Animal health

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.

By Dr. Peter Strassburg, Lodi Veterinary Clinic
Calf diarrhea is a common and very frustrating problem when raising calves.  Identifying scours early can help you decide on a treatment plan and increase your odds of treatment success.

By Jenna Hurty-Person, Progressive Dairyman
A healthy gut in baby calves is important to give them the best start to life possible.  Rowntree explained why a healthy gut is important and shared what you can do to help develop it.

Calves don't become productive members of the milking herd overnight.  They need to be "grown from the inside out" with proper nutrition to develop their GI tract and digestive processes to ensure efficient growth.

By Peggy Coffeen, Progressive Dairyman
When it comes to hoof health, most problems have started long before the animals enter the milking herd.  In Busman's experience, he sees many problems stem from sand-bedded heifer facilities. 

By Brittany Olson, contributing writer
Going from life as a monogastric animal to a ruminating animal is one of the most significant changes in a calf's life.  How she transitions sets the stage for her future growth and development.

By Brittany Olson, contributing writer
With many dairies feeling the effects of Salmonella and pressure from consumers to reduce antibiotic use, biosecurity is currently a hot topic in animal agriculture.  Rowntree explained what you can do to ensure the safety of your production.

When we think about animal welfare, we try to understand what that means from a species-specific biological perspective.  Van Os spoke about what animal welfare means and discussed new animal welfare research and how you could apply that information to practices on your operation.

With Sara Schilling, Schilling Farms LLC
Sara Schilling of Schilling Farms LLC walks us through her calving pen and the stringent calving procedures her team follows to give each calf the best start to life.

By Dr. Jenn Rowntree, Vita Plus calf and heifer specialist
Small and undergrown heifers with loose stool and a rough, dry hair coat are clinical signs of coccidiosis.  Left untreated, this parasitic infection can limit your future herd's potential.

By Ann Hoskins, Vita Plus calf products coordinator
Many calves show signs of sickness before it becomes clinical.  Here are 7 signs to look for when evaluating calf health.