Today’s economic downturn requires a long-term perspective and a focus on efficiency in modern dairy operation systems.

The health and management of replacement animals are important components of total herd profitability.

Pasture-based heifer-raising systems are common in many parts of the country, especially where seasonal temperatures and rainfall allow year-round grazing with no artificial shelter.

Cold weather is quickly approaching and the challenge of keeping calves growing and healthy has begun.

Everyone who raises calves has a major stake in how well calves obtain passive immunity from a dam during the first 24 hours of life. Calves receive passive immunity via intake of colostrum during the first 24 hours when their intestines are able to absorb immune proteins without digestion.

The last year in agriculture has been a volatile one. We have seen rapid inflation of all commodities followed by rapid deflation. It has left me and many of my clients wondering how we can sustain food animal production agriculture in North America.

Nothing quite stirs up an appetite like time outside on a cold winter day. And just as people need more energy when battling the cold, so do dairy calves.

The topic of “intensified feeding or accelerated growth” has garnered a great deal of discussion, and the concept has been applied in both research and on-farm trials in various ways. Much of this discussion involves differences in perspectives about how to best manage the nutrition and nutrient intake and weaning of the calf.

Typically, in the fall you read articles about increasing the amount of milk replacer to feed to calves. The typical recommendations come from the National Research Council (NRC) predictions for the increased calorie demands for calves under cold stress. While these recommendations are correct, they are also incorrect. In 2007, a detailed set of research trials were published in the Professional Animal Scientist Journal. In these trials, calves were fed different amounts and types of milk replacers in different trials conducted in the winter months (temperatures shown in Table 1*). The calves were housed in naturally ventilated barns with no added heat. Bedding material was also compared. Calves were deep-bedded with dried hardwood shavings or wheat straw.

The goal of a calf-rearing program should be to optimize growth and health while minimizing risk and cost.