Calf and heifer nutrition

It’s hard to believe that World Dairy Expo is already here and gone! If you missed my Expo Chat Session, or are just looking to review the messages, let’s hit the highlights of my talk on the costs of raising dairy heifers.

The intestine plays a vital role in nutrient absorption, neural communication, immune sensing and serving as a barrier between intestinal contents and the bloodstream. Researchers continue to explore how intestinal integrity influences respiratory health.

Calf starter is calf starter, right? Not quite. There are numerous considerations in building a starter feed that maximizes intake and, in turn, calf growth.

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is considered a primary health challenge on farm, requiring individual calf treatment. Symptoms of respiratory disease are not always observable, especially in the early stages of growth, and are influenced by stressors such as weather or pen changes.

The earlier the better when it comes to catching dehydration in calves.  Identifying mild dehydration and fixing the problem in the early stages will save you a lot of headaches in the coming days.

In 1960, Gilbert and Carol Helt purchased a farm in Dane, Wisconsin, and started milking 30 cows. Gilbert’s son, Dale, and his wife, Diane, purchased the farm in the late 1980s and updated the milking parlor in 1999.

You never get a second chance to feed the first meal.  Many calf colostrum replacers are available, and choosing the right colostrum replacer for your program can be complicated.

No one can agree if calves need more or less colostrum. If you’ve listened to colostrum chatter over the past few years, you’ve likely heard recommendations to feed more to aid in additional passive immune transfer. Recent field conversations are encouraging us to feed less. Why is there a discrepancy?

As calves begin the weaning process and transition from milk to solid feed as their sole source of nutrition, producers may observe stalled growth and deteriorating health performance. The reasons for this are often due to one or a combination of the following factors: poor health in early life, poor rumen development and stressful changes.

We have learned many things along the way as autofeeders become more popular in the calf raising world.  On the dairy, we tend to learn most things through experience – good or bad.  While that makes it difficult to pinpoint exact “rights and wrongs,” learning from others’ experiences can help us focus on making the best use of this evolving technology.

Everyone knows water is one of six essential nutrients.  However, the magnitude of its importance is often unrealized and, in some situations, downplayed.

The best way to save on calf starter without sacrificing growth and performance is to limit waste.  These seven steps can help you save money on calf starter.

What facilities provide the best environment to raise calves and heifers?  Answering that question requires us to first consider each farm’s specific needs and management systems. In March, two Midwest dairy farms opened their doors to a group of dairy producers on a tour organized by Vita Plus. 

I am often asked, “How should forages be introduced to youngstock?” My answer is that it depends.

Have you ever found yourself reading a milk replacer tag and trying to understand what additives are included, what those additives do and whether or not they are right for your calf program?

By Bethany Dado-Senn, Ph.D., Vita Plus | When a calf consultant talks about the importance of colostrum, it’s reminiscent of the “eat vegetables” lecture from the doctor or the “floss daily” reminder from the dentist; these tasks are important for our health, but it’s not always clear why.