Consistently, research shows that the longer calves can be backgrounded (housed and fed individually) before they are put into a group pen setting, the better
From a business standpoint, the most money saved per heifer on a dairy farm can be saved in the weaned pens. This accounts for calves that are weaned up to when they are around 150 days...
When we move calves into pens with headlocks, sometimes they are hesitant to use them. We started to hook their old grain buckets on the headlocks to encourage them to eat. We also took
It doesn’t take long for a healthy calf to become a sick one. Early detection and treatment of disease can greatly improve the likelihood of success. During a hands-on workshop a
With a lot of calves and a lot of different calf feeders, it can be hard for everyone to keep track of what’s going on with each hutch. When a calf is sick, we wrap a few pieces of bright yellow...
Calves don’t always finish drinking the water we give them. This means their water has to be collected and discarded before milk can be fed. We took a broken lawn mower, removed the eng
A calf is born with a sterile rumen environment void of bacteria, protozoa, and fungi. The calf is first inoculated with microbes during the birthing process and in its new external environment
Weaning is the most important transition a calf has to go through before she enters the milking herd, and it is a nutritionally and socially stressful time
When a newborn calf is moved into its individual pen in the calf barn at Endres Jazzy Jerseys, it is not ear tagged immediately. In order to keep calves correctly identified at the Lodi, Wis., farm, a
Diarrhea remains the leading cause of death in dairy calves. Calves with diarrhea frequently develop dehydration, have lower blood pH (called “acidosis”), experience electrolyte abnormalitie
The word salmonella strikes fear into any animal caregiver. It is a disease that spreads quickly, has limited treatment options, and can make animals, particularly calves, very sick
The feeding behavior patterns of dairy cattle are known to impact health, productivity, and welfare. Trevor DeVries, University of Guelph, will discuss how the way we feed, house, and manage calves impacts...
With a wealth of information about the care and treatment for calves on dairy farms available, it can be easy to forget some of the basics that have the biggest impact on calf health
Veterinarians Donald Sockett, Rachel Klos, and Jason Lombard discussed what producers should know about Salmonella Heidelberg outbreak in humans and cattle and the management practices associated with...