Changing seasons and challenging seasonal extremes (cold, heat and humidity) add extra challenges for a young calf, and the caregiver’s management must be dynamic in order to provide optimal care.

The first months of a calf’s life span are the most critical stages of development, where immune, digestive and metabolic systems are maturing, alongside rapid structural growth. The potential to develop to their full genetic capacity and best utilize this most efficient period of growth can be jeopardized and lost by poor health.

Group-housing calves is becoming a more common way to house and manage calves. Part of managing a group of calves is being able to scan the herd effectively for individuals that need more attention.

Beyond the neonatal phase, calves face another large metabolic shift and a drastic leap in their development at weaning, where specific feed and housing management are again factors to be closely tailored to these animals’ needs.

The most efficient rate of growth a calf experiences is in the first month of life. Strong growth and good calf health is linked to improved performance of heifers with a trend toward earlier first breeding and increased milk yields.

The most efficient rate of growth a calf experiences is in the first month of life. Strong growth and good calf health is linked to improved performance of heifers with a trend toward earlier first breeding and increased milk yields.

Digestive and metabolic upsets are just some of the challenges in pre-weaned calf rearing. Rumen drinking is a condition that occurs when milk is ingested into the rumen in large quantities.