Winter calf care

By Lauryn Krentz, Vita Plus dairy specialist
It was an unseasonably warm fall with a fair amount of wet weather here in eastern Wisconsin.  Many producers struggled in November because of varying temperatures and rain.  Calves housed outside in hutches frequently had wet bedding and feed while those housed indoors experienced respiratory issues from the humidity and fluctuating temperatures.  In calf and heifer barns with curtains, it was hard to know when to raise and lower the curtains to adjust for the rapidly changing weather.  On top of this odd weather, farms without a dedicated calf team had limited time to focus on calves while they finished field work in the small windows of opportunity available to them.

By Jeff Hoeger, Vita Plus dairy specialist
The temperature has frequently been in the 60s and 70s and harvest is in full swing here in eastern Iowa. However, winter and the very cold weather that comes with it are just around the corner.  Calf managers and dairy managers alike are starting to think about winter preparation for nursery calves.  Here are a few things that we need to prepare before the cold weather arrives.

Question:  At what temperature do you need calf jackets? 

Quck answer:  Here’s a good rule of thumb.  When the night and day temperatures added together equal 90 degrees F or lower, a calf less than three weeks old should wear a calf jacket. 

A little more on that...

If you’re raising calves in hutches, take a good look at where drafts might be getting in and chilling your calves.  For example, the bottle holder might be a draft source.  Putting a small amount of straw in the bottle holder area is one small, simple way to help protect your calves on the coldest, windiest days.