Dairy Calves - News & Insights
Stay updated on the latest dairy calf management strategies. Explore expert advice on colostrum management, calf nutrition, disease prevention, and the beef-on-dairy trend to ensure a healthy, productive future for your herd.
The U.S. calf-raising sector now has a program to help ensure optimal calf health and welfare via the Calf Care & Quality Assurance (CCQA) program.
When used correctly, ionophores can be highly effective in preventing scours caused by coccidia in pre- and post-weaned dairy calves.
When dairy calves’ transition to weaning goes awry, so, too, can their health and productivity.
Calves that have incurred traumatic births are often lethargic, clumsy and have little interest in nursing. These babies may benefit from a simple procedure called the “Madigan Squeeze Technique.”
Dairy calves can transmit any number of diseases to their human handlers or those who pet them.
An esophageal tube feeder can be a lifeline for young calves, delivering colostrum, milk or electrolytes when they are unable to suckle a bottle. But incorrect use of these feeders can be dangerous or even deadly.
A high level of crude protein helps support development of the gastrointestinal system, especially important as calves go through the weaning process.
Whether or not to feed hay to preweaned dairy calves is a longstanding debate, without an absolute answer.
The common industry practice of feeding first-day colostrum and then switching calves directly to whole milk or milk replacer may be under review.
As much as 2020 has shown us being flexible is just as valuable as having plans, I still believe there is merit to taking a moment to reflect on some of the trends we’ve seen and how they may impact us moving forward.
While Salmonella Dublin can be a problem in adult stock, it has increasingly become a health issue affecting the long-term, potential productivity of calves.
At a point in history when a novel virus dominates the news cycle and impacts our lives daily, another novel virus has emerged in the United States – this time, in the cattle population.
Abomasal bloat can come on so quickly that calves appearing perfectly healthy at one feeding are found dead at the next.
Calves need water year-around, including winter. Research evidence suggests 100°F should be the target temperature for calves’ water, matching their body and rumen temperature.