Starting Strong – Calf Care

By Gary Sipiorski, Vita Plus dairy development manager
It is hard to think forward to the day when a newborn heifer calf will freshen herself.  It is really difficult when milk prices on her birthday are less than the cost of the farm’s ability to produce milk. In some producers’ minds, it can be just another expensive mouth to feed. 

With warmer weather here, it’s a great time for a little spring cleaning and maintenance before the farm gets too busy with fieldwork.  A hutch maintenance toolbox is a handy item to have.  That way, you have one organized place for all the supplies you need as you fix hutches, panels and pens. 

In this edition of Calf Chat, Ann Hoskins, Vita Plus calf product coordinator, walks us through the steps of successfully transitioning calves from individual hutches or pens to group housing.  Limiting the number of stressors calves face at any given time is key.

Autofeeder Barn Boosts Calf Performance and Environment
Although this winter has been an exception, below-zero temperatures and lots of snow are standard conditions for many days in northern Wisconsin.  Two years ago, during and especially harsh season, Carla Juedes said she would “never, ever again” go through a winter of raising calves in hutches.

In this edition of A Day in the Life of a Calf Raiser, Stacy Jauquet of Jauquet's Hillview Dairy LLC walks us through her process for cleaning and sanitizing calf feeding equipment and facilities.  She uses an ATP meter quarterly to make sure she and her team are staying on top of their cleaning protocols.

By Jack Hales and Larrie Rosen, Vita Plus dairy specialists
Central Minnesota is experiencing a rather mild winter with occasional blasts of our traditional winters. This change in weather can be tough on animals both inside and out.

The changing weather is causing two major issues. The first challenge is poor air quality, leading to respiratory issues. The second issue is freeze-ups caused by blasts of cold weather.

By Dr. Al Schultz, Vita Plus vice president of technical services

Question:  How will the new VFD rules affect my calf program?

Answer:  We hear considerable argument about the factors contributing to the loss of antibiotic efficacy and the role animal agriculture plays in it.  In general, the public has been led to the conclusion that antibiotics are overused in agriculture and contribute to the resistance problem. Critics of our current regulatory framework have called for the removal of all antibiotics from livestock production. Meanwhile, many food retailers and restaurants are offering products produced from animals that are “antibiotic-free,” hoping to appeal to a market segment attracted to these claims.

Question:  At what temperature do you need calf jackets? 

Quck answer:  Here’s a good rule of thumb.  When the night and day temperatures added together equal 90 degrees F or lower, a calf less than three weeks old should wear a calf jacket. 

A little more on that...

By Ann Hoskins, Vita Plus calf products coordinator
Getting calves off to a good start is key to long-term health and performance.

This starts in the maternity pen. It is vital that the calving area is clean, dry, provides ample space for calving, and is comfortable for the cow. For newborn calves – and their immune systems – the goal is to provide the best environment possible.  That is one that is free of manure and allows for an easy entrance into the world.

By Dr. Noah Litherland, Vita Plus dairy youngstock technical specialist
The immune system needs fuel to function normally and protect the calf from pathogens.  The first few weeks of life and the weaning period are two key times when energy intake is often limited, resulting in reduced efficiency of immune function. 

By Frankie Tiberio, Vita Plus Columbus dairy specialist
The North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge (NAIDC) is a two-day competition between teams of North American universities’ dairy science students. Each four-person team receives production and management data from a selected farm, visits and evaluates the dairy operation, and develops a presentation for the producer, including recommendations in areas such as transition cows or parlor management. The teams’ presentations are evaluated on the analysis of the farm data and their recommendations. The two days also include a banquet and social hours where students have the opportunity to network with various industry professionals.  At the career fair, students can bring their résumés and speak with company representatives about job and internship opportunities.

If you’re raising calves in hutches, take a good look at where drafts might be getting in and chilling your calves.  For example, the bottle holder might be a draft source.  Putting a small amount of straw in the bottle holder area is one small, simple way to help protect your calves on the coldest, windiest days.