Today’s producers have options for housing calves, options that account for calf comfort, employee efficiency and operational success. There’s no one right way to raise calves, but there are many ways to do it well, as attendees learned recently at the Vines and Bovines event hosted by Vita Plus.

Dairy cattle have a reputation for being a bit slow to learning, but they have the ability to learn quite well. Their ability to learn is directly linked to their welfare, as they learn and perform best when they are healthy, comfortable and at ease.

Raising healthy, high-performing calves starts with the right housing system. As calf care practices have evolved, many dairy and veal producers are now exploring how indoor housing systems can better support their operational goals.

For many years, the calf hutch has been considered the “gold” standard. Is it time to reevaluate this standard? Let’s consider the benefits and challenges of the calf hutch system compared to other alternatives.

It has now been more than a year since Canada’s new Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Dairy Cattle was published. With only a few exceptions, the requirements of the new code came into effect on April 1, 2024. How can our industry live up to the new standards it has set for itself in this code?

An automated ventilation system, larger pens and automated feeders have contributed to healthier calves at Hammond Farms.

The milking herd at NexGen Dairy is a mature group of cows who have proven themselves in milk production and in overall cow health. Achieving such a distinct herd begins with the calves and the farm’s protocols – starting at birth.