Starting Strong – Calf Care

Vaccinations can play a valuable role in ensuring calf health in any season. That said, they should never be used as a way to overcome poor management. That’s according to Dr. Chris Chase with the South Dakota State Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences Department. “In general, vaccination is used too much and too often,” Chase said.

By Ann Hoskins, Vita Plus Calf Products Coordinator Cold weather is approaching. In order to maximize performance and health, you need to provide the key ingredients, including enough calories, high quality starter and water. Are you prepared to offer water this winter?  Even in cold temperatures, providing free choice water is essential for a successful

By Ann Hoskins, Vita Plus Calf Products Coordinator The 2011 World Dairy Expo was a great opportunity for me to meet with many of you and learn more about what’s happening on your calf operation.  Here are the top three questions I was asked as we went “around the world of dairy in five days.”

By Dr. Steve Hayes, DVM, Day 1 Technology Q: I am starting to have some high fevers and signs of pneumonia in my younger calves that are still on milk. I am not used to seeing this in such young animals. Is this a Salmonella issue or something else? A: Respiratory disease or pneumonia is

With this Starting Strong Quick Tip, we recap the steps for good bedding in the winter months.

Vita Plus is pleased to introduce to you the latest product to join our milk replacer line.  Calf Precision is a 24/18 milk replacer designed to captialize on the rapid early growth potential of calves, while allowing a seamless transition to consuming calf starter.  It provides increased nutrients for optimal early growth, improved immune function

In this edition of Starting Strong Calf Chat with Ann, we consider the management changes we'll need to implement as we move into fall while still controlling summertime heat and ventilation.

MDS Dairy Focuses on Improvement Through Technology and Teamwork MDS Dairy in western Wisconsin isn’t your average dairy business.  Phil Mlsna owns the farm, which includes two dairies, located in Sparta and Westby, and a total of 2,250 animals. He is also the owner of Mlsna Dairy Supply, Inc., which provides milking equipment, calf feeders,

In this edition of Starting Strong A Day in the Life of a Calf Raiser, Cathy Speirs of Shiloh Dairy LLC shares what she and her team do to manage summertime heat and continue to provide calves with optimum care.

With the high cost of feed these days, it is the largest expense in raising dairy heifers. One way to control feed costs is to manage shrink. Shrink is defined as the amount of feed delivered or grown on a farm that is never consumed. Experts estimate that shrink may account for 5 to 30

Calf raisers invest a lot of time and energy into optimizing calf performance. Good feed management with young heifers can help to keep that momentum going as calves get older. Cody Yanzick, Vita Plus dairy nutritionist, has spent a lot of time helping producers develop their grower programs to meet heifers’ needs. He provides several

By Ann Hoskins, Vita Plus Calf Products Coordinator Recognizing and treating dehydration is key to raising healthy calves. Calves will become dehydrated for many reasons, including summer heat and scours. If you can catch dehydration early, supplemental fluids can get the calf on the road to a quicker recovery. A calf’s body contains 75 to

In this edition of Starting Strong Beyond the Barn, we head to Kellercrest Registered Holsteins in Mt. Horeb, Wis. for Vita Plus Chick Day 2011. More than 130 farm women, Vita Plus staff and friends came together for the day of networking, learning and fun. Through our basket auction and raffle, we raised $7,600 for

Dr. Becky Brotzman, DVM, is the associate outreach specialist for the Food Animal Production Medicine section at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine. Q: “I am concerned with heat stress in my calves. I currently use both hutches and a calf barn for raising my pre-weaned calves. What are my options for heat

With this Starting Strong Quick Tip, we're challenging calf raisers to get creative when choosing the tools that will increase efficiency and optimize calf care. J. Hall of Hall's Calf Ranch did that when he custom-designed this pail washer. Have a cool tool you designed for your farm?  Tell us about it!

Vita Plus is pleased to introduce to you the latest product to join our milk replacer line. Calf Precision is a 24/18 milk replacer designed to captialize on the rapid early growth potential of calves, while allowing a seamless transition to consuming calf starter. It provides increased nutrients for optimal early growth, improved immune function