Posted on March 26, 2020 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
The team at Homeland Dairy LLP in Brandon, Wisconsin, operates by the KISS principle: Keep It Simple and Straightforward. That philosophy has led to outstanding calf health and performance.
Posted on January 28, 2020 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
The calf program at Sunrise Dairy LLC in Suring, Wisconsin, has changed a lot in the 10 years Kayla Hischke has managed the youngstock program. From housing young calves in a calf barn instead of the dairy's old stone barn, to sending heifers to a Nebraskan custom raiser, the team has found ways to innovate and raise calves throughout the changes.
Posted on November 13, 2019 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
Before they installed autofeeders in the calf barns at Minglewood, Inc., Kristin Quist, calf manager, said the team used to spend 16 hours a day feeding calves three times a day. Now, Quist invests eight hours a day and has more flexibility in the schedule to dedicate time to other areas of the dairy.
Posted on September 24, 2019 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
As you walk through the calf-raising facilities at Ruedinger Farms, Inc. in Van Dyne, Wisconsin, you notice calf care protocols clearly written and posted in each building. This is just one of the tools the team uses to consistently raise quality replacement heifers.
Posted on July 17, 2019 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
Stacy Jauquet owns and operates Jauquet's Hillview Dairy LLC in Luxemburg, Wisconsin, with her husband, Dave. The team knows what it takes to raise healthy calves, and that's why Stacy is proud to work alongside her calf team to train them on her expectations for excellent calf care.
Posted on May 21, 2019 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
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.
Posted on March 18, 2019 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
When the team at Hasel Farms was researching autofeeders in 2010, they had to travel more than 200 miles to tour facilities because the technology was so new. However, the opportunity to reduce labor demands made the decision easy and the Hasels moved calves into their own autofeeder barn in October 2011.
Posted on January 17, 2019 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
The team at River Crest Dairy, LLC in Greenwood, Wisconsin knew they could improve calf performance with better ventilation and housing. In the fall of 2017, nursery calves and preweaned heifers moved into a new custom-designed barn, and the team couldn't be happier with the results they've seen so far.
Posted on October 26, 2018 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
Joe Loehr of Loehr Dairy LLC believed he could adjust his pasteurized milk feeding program to improve calf health. As he reached for that goal, he also achieved better efficiency in the total calf raising program.
Posted on August 24, 2018 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
Dairy farming is a passion for the Luchterhand family of Elm-Roc Dairy near Loyal, Wisconsin, and the showring is the place they share that passion with others.
Posted on June 28, 2018 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
Pagel's Ponderosa Dairy in Kewaunee, Wisconsin is the largest family-owned dairy farm in Wisconsin. They milk 5,400 cows and raise around 3,300 calves at their calf ranch. Attendees of the Vita Plus Calf Summit Preconference Farm School had the opportunity to tour different areas of the farm and learn from members of the Pagel's team and other industry experts.
Posted on April 25, 2018 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
The first Virtual Farm Tour hit inboxes in 2010 and featured City Slickers Farm, LLC. While the commitment to excellent calf care remains the cornerstone of the farm, the scope of their operation has changed considerably.
Posted on February 19, 2018 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
Heidi Fischer and the team at Fischer-Clark Dairy Farm, Inc. in Hatley, Wisconsin had plans to build a new autofeeder calf barn, but they chose to modify the current barn to house four rows of individual pens instead. They now focus on organization and communication to successfully grow healthy calves.
Posted on February 19, 2018 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
We're pleased to introduce Sara Schilling and the Schilling Farms dairy team in Darlington, Wisconsin. Throughout 2018, Sara will share her calf program and experiences with us.
Posted on December 27, 2017 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
Rachelle Krienke has two major goals for her calves: She wants them to be as healthy as possible and she wants to see good body condition at weaning. She has designed a system that allows her to consistently reach both goals for her farm’s replacement heifers.
Posted on December 27, 2017 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
With Jonathon Hallock, MarBec Dairy
Jonathon Hallock, MarBec Dairy, shares some of the features of his recently completed calf barn addition as well as some of the challenges he encountered through the process. Thank you to Jonathon for sharing his farm and calf raising strategies with us throughout 2017.