Starting Strong – Calf Care

Question:  What’s the best way to feed colostrum?  By bottle or esophageal feeder? A:  Colostrum management is of critical importance for maximizing calf health.  Multiple factors influence passive transfer of immunity from colostrum, including quality, quantity, quickness and cleanliness.  Current recommendations call for the first colostrum feeding to be delivered within four hours of birth,

By Maddie Culbertson, North Central Co-op dairy specialist With another cold winter behind us, I am happy to report calves in our region came through the harsh conditions thriving.  With nightmares of the winter of 2013-14 lingering, many producers had a heightened awareness of the implications cold stress can have on the future herd.  Modified

In this edition of Starting Strong, Katie Grinstead of Vir-Clar Farms in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin walks us through her nutrition and management program for weaned calves. Visit our YouTube channel for more segments of A Day in the Life of a Calf Raiser.

Focus on Protocols Keeps Family on Same Page Bill and Lisa Holland have farmed 37 years in Apple River, Illinois.  They started the operation with hogs and cows, but transitioned to exclusively cattle within the first few years.  Today, four of their five children play an active role on the family farm as they milk

Many dairy producers hosted and helped at dairy breakfasts and other promotional events throughout June Dairy Month.  But that doesn't mean you can only share your farm's story during one month of the year.  In this edition of Calf Chat, Ann Hoskins shares a few tips to prepare your farm for visitors. Visit our YouTube

Use of dehorning paste is increasingly popular among today's calf raisers.  Following her February edition of "A Day in the Life of a Calf Raiser," Katie Grinstead of Vir-Clar Farms in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin recieved many questions about how she uses dehorning paste for her calves.  Katie walks through the simple steps in this

The weather is warm, the sun is shining, and you have a perfectly scooped cone of your favorite ice cream in hand.  It doesn’t get much better than that. Creating that exact scene – over and over – is the goal for Sassy Cow Creamery in Columbus, Wisconsin. For three years, Juli Cooper has worked

By Ann Hoskins, Vita Plus calf products coordinator It won’t be long before your time spent feeding calves is clouded with the buzzing of pesky flies swarming around your head. Getting ahead of the flies will help reduce the population long-term.  According to research from Purdue University, a fly can complete an entire generation –

In this video, Ann Hoskins, Vita Plus calf products coordinator, outlines how to set the feeding program in an autofeeder system.  Stay tuned for future videos on maintenance, trouble shooting and data management.  Gain more helpful video tips on our YouTube channel.

The umbilical cord of a newborn calf is the residual pipeline from the mother’s blood to the calf.  The unborn calf uses the mother’s circulation for nourishment and her urinary system to remove the waste it produces.  During birth, the cord is stretched until it breaks.  At that point, the calf is cut off from

By Ann Hoskins, Vita Plus calf products coordinator Question:  Cleanliness in our calf area is a top priority on our farm.  So many cleaning and disinfecting products are available, how do I know which are best for eliminating pathogens?  A:  Detergents and disinfectants should be selected based on the job they must perform. Their effectiveness

By Dr. Andy Kniesly, Vita Plus dairy consutlant Here in Northeast Ohio, as milk prices have fallen, we are reviewing all areas of the farm to find opportunities to optimize production strategies. One area that is often reviewed is the replacement heifers. Heifers are the future of our herds, so we want to raise them

In this edition of Starting Strong, Katie Grinstead of Vir-Clar Farms in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin talks about all the little tricks her team uses to more easily and efficiently raise calves, including sanitation, recordkeeping, and feeding strategies. Visit our YouTube channel for more segments of A Day in the Life of a Calf Raiser.

Customize Facilities for Success If you were to tour Ostrowski Farms’ calf facilities, you might think you’re looking at a calf raiser’s dream.  That opinion isn’t too far from reality. Ostrowski Farms, Inc. is owned and operated by two brothers, Greg and Dick Ostrowski, in Eland, Wisconsin.   Greg’s two sons as well as Dick’s son

Many calf programs have begun feeding to a higher plane of nutrition. While this can prove valuable in terms of calf performance, several constraints can hinder these kinds of milk feeding programs. Dr. Noah Litherland shares several tips to best manage your milk feeding strategy. Visit our YouTube channel for more segments of Starting Strong

Do you ever struggle to find “that” calf in the sea of hutches?  Do you need a place to write a note to the afternoon feeder? It is really important to organize and find animals quickly. Designing a “calf map” will help everyone on your team. Key Information to include with the map are items