Equipment

Refrigerated or frozen colostrum must be carefully thawed and warmed before it is fed to a calf to preserve immunoglobulins. Producers can easily build their own colostrum thawing and heating unit to accomplish this task.

Using a Camelbak brush to clean esophageal feeder tubes has made life easier for the team at Schilling Farms LLC.

In this edition of Calf Chat, Dr. Noah Litherland discusses the goals of ventilation systems and how seasonal changes can influence those goals.  

Using an expandable folder that is prepacked with everything needed to process newborn calves has made life easier for the team at Birchen Farms Inc.

Using a wheelbarrow to move and weigh newborn calves has helped make life easier for Katie Grinstead and her team at Vir-Clar Farms.

In this edition of Calf Chat, Dr. Jenn Rowntree discusses the importance of walking through calf autofeeder pens, and calibrating and cleaning the machines regularly.

In this edition of A Day in the Life of a Calf Raiser, Heidi Fischer of Fischer-Clark Dairy Farm Inc. discusses her methods to keep calf records and equipment organized. 

By Ann Hoskins, Vita Plus calf products coordinator
Moving transition calves can be a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be. These four steps can help make the job much easier and safer for everyone involved. Pictures included.

By Dr. Noah Litherland, Vita Plus dairy youngstock technical specialist
For a smooth transition from the maternity pen to the nursery, make sure your calf-moving equipment has these four key attributes. Pictures included.

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.

With Sara Schilling, Schilling Farms LLC
Sara Schilling of Schilling Farms LLC walks us through the farm's morning feeding protocols. Thank you to Sara and her team for sharing their farm and calf raising strategies with us throughout 2018.

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

By Jenna Hurty-Person, Progressive Dairyman
Calf autofeeders face many challenges, and overcoming these challenges is important for raising healthy calves.  Ziemerink shared how to properly manage autofeeders and avoid some common mistakes.

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.

By Dr. Noah Litherland, Vita Plus dairy youngstock technical specialist
The goal is to allow the calf to nurse comfortably with its nose below its eyes.  The angles, heights, and depths of your pails and grain troughs can also impact intakes.