Proper management during a calf’s early days lays the foundation for lifetime success and helps unlock its full potential. Using herd management software to record calf and heifer data can provide valuable insights to fine-tune your program and measure progress.
Why early health events matter
Setbacks in calfhood have lasting effects on an animal’s productivity. For example, imagine you’re weaning a group of calves, and five of them, who suffered from scours, are now 40 to 50 pounds behind their peers.
That single health event is the start of a ripple effect of setbacks, impacting the animals’ productivity for months and even years. If those scours events were never recorded, though, you may be left guessing why those animals are underperforming later in life.
Having calf and heifer data allows you to pinpoint areas of improvement in your program. If you’re new to calf data recording, start with these critical metrics:
- Calfhood Diseases
Scours and pneumonia are the most common calfhood diseases. Tracking these events can help identify contributing factors and provide context for the impact of these diseases – such as reduced growth rates or increased mortality. This information helps connect calf health to milk production and reproductive performance. - Serum Total Protein
This metric serves as a "report card" for passive transfer of immunity through colostrum. If calves experience a failure of passive transfer, testing colostrum quality using a Brix refractometer can narrow down the issue. Is the colostrum of high quality, but feeding delayed? Are feeding tools sanitized properly? Collecting serum total protein data can pinpoint areas for improvement in colostrum management. - Weight Measurements
Monitoring weights at birth, weaning, breeding and calving ensures calves hit growth milestones. Regularly monitoring weight helps you spot growth deviations early, allowing you to make management adjustments, like optimizing breeding timelines, to boost production potential.
Use data to drive actionable improvement
Start by prioritizing the data points that will have the greatest impact on your calf program. By focusing on a few key metrics, you can make incremental improvements and monitor the effect of the changes along the way.
Equally important, yet often overlooked, is having clear definitions and protocols. When defining disease events and protocols, make sure everyone on your team is aligned. For example, is a scours case defined by runny manure, refusal to drink milk or a temperature increase? How will you record the treatment in your herd management program?
Once you’ve set your priorities and communicated with your team, the next step is to gather high-quality, accurate data. This is where having the right herd management software can make all the difference. VAS mobile solutions make it easier to collect calf data efficiently, accurately and on the go.
These tools, available to DairyComp users, help monitor vaccinations, track weight gains and efficiently address treatment needs to achieve long-term success for each animal.
Ready to maximize your herd’s potential? Contact VAS support or visit VAS.com to learn how the right tools can help your calves achieve more.
VAS is the global market leader in connected farm management systems. For over 40 years, VAS has been the operating system of choice for the most innovative dairies around the world. VAS’ software and information solutions help collect and connect a farm's data – from herd management records, to feed and nutrition records. These insights are a source of truth, empowering producers and their trusted advisors to make profit-driven and sustainable management decisions. At the forefront of thought leadership within the dairy industry, VAS is trusted by the producers we serve and the greater dairy community.
