Starting Strong – Calf Care

By Ann Hoskins Current market conditions have once again led to a steep increase in the cost of milk replacer powder over the past three to four months. Whey protein and lard prices are the primary drivers of the increased cost, but the uptrend of milk replacer prices has rightfully coincided with significant increases in

 Cows on the Concourse is an annual event that kicks off June Dairy Month in the Madison, Wis. area. More than 150 volunteers - farmers, students, other professionals - join together to bring cows to the Capitol Square in downtown Madison. The event offers an opportunity for consumers and cows to meet face-to-face.

Dr. Neil Michael comes to Starting Strong with nearly 30 years of experience as a veterinarian specializing in dairy. He currently works as the director of dairy initiatives for Vita Plus. Q: “We have been experiencing more cases of bloat of sudden onset resulting in high mortality. Our vet says this is caused by clostridium.

Summer time stressors like high heat and humidity can reduce a calf’s response to vaccines. Sam Leadly, calf and heifer management specialist with Attica Veterinary Associates, offers these tips for vaccinating in the summer: Vaccinate early in the morning when heat stress is lowest. Keep vaccines out of direct sunlight. Keep vaccines cool by putting

You never want to be behind when it comes to good fly control. In this edition of Calf Chat, Ann discusses products and management strategies to take on summer's pests.

The People Make the Difference at Hall’s Calf Ranch 1997 marked the beginning of J. Hall’s career as a custom calf raiser. He started with 15 rented hutches and a superhutch, raising calves for one nearby dairy. Within six months, he grew to 100 calves from three customers and built his first barn. That growth

Today’s calf raisers have many vaccine options to give their calves a healthy start. However, those vaccines should never outrank high quality colostrum in priority. That’s according to Dr. Chris Chase with South Dakota State University. In his presentation during the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin (PDPW) Annual Business Conference, Chase explained the development of

Many variables affect a calf’s health and performance. However, calf expert Dr. Sheila McGuirk, DVM, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine, said three main categories can really guide how calf raisers provide top notch care to their calves. During her presentation at the Dairy Calf and Heifer Conference, McGuirk told producers to think of

It’s no secret that farming is a dangerous occupation. According to Dr. David Douphrate, University of Texas School of Public Health, “agriculture is among the most dangerous and accounts for a large percentage of fatalities and injuries.” During his presentation at the recent Dairy Calf and Heifer Conference, Douphrate explained that agriculture, forestry and fishing

The Dairy Calf and Heifer Conference, held April 5 and 6 in Lake Geneva, Wis., brought together calf growers and industry leaders to discuss the latest in calf research and technology. Here are the top five things Vita Plus Calf Products Coordinator Ann Hoskins learned at the conference: OSHA regulations are starting to play a

Ann Hoskins works with calf raisers through the Midwest in her role as Vita Plus calf products coordinator. What is the difference between a colostrum replacer and a colostrum supplement? When should I be using a colostrum replacer? Colostrum replacers and colostrum supplements are often confused with one another. The role of a colostrum replacer

In this edition of Calf Chat with Ann, we'll take a look at autofeeders and the questions you need to ask before pursuing this technology on your calf operation. For examples from farms currently using autofeeders, follow the link at the bottom of this page and check out the virtual farm tour from August 2010.

Continual Improvement Top Theme at Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy When you visit Pagel’s Ponderosa Dairy in Kewaunee, Wis., one of the first things you’ll probably notice is the pride all employees take in their jobs and their farm – and for good reason. The farm was founded in 1946 by current owner John Pagel’s father. Today,

When a heifer calf is born, you probably think about her potential as a good replacement in the milking herd. What you may not think about is how she will ultimately become a beef animal. Aerica Bjurstrom, University of Wisconsin-Extension agriculture agent in Kewaunee County, said it’s important for producers to keep Dairy Quality Assurance

When a farm decides to send its calves to a custom raiser, it requires a lot of trust from both parties. Clear communication is essential to building that trust. J. Hall of Hall’s Calf Ranch works with more than 16 dairy farms and has about 4,000 calves onsite. With immense experience in calf raising, Hall

By Ann Hoskins, Vita Plus Calf Products Coordinator More than a year ago, calf raisers were notified that neomycin/oxytetracycline (NT) regulations for calf milk replacers were going to change. As of Oct. 2, 2010, milk replacers and supplements containing the previously-approved levels of NT had to be eliminated from the feed distribution channel and were