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Two years – it sounds like a lot of time. But when it comes to raising heifers, two years is a small window of opportunity to do all the little things right.
In this roundtable, four calf and heifer raisers share their approaches to nutrition, disease management, reproduction, genetics and labor. They also provide insights on the lessons that have shaped their programs, from colostrum to calving, for supporting overall calf and heifer wellness.
One way to reduce the frequency of scours among young calves is to feed clean colostrum.
As a best management practice, we want to feed colostrum before bacteria in it can multiply – a practical goal is get colostrum inside the calf within one half-hour after it is collected.
However, many times we do not feed colostrum this quickly.
Therefore, we are interested in chilling colostrum because the closer we get to 40ºF (compared to 100ºF out of the cow), any bacteria in the colostrum grow more slowly.
You selected the best bulls to ensure the future of your dairy, but what happens in the first hours when the calves are born is what really ensures their genetics will reach their full potential.
When was the last time you did a self-audit of your calving pen and reviewed the protocols for receiving newborns?
Here is a list every producer should check before calving season and on a regular basis.
This article was #6 of the Top 25 most well-read articles on www.progressivedairy.com in 2014. It was published in the Dec. 2, 2013 Extra e-newsletter.
Dr. Noah Litherland offered 10 tips for managing calves in cold weather. One of his tips was to provide a proper nest. Calves should not be found lying completely on top of bedding. They should be able to nest down in, ideally with no legs visible.
Editor's Note: This is the second of two articles on the Precision Dairy Technology Forum hosted by Penn State University. Click here to read the first article.
Group calf housing is back
Dr. Jud Heinrichs, a Penn State University professor of dairy science, and Jared Yousey a DeLaval herd management specialist for the northeast region, both spoke about the strengths and challenges of group calf housing and automatic calf feeding systems during the Precision Dairy Technology Forum hosted by Penn State University Extension in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 18.
The University of Wisconsin Extension recently released a study that benchmarks the economic costs and labor efficiencies of associated with raising calves and heifers.
Everyone knows it’s urgent to feed the immunoglobulins in colostrum to calves their first 24 hours alive, but new research shows the non-nutrient contents, or bioactives, in colostrum are also significant.
Over the last decade, we have seen an increase in calf scours caused by the protozoan parasite Cryptosporidium parvum. There are other species of cryptosporidium that infect calves but are of lesser importance.
Raising heifers is a major cost to dairy operations. By bucking traditional methods and focusing on size instead of age, producers may see better returns.
In a recent Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council (DCRC) webinar, Dr. Robert Corbett of Dairy Health Consultation offered six areas to focus on when it comes to boosting a heifer reproduction program.
A calf is born with a sterile rumen, void of the bacteria, protozoa and fungi populations found in adult animals. This means the calf cannot ferment forages and must rely on a liquid diet for nutrients.
During the birthing process, however, the calf encounters a myriad of bacteria that colonize the calf gastrointestinal tract. Additionally, it doesn’t take long before the calf becomes curious and starts to nibble on things in its environment.
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