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Raising dairy heifers off-site increases the possibility of disease introduction, especially if animals are reared in a facility where they commingle with cattle from other dairies.
Fat is an energy-dense nutrient that is a major component in calf milk replacers (MRs) and dry feeds. Over the last 15-plus years, there have been an array of studies looking at MR formulas with different crude-protein-to-fat ratios.
“We have way too many calves with acidosis.” “Rumen pHs are low, must be acidosis.” “I need to switch calf starters; this one is causing acidosis.” Have any of these thoughts crossed your mind? If so, you’re not alone. But, you might be missing the real question – do your calves actually have acidosis?
Dairy herd management is very data-driven, with exceptional progress made in the use of data from areas such as feeding, parlor operation, milk production and herd health to make timely decisions influencing dairy profitability.
Calf diarrhea is the leading cause of death among dairy calves and likely contributes at least in part to the second leading cause, pneumonia, due to calves being in a weakened state.
Have you ever bought a new tractor and wished you would have recorded all the little things the dealer rep explained and showed to you? Calf raisers might very well have the same experience when installing autofeeders.
It is often assumed that because Jersey cows have higher fat content in their milk, milk replacers for Jersey calves also need to be higher in fat. However, this has not been confirmed, as research in Jersey calves is limited.
When feeding whole milk or milk replacer to calves, there is not a one-size-fits-all solution for dairy producers. The choice of which one to feed often comes down to each farm’s whole milk availability, its costs, the current milk price and the farm’s management capabilities. Whether you’re feeding whole milk, milk replacer or a combination of the two, here are three things to consider.
Your total cost to raise calves is an important metric, but it's especially important when profit margins are tight. Total feed costs or feed cost per pound of gain are common metrics; however, those figures may be misleading because they don't include the full picture.
Establishing a healthy gut microbiome from the beginning of a calf’s life can have a lasting impact on her success. A properly developed gut can help improve lifetime feed efficiency and support overall calf health. You see, the gut is the first line of defense for a calf’s immune system, which can protect her from scours, pneumonia and other health challenges.
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