Equipment

Testing total blood proteins can help you manage your colostrum program as this simple test indicates whether successful passive transfer is achieved.  Use the following steps as you test blood protein levels in your calves. Collecting the sample Use a red-top serum collection tube (no anti-coagulant added), vacutainer or 3-cc syringe with 20 g 1-inch

Unless you just moved calves to new housing, you probably haven’t given a lot of thought to bucket holders.  Yet, this small piece of equipment can have a big impact on your operation.  Do your holders meet the following four qualifications? A bucket holder must stay in place and hold the pails. The holder must

Click to download the PowerPoint presentation Article written by Macy Sarbacker Most calf raisers have three primary goals, according to Dr. Stephen Hayes with Day 1 Technology. These three goals are: to keep calves alive, to keep calves healthy, and to keep calves growing. Based on these goals, Hayes came up with four gizmos to

Do you only have one calf feeder on your farm?  Are you looking for a quick and easy way to feed pasteurized waste milk or milk replacer to your calves?  Danae Stieglitz of Stieglitz Dairy LLC has a creative strategy that just might work for you.  Visit our YouTube channel for more Calf Care Quick

Sometimes you have a calf that needs a little less milk or just some extra attention.  When that happens, how do you keep track of her?  Here’s an easy solution: Use an alternative-colored pail for the calf while she needs the extra love. Once she is being fed like the rest or is back to

By Ann Hoskins, Vita Plus calf products coordinator Waste milk and colostrum pasteurizers are now standard equipment on many of today’s calf operations. While feeding pasteurized waste milk and colostrum can have many benefits, it can also create a lot of problems if the units are not maintained. I often see pasteurizers work well for

Keeping feed in front of heifers is obviously a must to keep them growing.  Simply taking a broom and pushing up feed three to five times a day keeps feed in front of them and keeps them eating.  Visit our YouTube channel for more Calf Care Quick Tips.

You hate to waste grain and throw it out after the rain hits it.  This Quick Tip provides and easy strategy to keep that from happening.

By Dr. Jeff Acker, Veterinary Services of Wisconsin, LLC Q: As we switch from winter to summer protocols, what should be our top priorities for getting calves ready for a new season? A:  Spring is the season of the most dramatic climate changes of the year.  This past winter was rather long, but also stable

 Shoveling out calf hutches after a big snow storm is never fun.  Here's how you can speed up the snow removal process.

By Dr. Owen Mickley, DVM, Vita Plus dairy specialist Q:  We have been looking at using a calf warmer for our newborns.  What are the pros and cons? A:  Calf warming boxes provide an opportunity to enhance the first few critical hours in a calf’s life.  The major benefit of preventing the calf from losing

Basic sanitation practices go a long way in helping you limit the disease pressure calves experience. When it comes to storing calf supplies, follow these simple guidelines and you'll be on your way to a clean, healthy environment for your calves: Make it easy: All of your supplies should be easy to reach and easy

It's mid-morning and the rain clouds are approaching. Your calves' starter and water pails sit outside the hutch. You know most of the calves still have a little grain left in their pails. You hate to throw it out and waste feed, but you know you can't leave it in the rain or you'll have

On many dairies, calves are moved at least once to separate rearing facilities. Since we can’t buckle up baby calves in car seats, we have to find other ways to ensure the animals arrive safely and in good health.  As outlined in the Dairy Calf & Heifer Association’s Gold Standards III, here are some tips

Long, cold winters are hard on everyone and it is always a constant struggle to keep vital areas of your dairy operation warm. One of these important pieces is baby calves. Many people rely on heat lamps to keep newborn calves from catching a chill once they are born. But, are heat lamps really a

By Ann Hoskins, Vita Plus Calf Products Coordinator I recently had a very interesting discussion with a producer’s calf, and she asked if she could share her “Dear Santa” letter with me. Brought to you right from Cali the Calf: Dear Santa, Santa, I have been very good this year. I drink my milk and