You have made a considerable investment in the calf auto-feeder system. But was it worth it? To determine this, focus on these two areas: calf performance and health and labor.

When calves are fed twice a day and housed in individual pens or hutches, the morning feeder is greeted by loud bawling of calves anxiously awaiting their morning meal. It may have been more than 12 hours since their last meal of 2 quarts of milk or milk replacer.

This article is part one in a two-part series on pre-weaned heifer nutrition. Look for part two in a future issue. What is a quality calf-feeding program? For too long, the ideal calf-feeding program has been viewed as one that was low-cost and weaned calves as soon as possible.

Observing dairy calf behavior is a critical skill in the early detection of disease. Dr. Sheila McGuirk from the University of Wisconsin published an excellent health scoring publication guide (Calf Health Scoring Guide) used by many calf raisers, veterinarians and researchers to aid in disease detection.

Dairy managers and consultants focus on feeding and managing the lactating and dry dairy herd. This is logical since mistakes become readily apparent in substantial lost income, increased expenses or poor use of resources. The primary focus is directed toward providing the resources and working environment.

Lactating dairy cattle require large amounts of water to produce milk. Though water is one of the most important nutrients for dairy cattle, water quality is often overlooked. Water, other than providing hydration, can also supply minerals vital for bovine health. Mineral composition can vary in water based on region and water source.