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Over the last decade, research has consistently shown average daily gain (ADG) improves when milk or milk replacer is fed at rates providing more than 1.0 pounds of solids per day. Liquid feeding programs encouraging intakes greater than 2.0 pounds of solids per day have been promoted by several university research groups and feed companies in order to provide more “biologically appropriate” nutrition.
Your calves deserve the best of both worlds – milk feeding balanced to deliver the right amount of milk nutrients and fresh calf starter that will contribute to their future as a ruminant.
Heat stress not only reduces milk production, it causes physiological changes with impacts that can remain long after the actual heat event has passed, such as aborted pregnancies and maternal death, not to mention declines in milk productivity that may never be regained.
Regardless of where your farm is located geographically, every dairy can benefit from cooling their cows. Have you reviewed your barn’s cooling system lately?
When evaluating or planning the cooling system for your herd, remember the five parts of cooling: SAAWW – shade, air exchange, air movement, water for drinking and water for cooling.
Keeping calf barns well ventilated during warm weather starts with the design of the facility.
The Dairyland Initiative’s preferred nursery calf barn design is a one- or two-row individual calf pen building utilizing natural ventilation.
What would you do with a few thousand dollars extra in the checkbook at the end of every month? Replace worn-out freestalls; start planning a new transition cow barn; add technology to the parlor? What if just a few small changes to one area of your operation could make that possible?
