Nov. 14 2024
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
Sept. 25 2024
Managing livestock is complex. A dairy farmer is constantly trying to move the seesaw of health and disease in favor of animal health
Sept. 25 2024
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
Sept. 25 2024
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
Aug. 22 2024
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
July 12 2024
Historically, criminals who have been sentenced to death have been granted a sumptuous last meal before their execution
June 15 2024
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
May 15 2024
Millions of calves, including replacement heifers, dairy bull calves, and dairy-beef calves, leave dairy farms every year
May 15 2024
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
Jan. 10 2024
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
Nov. 15 2023
Calves enter a world filled with bacteria, viruses, and parasites. These organisms can make them sick or even lead to death
Oct. 23 2023
With every issue of Hoard’s Dairyman, we strive to provide our readers with practical information that can be put to use on their dairies. Farming is complex, and science, technology, and practices
Oct. 15 2023
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
Sept. 25 2023
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...
Sept. 25 2023
At the 2006 American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) conference in Minneapolis, a speaker presented some unique findings from their human milk studies
Sept. 11 2023
We have a separate barn for our show animals. Our show cattle are our pets, and when needed, we euthanize them with our veterinarian using an injection rather than another method.However, the company
Sept. 11 2023
While most euthanasia protocols prefer the use of captive bolt pistols to kill cows, bulls, and calves, these specialized instruments can be expensive and require particular ammunition and training in...
July 17 2023
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...
Nov. 15 2022
How important is it to provide water to my young calves when it’s cold outside?