dr. Jenn Rowntree, Vita Plus calf and heifer specialist
Your relationship with your veterinarian is very important when it comes to creating a successful calf-rearing program. To improve efficiency and make sure you both are on the same page, you should ask your vet these questions.

By the Vita Plus Calf Team
A new year is the perfect time to review calf care protocols and set goals for what you can do better in the year ahead.  Here are 11 calf care resolutions you should keep this year to help raise healthy calves.

By Ann Hoskins, Vita Plus calf products coordinator
These 10 must-have items can help you give your calves the best start possible in the maternity pen.

By Dr. Jenn Rowntree, Vita Plus calf and heifer specialist
Sudden death in a healthy calf can be due to any number of causes, however, Clostridium perfringens rises to the top of the list, especially when abomasal bloat is involved.

In this edition of Calf Chat, Dr. Jenn Rowntree walks through the proper steps to clean and sanitize all calf care equipment.

By Dr. Noah Litherland, Vita Plus dairy youngstock specialist
Environment can have a significant impact on an animal's performance, including effects on gestation length and subsequent calf performance.