Pneumonia causes the second-highest number of cases of illness and death in young dairy calves, taking a back seat only to scours. Animals that do survive cases of calfhood pneumonia are likely to face a lifetime of diminished performance in the milking string. Research shows that replacement heifers experiencing pneumonia in the first 3 months of life are more likely to: • Experience significantly increased mortality • Have reduced average daily gain • Calve later than unaffected herdmates • Produce less milk in at least their first lactation

The quality of shelter given to heifers during cold weather is vital to their growth rate, performance and overall health. Less-than-optimal housing conditions expose heifer resting areas to precipitation and wind. These areas quickly become damp and muddy, causing wet, dirty hair coats. Add inadequate resting and feeding space to the equation and you create an environment where heifers are stressed and do not thrive, much less meet growth expectations.

Concentration of IgG in colostrum varies according to many factors, including a cow’s disease history, volume of colostrum produced, season of the year and breed. Research has shown that IgG levels vary widely from one cow to the next and range from less than 20 to over 100 mg per mL. The difference between 20 and 100 mg per mL of IgG in colostrum can mean the difference between failure and success in passive transfer of immunity in calves. Measurement of IgG concentrations in colostrum can be very useful in managing colostrum quality and monitoring colostrum-feeding practices.

Industry research continues to build, showing the short-term and long-term economic benefits of feeding dairy calves a higher plane of nutrition. What was often considered an expense for a dairy operation in the past decades is now an overlooked opportunity for growing calves faster, stronger, bigger and more productive. These calves reach desired breeding age sooner, calve in and become part of the milking herd sooner and produce higher volumes of milk as early as their first lactation. But what about when dairy calves are raised by growers? Obviously, the economic benefits would be no different, but the management decisions and protocols of how to make this a win-win proposition for both the dairy and the grower are significantly different.

Dairy producers fine-tuning their calves’ rations need to keep high-quality starters in the mix to get optimal growth. That’s according to South Dakota Cooperative Extension Dairy Specialist Alvaro Garcia, who said a report in a recent issue of the Journal of Dairy Science evaluated the effects of milk amounts on dairy heifer calves. “Khan and collaborators published a review that considered the amount of milk fed and its impact on solid feed intake, weaning and performance,” Garcia said. “This extensive review suggested that limiting milk intake to approximately 1 gallon per day leaves calves hungry and can compromise their growth, health, welfare and future milk production.”