Starting Strong – Calf Care

By Dr. Jenn Rowntree, Vita Plus calf and heifer specialist
Sudden death in a healthy calf can be due to any number of causes, however, Clostridium perfringens rises to the top of the list, especially when abomasal bloat is involved.

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

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. 

With Sara Schilling of Schilling Farms LLC
In this segment of A Day in the Life of a Calf Raiser, Sara Schilling, Schilling Farms LLC, shares her summer bedding protocols as well as what products she uses for fly control. 

By Dr. Noah Litherland, Vita Plus dairy youngstock specialist
Environment can have a significant impact on an animal's performance, including effects on gestation length and subsequent calf performance.

By Dr. Peter Strassburg, Lodi Veterinary Clinic
Calf diarrhea is a common and very frustrating problem when raising calves.  Identifying scours early can help you decide on a treatment plan and increase your odds of treatment success.

By Ann Hoskins, Vita Plus calf products manager
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.

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.

By Brittany Olson, contributing writer
You may be active on social media, but are you posting the right content to enhance your social currency?  Murphy provided attendees with a social media update and some best practices.

By Brittany Olson, contributing writer
Colostrum is concentrated with important nutrients, antibodies and growth hormones to help give a calf a healthy start to life.  Steele explained how providing quality colostrum early in a calf's life can help it take in nutrition and repel pathogens. 

By Jenna Hurty-Person, Progressive Dairyman
A healthy gut in baby calves is important to give them the best start to life possible.  Rowntree explained why a healthy gut is important and shared what you can do to help develop it.

Calves don't become productive members of the milking herd overnight.  They need to be "grown from the inside out" with proper nutrition to develop their GI tract and digestive processes to ensure efficient growth.

By Peggy Coffeen, Progressive Dairyman
Four common misconceptions exist when we think about prefresh heifers.  Hoffman addressed these misconceptions and challenged producers to dig deeper into these beliefs in order to better understand the unique needs of these animals. 

By Peggy Coffeen, Progressive Dairyman
When it comes to hoof health, most problems have started long before the animals enter the milking herd.  In Busman's experience, he sees many problems stem from sand-bedded heifer facilities. 

By Brittany Olson, contributing writer
Going from life as a monogastric animal to a ruminating animal is one of the most significant changes in a calf's life.  How she transitions sets the stage for her future growth and development.

By Brittany Olson, contributing writer
With many dairies feeling the effects of Salmonella and pressure from consumers to reduce antibiotic use, biosecurity is currently a hot topic in animal agriculture.  Rowntree explained what you can do to ensure the safety of your production.