Starting Strong – Calf Care

Maria Poock with Fischer-Clark Dairy Farm Inc. walks us through the calf team's colostrum management protocols, including harvesting, testing, storing and tube-feeding colostrum.

By Dr. Noah Litherland, Vita Plus dairy youngstock technical specialist
Successful maternity programs directly impact the present and future state of the herd. These pre- and post-calving protocols have effectively improved cow and calf health.

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.

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.

In this edition of Calf Chat, Dr. Noah Litherland, Vita Plus dairy youngstock technical specialist, discusses calf starter particle size and how important it is to minimize the amount of fines to maximize calf performance.

With Heidi Fischer, Fischer-Clark Dairy Farms, Inc.
We're pleased to introduce Heidi Fischer and the Fischer-Clark Dairy team in Hatley, Wisconsin.  Throughout 2019, Heidi will share her calf program and experiences with us. Visit our YouTube channel for more segments of A Day in the Life of a Calf Raiser.

​By Dr. Jenn Rowntree, Vita Plus calf and heifer specialist
Building a functional rumen is important for a calf to be a successful producer later in life. In addition to offering starter grain and water, here are several other guidelines to ensure proper rumen development preweaning.

By Courtney Halbach, The Dairyland Initiative associate outreach specialist
Air quality is important to ensure calf health.  With spring being a tricky time to manage ventilation in calf and heifer barns, use these recommendations to make sure your ventilation systems are ready for the seasons ahead.

By Ann Hoskins, Vita Plus calf products coordinator
Keeping a well-stocked maternity pen with these 7 must-have items can help give calves a successful start to life.

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.

In this edition of Calf Chat, Ann Hoskins walks transition heifers with Shawn Miller, Pagel's Ponderosa Dairy calf manager, and shares the steps his team takes when transition calves get sick.

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.

By Dr. Noah Litherland, Vita Plus dairy youngstock technical specialist
Energy balance is the net effect of energy intake and energy use. Weight gain and loss are direct reflections of a shift in energy balance.

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.