Sarah Boucher Des Moines, Iowa Ruminant Technical Service Manager Kemin AgriFoods

New research* from the Universities of Minnesota, Guelph and Saskatchewan indicates calves fed lacteal-derived (colostrum-derived) colostrum replacer experienced significantly better rates of acceptable passive transfer (APT), and higher serum total protein (STP) and IgG measures, as compared to calves fed plasma-derived colostrum replacers. Apparent efficiency of absorption rates also were higher for the colostrum-derived replacer. In this study, 74 heifer calves were removed from their dams within 30-60 minutes of birth, and before suckling. The calves were randomly assigned to a colostrum-derived colostrum replacer (LAND O LAKES® Bovine lgG Colostrum), or a spray-dried plasma-derived colostrum product (Colostrx® 130 Colostrum Replacer). *(Be sure to view the section below to learn a little more about the study from researcher Sandra Godden.)

As the weather turns colder, your calves and heifers need more attention and care. Here are our top 10 picks for online resources you can rely on this winter: Dairy Calf and Heifer Association The Dairy Calf and Heifer Assocation's Learning Center is a great tool for discovering more information about the DCHA Gold Standards. And if you're not yet signed up for the DCHA Tip of the Week e-newsletter, you should be. The October 12, 2010 tip focused on winter bedding.

In its second year, the AMPLI-Calf Technology Tanbark Challenge, hosted by Land O’Lakes Purina Feed, named six winners at the 2010 All American Dairy Show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and 12 winners at the 2010 World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. The owners of the highest placing spring, winter and fall calves fed calf starter containing AMPLI-Calf Technology were recognized for their show ring success and received a $250 cash prize.

Wisconsin dairy producers now have free access to the latest recommendations on dairy cattle facility design. The Dairyland Initiative, developed by Drs. Nigel Cook and Ken Nordlund at the School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, combines the most relevant research in health, production and behavior with years of field experience in housing design into a web-based information center and building plan assessment program.

TRENDING TOPIC ARTICLE: CALF & HEIFER RAISING This article was featured as one of our most popular calf and heifer raising articles. to jump to the article below. Why is this 2010 article about the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin's Calf Care Connection workshops trending as a popular article? We think it's because of the wet lab videos featured in it. Penn State's Dr. Jud Heinrichs presented examples of rumens from calves fed with different diets, each displaying different characteristics. Dr. Simon Peek of the University of Wisconsin – Madison shared tips and proper placement of pull chains for calving assistance. Each of these videos have received more than 1,000 views.

The cattle industry is ready to set records for high prices this year and next, said Purdue University Extension economist Chris Hurt.

Vaccination alone may not be all that is necessary to help protect cattle from respiratory disease.

No-till seeding of forage grasses and legumes can be successful and has become an accepted practice according to John Hobbs, an agriculture and rural development specialist with University of Missouri Extension.

Fall is a good time to consider evaluating existing alfalfa stands to estimate what stand conditions might be present next spring. Assessing stands in the fall helps to identify potentially weakened stands that will become more prone to winter injury.