Raising quality dairy replacement heifers is not an inexpensive or simplistic endeavor. If your goal is to rear heifers that reach desired breeding parameters early so that animals begin puberty, establish a pregnancy and calve easily and on time, you must be aggressive in your heifer management program. Plus, you must accomplish these objectives at a reasonable cost. Feed cost is generally the largest expense for raising replacement heifers, and margins require that dairies be prudent when managing heifer growth and performance. However, while daily rearing cost is important, it is really only part of the picture.

There are several ways to get heifers bred quickly after they move into the breeding pen. “Walk and chalk” is the strategy of choice for Vance Kells, owner of Circle Bar Heifer Ranch in Satanta, Kansas.

The developing horns of dairy calves are typically removed to reduce the risk of injuries to farm workers or other cattle later in life. Horns of calves 3 months old or older are normally removed surgically (“dehorning”) by scooping, shearing or sawing. Horn buds of younger calves are typically removed (“disbudding”) using a caustic paste or a hot iron. There is scientific evidence that all of these methods cause immediate pain and post-operative pain. The immediate pain can be reduced using a local anesthetic to provide a nerve block – this procedure has been used safely for decades and costs just pennies a shot. Pain can persist 24 hours or more – this longer-lasting pain can be reduced using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (like the ibuprofen you take for a headache). Providing calves a sedative before the procedure can reduce handling stress and make the procedure easier to carry out.

Are you prepared for an emergency or a rescue situation on your farm? A better question is: Are the first responders in your area prepared and knowledgeable about your farm and the potential hazards on it?

Friday night I watched Superman the Movie. Superman sailed across the dark sky with the city glittering far below him. He swooped down when he saw a crime and, with precision, he solved the problem. I couldn’t help but wonder how he could solve all the problems around the world.

“Hello, this is the Galway Dating Service. Sarah speaking.” “What’s the craic? Looking for a bird for meself,” Tristan, my Irish friend, said into the receiver, swapping his Dublin accent for a gruff, rural enunciation that probably didn’t exist. We saw the phone number in the newspaper that morning.