Calves & Heifers

Future-proofing the herd: Rethinking calf care

twood@lallemand.com — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Faced with higher milk replacer costs, it can be tempting to trim milk replacer rates or step calves down sooner. But the first 60 days of life are not the place to cut corners.

The remarkable difference hyperimmunized colostrum makes

mwustenberg@immucell.com — Wed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

You may not be familiar with the term “hyperimmunized,” let alone use it in everyday conversation. Yet it is the most powerful tool to enrich colostrum and influence calf health and development.

Year-round hydration for improved calf welfare

minnie.ward@feedworksusa.com — Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

When I get questions about hydration from calf raisers, it is almost always associated with heat stress or health events. Why do we think of hydration as a reactionary tool? We talk preventative care in calves every day, so why not approach hydration the same way?

Keeping calves cool: New ideas for hutch-housed heifers

jvanos@wisc.edu — Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Providing active heat abatement during the preweaning period can create a cleaner hutch microclimate, help keep calves cool, improve their immune responses and even increase herd longevity through the first lactation. Our group has been exploring a solar-powered fan system for calves in outdoor hutches.

Nexus awards: Technology tracks calf health via eartag with flashing light indicator

walt.cooley@agproud.com — Tue, 05 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

SenseHub Dairy Youngstock monitoring technology from Merck Animal Health tracks calves from birth and flashes an indicator light when activity, rumination, eating or other behaviors deviate from the baseline. The same eartag can also continue tracking behaviors throughout the animal’s entire life.

New calf traits will allow producers to select for disease resistance

kristen.gaddis@uscdcb.com — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Genetic and genomic evaluations for Resistance to Diarrhea (DIA) and Resistance to Respiratory Problems (RSP) will represent the expected resistance of an animal’s offspring to these issues in a herd with average management conditions. Final approvals are being wrapped up, with the goal of introducing these traits for Holstein and Jersey breeders soon.

Dairy replacement cow prices fall back to last spring

audrey@agproud.com — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 14:13:33 -0400

Prices for U.S. replacement dairy cows dropped in January, falling back to levels similar to those seen in April 2025, according to latest quarterly estimates from the USDA. U.S. replacement dairy cow prices averaged $2,860 per head in January 2026, down $250 (9%) from October 2025 but up $200 (7%) from January 2025.

Youngstock facilities: From concept to conception

lkrentz@vitaplus.com — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

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.

Reduce transport stress for healthier calves

louderdvm@gmail.com — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Not only do we deal with stress in our lives, but we often create stressful situations for the animals we care for. Recognizing these events and taking measures to provide the animals with mechanisms to deal with stress can help them bounce back more quickly.

Making sense of the data: Insights and action items for your calf records

seck@immucell.com — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0500

A successful calf program doesn’t happen by chance. It takes time, focus, attention and, of course, proper data collection. When gathering data, we should think about what we are measuring, our purpose and how we can improve upon these measurements.

Roundtable: Calf questions from around the U.S.

jennifer_wiley@cargill.com — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Lean into your consultants and fellow producers to troubleshoot and come up with solutions. Every operation is unique and will require unique solutions that work for your employees, facilities and budget.

Good colostrum handling maximizes the value of dry cow vaccines and management

halley.fobes@vaxxinova.com — Fri, 06 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

The early days of a calf’s life can be perilous. With limited immune function of their own, they are reliant on the protection provided by maternal colostrum. That protection goes beyond antibodies (immunoglobulins or IgG) and remains an area of active research.

Seven pillars of successful calf raising

tiago.tomazi@merck.com — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Just as solid structural pillars form a strong foundation for the barn, these seven pillars of calf raising are powerful steps to help build a solid foundation for the future milking herd.

A gut check for calf programs: A multipronged approach for gut health

marisol_orellana@diamondv.com — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

A calf’s gut is a blank slate at birth, but bacterial microbes quickly establish themselves within the first weeks of life. During this narrow window, the calf’s gastrointestinal (GI) tract is rapidly colonized by bacteria from equipment, colostrum and bedding – both beneficial as well as harmful.

Feeding for impact: How can we improve dairy calf health and performance?

minnie.ward@feedworksusa.com — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

To me, calf raising is a continuous journey of learning, hands-on experiences and skill development. That said, the key is to stay focused and avoid overthinking or overcomplicating the process.

