Starting Strong – Calf Care

In this edition of Calf Chat, Ann Hoskins discusses proper milk replacer mixing and what you can do to ensure everyone on your team mixes the same consistency.

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.

With Sara Schilling, Schilling Farms LLC
Sara Schilling of Schilling Farms LLC walks us through her calving pen and the stringent calving procedures her team follows to give each calf the best start to life.

By Dr. Jenn Rowntree, Vita Plus calf and heifer specialist
Small and undergrown heifers with loose stool and a rough, dry hair coat are clinical signs of coccidiosis.  Left untreated, this parasitic infection can limit your future herd's potential.

By Dr. Noah Litherland, Vita Plus dairy youngstock specialist
Feed cost per pound of gain is an important metric to know how to calculate and manipulate to optimize the value of your nursery calf feeding program.  Luckily, it is easy to calculate, if you know the right numbers.

By Ann Hoskins, Vita Plus calf products coordinator
Many calves show signs of sickness before it becomes clinical.  Here are 7 signs to look for when evaluating calf health.

In this edition of Calf Chat, Dr. Noah Litherland, Vita Plus dairy youngstock technical specialist, explains how lactose acts as a natural laxative and how different feeding rates can impact calf manure consistency. 

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. 

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.

By Dr. Rob Farruggio, Jefferson Veterinary Clinic, S.C.
Respiratory disease in calves is a common issue dairy farms encounter.  The key is to identify respiratory challenges quickly and address the areas needing improvement.

By Dr. Noah Litherland, Vita Plus dairy youngstock specialist
By understanding a calf's plumbing, specifically the abomasum, we can design feeding and management programs that fit the calf's abilities to digest milk, grow, and decrease opportunities for pathogens. 

By Dr. Jenn Rowntree, Vita Plus dairy calf and heifer specialist
Setting goals in specific areas for your farm's calf and heifer health, and regularly comparing health events to those goals, can help determine if they are being met.

With Ann Hoskins, Vita Plus calf products coordinator
Cold temperatures are especially tough on newborn calves. In this edition of Calf Chat, Ann Hoskins, Vita Plus calf products coordinator, provides seven tips to give newborn calves the best start possible.

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.

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. 

By Dr. Jeremy Schefers, University of Minnesota, and Dr. Noah Litherland, Vita Plus dairy youngstock technical specialist
Quality and hygiene are important considerations when feeding waste milk to nursery calves.  Benefits of on-farm pasteurization include reduced diarrhea and respiratory disease.  Proper pasteurization also kills Mycobacterium paratuberculosis (responsible for Johne’s disease), Salmonella and Mycoplasma, if present in milk.