We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies in accordance with our Cookie Policy.
Scientists have long known that the nutrition and management of a pregnant female has direct effects on the health and growth of the fetus and the baby. Some work at Southampton University in England showed that human mothers who were malnourished during the first half of their pregnancy had children with an increased incidence of health problems as adults, including diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease.
Calf raising is a unique enterprise (some would say art). Rearing calves requires specialized knowledge, great attention to detail and a good amount of patience.
Many dairy farmers consider raising heifers to be a “necessary evil” and would prefer not to raise heifers if they could run their dairy without the calf enterprise. Indeed, the development of specialized calf raisers is a testament to the idea of success through specialization.
Although the dairy industry has struggled for several years, there are still those who pursue a life on the farm and try to find a balance in running a successful dairy business.
Seth and Kaia Darling are no different. They currently raise 575 dairy heifers on their farm near Round Lake, Minnesota.
The FDA recently tightened regulations on some drugs used in food-producing animals. The Food Safety Inspection Service of the USDA has instituted new broader-based residue testing schemes. Additionally, the American Veterinary Medical Association has approved modifications to the Model Veterinary Practice Act involving the veterinarian-client-patient-relationship (VCPR).
When a dairy producer partners with a heifer grower to raise replacements for his herd, a well-written agreement is essential. For such an arrangement to work, the responsibilities of each party – the grower and the producer – must be clearly stated in the contract.
The postmortem examination technique, also called necropsy, is not complicated. I like to start by placing the carcass on its left side, cutting the dead animal in the right axilla, and proceeding to open the skin from the mandible to the inguinal region.
In downtown New York City, men in business suits talk about cows. Actually, they even talk about killing cows – the sacred cows in their businesses.
These figurative sacred cows are things that have been immune to criticism and need to be culled.
In the real dairy world, one of the sacred cows is, oddly, the heifer.
Like young humans, calves are more susceptible to bacterial infections than their adult counterparts.
And just as you wouldn’t serve your children’s dinner on a dirty plate or allow them to sleep in dirty beds, it’s important for calf-feeding operations to ensure that proper sanitation methods are in place to prevent calves from being exposed to potentially harmful contaminants in their food or bedding.
New data confirms that contaminated colostrum impairs calves. How can you get a cleaner colostrum? Calves from different dairies, even after they’ve been transferred to a custom raising facility, often have different destinies.
Cow comfort is an all-encompassing term, which includes almost everything we do on a dairy farm.
When we really think about the whole picture, every minute detail has an influence on the comfort of the cow.
As an example, the location of the facilities is a major consideration.
RSS