Screening for scours

mmc7081@psu.edu — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Have you said or heard someone say, “Yeah, we have diarrhea in the calves, but they get over it quickly.” Do they? How bad can a few “bad days” really be? However, what if we were to tell you that the duration of diarrhea is linked to decreased growth rates and reduced milk production in the first lactation? It matters a whole lot more than we give it credit for.

Maternity barn: Setting the stage for healthy beginnings

Wed, 24 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Many dairy operations are reexamining their maternity barns and calf holding areas. In this article, we will explore five benefits of modernizing these facilities and the positive outcome improvements can bring for both your calves and your entire dairy operation.

Use of polled genetics builds momentum

cgsattler@selectsires.com — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Breeding for polled animals is the only real way to effectively manage the pain caused by disbudding. It also is an effective way to eliminate this problematic calf management chore.

The cost of caring: Compassion fatigue in calf raising

lbinversie@bovisync.com — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Compassion fatigue is different. It stems from prolonged exposure to the emotional suffering of others – especially when providing care. While common in professions like health care or veterinary medicine, it is also relevant in animal agriculture.

Are PI calves undermining your herd?

jennifer_3.roberts@boehringer-ingelheim.com — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Persistently infected (PI) calves shed bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) with every breath and drop of saliva. They don’t just live with the virus – they spread it, continuously and invisibly, exposing every animal around them to the disease, which can impact overall herd health and performance.

In one hour, the cascade effect begins

mwustenberg@immucell.com — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Literally, the first hour of birth sets the stage for a calf’s life. After those 60 minutes, a calf climbs aboard one of three tracks.

Beef-on-dairy: Best management practices

kramsey@neogen.com — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

The utilization of beef semen on dairy cattle to create higher value crossbred calves has proven to be an effective strategy for dairy producers. Dairy producers who focus on creating quality beef-on-dairy calves will have the edge as the market dynamics shift.

What’s the biology of feeding the preweaned calf?

jamesre60@gmail.com — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

There has been an increased incentive to feed the preweaned calf more milk to improve growth, feed efficiency and in many cases, health as compared to our traditional practice of limit feeding milk to stimulate rumen development and early weaning.

Calves aren’t big chicks: Know the one way egg powder helps calf raisers

mwustenberg@immucell.com — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Colostrum is one of Mother Nature’s most powerful and unmatched creations – the purest immunity packed with everything a calf needs to survive, thrive and grow strong. Despite what you might hear, nothing compares.

The three most common calf-care challenges I see on farms

seck@immucell.com — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Calf-raising systems are not necessarily one-size-fits-all. Not all raisers face the same challenges. Each operation has different approaches – from feeding methods (bottles, buckets or auto feeders), to housing strategies (group settings or individual pens), to the choice between whole milk or milk replacer – the differences are many. Despite contrasts in styles, calf raisers seek many of the same answers in their pursuit of excellence.

Autofeeders: Time-tested management and emerging solutions

bdado-senn@vitaplus.com — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Many farmers who have implemented automated calf feeders (autofeeders) describe the process as a steep learning curve followed by fine-tuning and the occasional mechanical or health hiccup. This article highlights focus areas that can help calf managers mitigate challenges with autofeeders.

Cracking the calf code with ultrasound: How lung ultrasound is changing the game for calf health

lbinversie@bovisync.com — Wed, 20 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Ultrasound is a highly accurate and rapid tool for diagnosing abnormal lungs in young calves. With it, we can distinguish between true pneumonia, upper respiratory infections and other conditions that mimic respiratory disease but require different management.

The importance of hydration: A new look at proactively hydrating calves

minnie.ward@feedworksusa.com — Tue, 19 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

As a calf raiser, I ask myself: If dehydration is the number one killer of calves, why don’t we practice both proactive and reactive approaches to keeping them hydrated?

From hutches to barns: How calf housing is changing

rrobertshaw@canarm.ca — Tue, 12 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

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.

Dairy replacement cow prices hit new unprecedented high

audrey@agproud.com — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 17:52:41 -0400

Quarterly average prices in July reach highest level on record of $3,010 per head according to estimates from the USDA.