A common strategy for spending available dollars on the farm is investing it close to the milk parlor. Areas that tend to get the most attention are the ones that directly affect milk production such as nutrition and cow comfort. In many cases, this short changes other areas of the farm which must modify and adapt as resources permit. This has led to a variety of models for calf and heifer care across the nation, but producers who invest in their calves are reap the benefits.
In 2009, the Bollinger family of Meadow Spring Farm in Lititz, Pa., decided to upgrade their heifer and calf raising program by building a new heifer barn and renovating their calf facilities. At the time, their heifers were housed in several locations surrounding the home farm and moved between locations fairly regularly. They were also having some trouble with the heifers as they calved in and were assisting many of them during calving.
All of their heifers from five months of age to calving are housed in the new barn. Prior to moving to the barn, the calves are housed in calf hutches and small group pens. The hutches sit on landscaping fabric and rock to encourage drainage. At six to eight weeks of age, the calves move into group housing and then into their new barn.
The heifer barn is designed to optimize growth at each stage. Young heifers lay in small freestalls with mattress bases. As they grow, the Bollingers move the heifers to larger pens with larger freestalls and headlocks to aid in breeding. The heifers are fed a total mixed ration twice per day, and animals at breeding age wear activity monitors.
The intensive management that the Bollingers provide has paid for itself, according to Andy Bollinger, the third generation of Bollingers to operate the 360-head dairy. The dairy has combatted fewer diseases and has seen a large decline in the number of heifers needing treatment. The heifers are growing better, and the farm has been able to calve heifers in at a younger age of 22 to 23 months. Bollinger said he has needed to assist fewer first-calf heifers and has seen them adjust to the milking herd more quickly.
The author is the 26th Hoard's Dairyman editorial intern. This fall she will be a senior at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kan. At KSU, Maggie is double majoring in agricultural communications and journalism and animal sciences and industry. Seiler grew up on a 130-cow registered Holstein dairy in Valley Center, Kan., near Wichita.
