While calf starter is a component of the preweaned dairy animal’s diet, the majority of nutrients needed for growth during this first stage of life come from milk or milk replacer

I took a walk out to our calf hutches last week to begin summer preparations to that area of our farm

This week, I painted a few brushstrokes of pink and cream paints in our nursery in preparation for the birth of our baby girl in August. While this will be our first child, I will say that I am no stranger...

In the first weeks of in life, dairy animals are vulnerable to disease, building strength to grow, and learning how to use and interact with their environment

Just like for humans, transitions cause stress for animals. For dairy animals, these types of adjustments aren’t just limited to what we call “transition cows” — calves also go...

In recent years, research on pair-housing calves has helped the dairy community recognize that calves can benefit from socialization. Pair-housed calves grow as well as or even better than individually...

Increasingly, dairy herds are being built with beef in mind. While that changes supply chains, it doesn’t change the need for quality calf care

The month of December was a little touch-and-go in our calf barn as we were dealing with an abundance of calves and disease challenges

Thanks to some extra care and attention, a premature calf recently born on our farm is doing well

The standards we know best can sometimes be just what’s needed to solve a problem

Individual dairy calf housing was a concept that arose in the 1960s. At the time, dairy farmers were struggling with high rates of calf morbidity and mortality

Though we might not always be set up to succeed, dairy farmers overcome challenges every day to care for our animals and our business

What do you see when you envision the future of calf care on dairy farms?For dairy researcher Michael Steele, he believes that data and precision management will shape the way we raise calves

After being vaccinated, have you ever felt feverish and tired? Have you sprained your ankle and experienced swelling, or was your ankle even warm to the touch?

Just like with human babies, growing young calves well is critical for their continued development and how they will perform as adults

What job on your farm would you like to make easier?There are many possible answers to this question, but a top contender for many would likely be disbudding calves

Separating a dairy calf from its dam shortly after birth is a standard farm practice. For years, this has been considered safer and healthier for animals and people

A relatively new trend in calf raising is feeding transition milk to calves in early life. Dairy producers have long understood the importance of quickly providing newborn calves with colostrum

Scours is one of the most common calfhood illnesses, and it remains a widespread issue on farms. According to the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association’s Gold Standards, farms should aim for less than...