Click the subscribe button to sign up for any of our online resources.
Ann’s Calf Care Comment – Cold Weather Tips
Posted on November 5, 2012 in Starting Strong - Calf Care
From Ann Hoskins, Vita Plus Calf Products Coordinator
As 2009 draws to a close, it’s a good opportunity to reflect on what I’ve been seeing in the calf care industry. Throughout my travels, I’ve added an extra 40,000 miles to my odometer as I’ve visited 200 operations to work with producers and help get their calves off to a strong start.
In every issue of Starting Strong, I’m going to highlight some of the key trends I’ve seen or give you some helpful tips to address seasonal challenges. At Vita Plus, we’re committed to bringing the technical expertise for calf care straight to your operation.
This issue’s topic is tips for dealing with the cold weather. During the Midwest’s frigid winters, here are some key points to keep in mind:
- Adjust Calories Fed to Calves: Whether you are adjusting milk volume fed, solids levels in milk, feeding fat products or adding additional feeding, it is important to look at how many calories your calves are consuming.
- Bedding: Calves need to have clean, dry and deep bedding for proper nesting.
- Feeding Water: When temperatures drop below freezing it is ideal to offer warm water for at least an hour for calves to drink. Once water has become cold or begins to freeze dump pails and repeat twice daily.
| Category: |
Calf chat Starting Strong - Calf Care |