Starting Strong – Calf Care

By Dr. Laurie Winkelman, Vita Plus dairy nutritionist and technical services specialist It is no secret that feed costs are, by far, the largest expense on a dairy farm. In a relatively normal population of animals on a farm, about half the animals (the milking cows) are able to pay their own way, while heifers

By Ann Hoskins, Vita Plus calf products coordinator Q:  We pasteurize our waste milk from treated and high-somatic-cell-count cows.  I was wondering if milk replacer has a higher concentration of vitamins and minerals compared to pasteurized milk.  If feeding pasteurized milk, do we need to fortify the milk with added vitamins and minerals for the

By Mike Richter, Vita Plus dairy specialist Northern Wisconsin has a fair share of snow already.  This is a good time to catch up on fall deworming of youngstock if you were caught in the busyness of this year’s unusual harvest. Many producers in our area turn their older calves and heifers out onto the

In this edition of Starting Strong A Day in the Life of a Calf Raiser, Danae Stieglitz of Stieglitz Dairy LLC shares the resources she uses to build her calf expertise and discover new technologies for the farm.  Visit our YouTube channel for other A Day in the Life of a Calf Raiser segments.

Wegnerlann Dairy Build Success on Detailed Attention to Calves After 34 years of dairy farming, Betty Wegner has learned a lot about what it takes to raise healthy calves.  The most important step:  spend time with each calf every day.  Although it seems simple, this kind of detailed attention is what has built Wegnerlann Dairy’s

In this edition of Starting Strong Calf Chat, Ann takes us on a shopping trip to share her favorite items for dealing with cold and wet winter weather.  Thanks to our friends at Blain's Farm & Fleet for hosting us.  Visit our YouTube channel for more Calf Chat segments.

Sometimes you have a calf that needs a little less milk or just some extra attention.  When that happens, how do you keep track of her?  Here’s an easy solution: Use an alternative-colored pail for the calf while she needs the extra love. Once she is being fed like the rest or is back to

By Kim Bremmer, Vita Plus Loyal dairy specialist After working with family farms for more than a decade, I truly believe nothing is more rewarding than building a business with your family.  However, it can also be one of the most challenging things you will ever do.  It’s hard enough to wear a “parent” hat,

By Ann Hoskins, Vita Plus calf products coordinator Waste milk and colostrum pasteurizers are now standard equipment on many of today’s calf operations. While feeding pasteurized waste milk and colostrum can have many benefits, it can also create a lot of problems if the units are not maintained. I often see pasteurizers work well for

With Dr. Mark Sosalla, Country Hills Animal Health Calves are born with virtually no immune system, making them extremely susceptible to infections and illness. According to Dr. Mark Sosalla, two key factors can help keep calves healthy:  colostrum and navel dipping. Sosalla is a veterinarian with Country Hills Animal Health in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. 

With Floyd Sutton, Zinpro Imagine you have a three-year-old daughter.  Up to this point, you’ve done your absolute best to provide her with a healthy diet.  You make sure she eats a balance of dairy foods, meats, fruits, vegetables and nutritious grains. Now, you’re going to switch her to a diet of donuts and candy

By Dr. Steve Hayes, Day 1 Technology Q:  How does my waste milk compare to the bulk tank milk I sell when it comes to feeding calves? A:  This is a great question since so many calf raisers are using some or all waste milk to feed their calves today. One may think that waste

By Kate McAndrews, Vita Plus dairy specialist Hello from Minnesota!  Fall is a very busy time of year as the harvest comes in, fieldwork (hopefully) moves along and winter plans are set.  As we all find plenty of tasks to complete on our to-do lists, producers are still taking the time to check their current

 In this edition of A Day in the Life of a Calf Raiser, Danae Stieglitz of Stieglitz Dairy LLC shares her strategies for feeding pasteurized waste milk.  She also shares her team's thought process for purchasing the pasteurizer as well as a few of the challenges she's encountered with the technology.  Visit our YouTube

BLT Dairy Puts Focus on Consistency and Cleanliness for Calves Laura Friesen has lived on a dairy farm and raised calves her entire life.  Based on her experiences, she said raising healthy calves really comes down to two important factors:  Keep their care consistent and their environment clean. Laura and her husband, Brad, own and

In this edition of Calf Chat, we get ready for the cold months coming our way.  Ann reminds us to add energy to liquid feeding programs, get out the calf jackets, and provide deep bedding for nesting.   Visit our YouTube channel for more Calf Chat segments.