The calf program has often been relegated to a lower priority for the dairy business as it is a current expense with a delayed impact on future income

The author is an associate editor for Hoard’s Dairyman. Preventing calf disease like scours starts before calving and becomes more crucial in the first days of life

During a recent calf study, most of my mornings were spent measuring grain refusals

Managing livestock is complex. A dairy farmer is constantly trying to move the seesaw of health and disease in favor of animal health

There are three critical periods for dairy calves. The first is around calving and includes the cow, the environment, and the colostrum feeding and management

I was recently asked what significant changes I have seen in calf nutrition and growth over my nearly 35-year career at the University of Illinois

Historically, criminals who have been sentenced to death have been granted a sumptuous last meal before their execution

DAIRY producers are aware of the importance of feeding quality colostrum within the first two hours of birth (and surely within six hours). Colostrum provides immunity as antibodies

My predecessor started the concept of herd health checks in our area over 50 years ago. Cows and heifers were checked for their reproductive status on a schedule

Millions of calves, including replacement heifers, dairy bull calves, and dairy-beef calves, leave dairy farms every year

when a pendulum swings out farther in one direction than normal, it may swing back too far in the other direction. A correction can take some time later on

Calves enter a world filled with bacteria, viruses, and parasites. These organisms can make them sick or even lead to death

A silver bullet is a simple and seemingly magical solution to a complicated problem. Many would maintain that they exist only in fiction, but colostrum is a real life example

With so much attention placed on animal welfare, the perspective of farmers is often overlooked, even though they are the ones who provide care to animals daily and have the greatest impact on animal welfare

Feeding high-quality colostrum is recognized as a critical factor to raising healthy calves. In addition to supplying important immunological components, colostrum is rich in nutrients, hormones, and and...

At the 2006 American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) conference in Minneapolis, a speaker presented some unique findings from their human milk studies

People who purchase calves from other farms to raise put a lot of trust in the source farm. The care those calves receive before and immediately after birth can make a big difference in how successful...

It unfortunately doesn’t take much for a bright and bouncy dairy calf to become sick. Early intervention can often turn the calf back around, but even a simple illness may leave a lasting impact

Electrolytes are often just the ticket calves need to get through a bout of diarrhea. Veterinarian Amelia Woolums recommends administering electrolytes as soon as diarrhea is identified to prevent dehydration,...

It doesn’t take long for a dairy calf to go from healthy to unwell when faced with a bout of diarrhea