The ebb and flow of market factors require dairies to be nimble in their management strategies. Situation currently at hand: not enough heifers to meet typical demand. That’s why Wisconsin veterinarian Ryan Leiterman advises dairies to embrace their older cows.
The careful execution of calf management protocols and daily tasks that keep calves healthy can and should incrementally add up to more milk produced on the dairy, according to consulting veterinarian Scott Earnest.
Calves can suffer from heat stress the same as older animals. But even when the heat is on, they prefer to stay close to their partners in pair housing situations, according to a recent study by University of Wisconsin researchers.
Dairy replacement heifers and beef-cross calves are fetching record-breaking prices this spring, with Holstein springers hitting $4,200 and beef-cross calves surpassing $1,600.
Navigating the world of health insurance can be daunting, especially for farmers and small business owners. Here’s an explanation of several options that might work for you.
Human nutrition increasingly embraces fermentation as a natural and non-medicated means of promoting digestive health and supporting the gut microbiome. Now, some dairies are doing the same, by feeding kefir to their calves.
More colostrum would be welcome on virtually every dairy farm, especially if it also had higher quality. A team of Cornell University researchers explored whether a dose of oxytocin could help fresh cows deliver either, or both.
