Many producers turn to a custom calf raiser because they want to offload heifer-raising challenges. You might have other reasons for sending calves away, such as saving forage and labor for the milking herd or the lack of updated calf facilities.

Giving calves a good start can be expensive. However, not investing in your calf operation can cost you in the parlor. Too many dairies chase after pennies of efficiency on the cow side but trip over dollars of missed opportunities in their calf program.

Understanding the fundamentals of vaccination helps optimize the return on your vaccine investments and ensure calves are prepared for the challenges they’ll face.

That newborn calf looks pretty helpless nestled down in that clean, fresh straw. But don’t let looks deceive. She’s a powerhouse of genetics and opportunity just waiting to demonstrate her potential.

In recent years, dairy producers and industry experts have put more emphasis on providing dairy calves with high-quality, timely colostrum to maximize passive transfer of immunity.

Due to improvements in reproductive efficiencies, dairies can now be more selective in raising future herd replacements. This elevates the importance of reducing preventable diseases such as scours or diarrhea in newborn calves.

“I think, done the right way and with proper management all the way through, these calves are better than the native beef,” said Dan Dorn.

Managing dairy calves is truly an art form. The first few weeks of a calf’s life are imperative to how productive that calf will be as an adult, from increased milk during its first lactation to achieving its full genetic potential.