Starting Strong – Calf Care

When it gets hot, hot, hot, we want you and your calf team to stay safe, safe, safe.  That includes staying hydrated, wearing weather-appropriate clothing, and protecting against the sun’s harmful UV rays. Here’s our spring shopping list to get your shelves stocked and ready for whatever the summer may bring. Rain gear:  Getting soaked

By Dr. Noah Litherland, Vita Plus dairy youngstock technical specialist Protein is the single most important and expensive ingredient in milk replacers contributing to calf growth.  That doesn’t mean this macronutrient is easy to understand.  Exploring the sources and functions of protein can help you better select which milk replacer is right for your calf

By Dr. Max Thornsberry, Milk Specialties Global Animal Nutrition Cryptosporidiosis (or crypto) is caused by the protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium parvum. Crypto and coccidiosis are caused by similar parasites; both disease organisms utilize the cells lining the digestive tract to reproduce.  Many different species of Coccidia affect different portions of the digestive tract.  Typically, the most

By Mark Case, Vita Plus dairy specialist Whew!  What a rough winter! Here in Michigan, we are glad that spring has finally sprung and we don’t have to worry about severe cold until next winter.  The producers in my area asked a lot of questions about how to get calves through the bitter, cold weather.

In this edition of Starting Strong A Day in the Life of a Calf Raiser, Danae Stieglitz of Stieglitz Dairy LLC explains her farm's fly control and heat abatement strategies as she looks forward to warm summer weather.  Visit our YouTube channel for other A Day in the Life of a Calf Raiser segments.

Arizona Dairy Knows Heat Abatement and Calf Comfort After a brutal winter in the Midwest, some calf raisers might say they can’t remember what hot weather feels like.  In contrast, calf teams on Arizona dairies battle hot temperatures most of the year. T&K Red River Dairy is owned and operated by Tom Dugan and his

In this edition of Starting Strong Calf Chat, Ann welcomes you to join us for Calf Summit 2014.  Network with your fellow calf raisers, learn what's on the cutting edge of calf research, and take home practical advice for your calf program.  Talk to your Vita Plus consultant or dealer for registration details.  Visit our

Are you struggling to keep your calf panels from freezing to the ground this winter?  Take a tire from your forage pile and place it beneath the front of the calf panel.  It will help keep the panel above the snow and make it easier to move.  Once in a while, as you pass by

Panelists: (left to right) Cody Heller, Heller Farms; Ignacio Escamilla, Heller Farms; and Vicente Ramirez, T&K Red River Dairy By Peggy Coffeen, Progressive Dairyman Taking the time to understand the culture of Hispanic employees can build loyalty and cut down on costly turnover. During the Vita Plus Dairy Summit, Cody Heller, Cows R Us Consulting

By Pat Hoffman, Vita Plus dairy technical specialist Most of us have heard the old cliché "milk doesn’t come from the store" and the cliché is common fabric among us whom are passionate about the dairy industry.  In short, it simply means we want to tell our story. The same can be said for dairy

By Milk Products LLC calf nutrition team The energy calves need is most readily available to them by the fat in their diets. The best milk replacers start with high-quality, (human) edible-grade fat sources, which are the gold standard for animal milk replacers. Research supports the use of these high-quality fats to maintain the best

By Dr. Noah Litherland, Vita Plus dairy youngstock technical specialist Determining the cause of scours in calves is often difficult.  Unlike the majority of monogastric animals, ruminants cannot vomit to expel stomach contents before reaching the small intestine.  Newborn calves also make low amount of stomach acid (to protect colostral antibodies), which is a natural

By Bob Hagenow, Vita Plus sales manager and dairy consultant Q:  This winter has been very hard on my calf team.  Working in the cold temperatures and struggling with equipment has everyone lagging.  How can I help motivate my employees to charge through to warmer temperatures? A:  Baby, it’s cold outside! First, let’s remember that

By Kevin Caspersen, Vita Plus dairy specialist As we all know, this winter has been a tough one on people, calves and heifers in the I-29 corridor.  The memorable winter continues with the mercury dipping to zero or below 44 times this winter so far - the most since the winter of 1981-82, according to

In this edition of Starting Strong A Day in the Life of a Calf Raiser, Danae Stieglitz of Stieglitz Dairy LLC talks about the things she does to get ready for spring.  She puts a big focus on good ventilation and respiratory health.  Visit our YouTube channel for other A Day in the Life of

Calves Thrive With a Commitment to the Basics at Model Dairy Farms You can say dairy farming is in Kyle Levetzow’s blood.  He and his wife, Amy, are the second generation to own and operate Model Dairy Farms at its current site just outside of Dodgeville, Wisconsin.  Kyle oversees all daily operations and Amy works