Starting Strong – Calf Care

From Ann Hoskins, Vita Plus Calf Products Coordinator Providing an excellent housing environment is key to successfully raising healthy calves. Research has shown calves spend 73 to 81 percent of their time lying down in daylight hours and almost 100 percent at night if not disturbed. This makes the resting surface and space crucial to

From Brian Holmes, University of Wisconsin-Madison We often think of ventilation as a key issue in the summer. But according to Brian Holmes, University of Wisconsin-Madison Biological Systems Engineering professor, ventilation is a key concern for calves year-round. Holmes said that’s because we must first understand that ventilation is defined as air exchange; fresh air

From Steve Hayes, DAY 1 Technology We may enjoy the warm summer months, but we can’t necessarily say the same for our calves. As temperatures rise, heat stress becomes an increasing concern for these young animals. Steve Hayes with DAY 1 Technology said heat stress can have several effects on calf health, including: Rapid dehydration

Farm Calf Source: Raising Calves Is What We Do Imagine 55 rows of calf hutches with 60 hutches in each row. If you’re standing on a hilltop overlooking Calf Source in DePere, Wis., that’s exactly what you’ll see. This dairy calf ranch is home to 8,000 calves under 180 days of age. They arrive from

From Ann Hoskins, Vita Plus Calf Products Coordinator Hi and welcome to this edition of Starting Strong and Calf Chat. It has been quite the kick-off to summer with lots of rain and hot, humid days.  This sure does throw a wrench into raising calves.  To help to combat Mother Nature, make sure you are

From Ann Hoskins, Vita Plus Calf Products Coordinator Hi and welcome to this edition of Starting Strong and Calf Chat. It has been quite the kick-off to summer with lots of rain and hot, humid days.  This sure does throw a wrench into raising calves.  To help to combat Mother Nature, make sure you are

Installing an Automatic Milk Replacer Feeder In February of 2009, Lisa and Steve Groetsch were the first in the United States to install a Lely automatic combi feeder to feed their calves. Now they say there’s no way they’ll ever turn back. Groetsch Dairy in Albany, Minn. is a family farm. The Groetsches milk 180

Are you still in the process of learning how the NT milk replacer changes affect your operation?  Check out our answers to these frequently asked questions. Consult your local Vita Plus representative or dealer for help in determining the most desirable approach for dealing with the changes. What are the major changes to the regulations

Do you ever wonder how your calves’ performance measures up against other calf raisers? The Dairy Calf and Heifer Association (DCHA) has established its Gold Standards to help producers set goals for calf performance and health. The Gold Standards are set for Holstein calves from birth to six months of age across the U.S.  They

From Ann Hoskins, Vita Plus Calf Products Coordinator To maximize calf performance and health, you need to provide the key ingredients for summer living.  Offering free choice water is essential to a successful calf program. The amount of water lost from the calf’s body is influenced by air temperature, humidity, respiratory rate, housing conditions and

Vita Plus stopped in at the Wisconsin State Fair (August 5-15 in West Allis, Wis.) to check out the education opportunities at the celebrated event. The House of Moo and the Milking Parlor Demonstrations offer visitors a chance to engage with Wisconsin's dairy industry, which contributes more than $26 billion to the state's economy.

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. Q1: Should I test calves for BVD PI status? BVD remains one of the most costly diseases in the U.S. cattle industry and is

From Ann Hoskins, Vita Plus Calf Products Coordinator As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me or you local Vita Plus representative or dealer. Thanks and happy calf raising!

Aiming for Excellence in Calf Raising At MCAA Land & Cattle Co. in Winamac, Ind., perfection is the goal and hard work is the name of the game.  The farm is owned and operated by Maurice Loehmer with the help of his son, Adam.  Connie, Maurice’s wife, and Ashley, Adam’s wife, also provide support for

What’s the weakest part of your calf program? Chances are it’s the transition pen, where calves usually first experience group housing. After weaning, calves are usually housed individually for another few days or weeks. Then a calf goes to the transition pen when it is 8- to 12-weeks-old. Sometimes, calf raisers feel the initial phase

The last edition of Starting Strong included the first three of the six categories defined in the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association’s (DCHA) Gold Standards. Dr. Gary Neubauer, a veterinarian with Pfizer Animal Health, said the Gold Standards give producers benchmarks to gauge their calf management programs and focus on the areas that could be