Which came first, the chicken or the egg? That’s a hotly debated question, one that can puzzle a small child and stump an adult to come up with the correct answer.
Today I find myself with a similar question: what comes first, the calves or the milk replacer?
You see…the calf barn for our small farm is now complete, thanks in large part to my husband who built it in his spare time with occasional help from family and friends.
Now it is time for me to do my part. As business manager of this operation, I need to line up calves and feed to purchase.
I spent my lunch hour calling milk replacer companies and in each instance I was asked, “How many calves do you have?”
That is certainly a fair question from their standpoint as they are trying to gain a better understanding of what it is we are trying to achieve, but I couldn’t help but think, “shouldn’t the milk replacer come first?”
It got me to thinking that the vast majority of their clientele already have calves. They are most likely farms that have decided to implement a new feeding system or try a different brand of milk replacer.
There are fewer of us that are starting with not much more than a barn and a dream.
Luckily for most, it doesn’t matter if the calves or milk replacer came first. Regardless of the situation, this issue has some great articles pertaining to calf care that are applicable to everyone.
As Luciene Ribeiro points out on page 30, winter is a great time to evaluate your calf program. First of all, there’s usually more time in the winter for analyzing farm practices and secondly because calves tend to show some of their stressors in a colder climate.
BRD might be a stressor to calves on your farm. Click here to find out how to minimize the disease.
Or, you might still be coping with the effects of this summer’s drought. Get tips for feeding heifers through drought and high feed prices click here to read.
But don’t stop there because you can also learn a little something about socialization for calves, fine-tuning colostrum practices, bedding and housing, and immunity.
There are also articles on A.I. & breeding, including a feature on Doug Peart, a three-time Master Breeder Shield winner click here to read the article.
In addition to breeding a string of very fine bovines, the Peart family has also been busy planning the 2013 National Holstein Convention to take place this spring in Ontario.
Another outfit that has been busy with plans and preparations is the organizing crew for the Canadian Dairy XPO. CDX will open its doors for the first time ever on Feb. 6. (See more by clicking here.)
Having attended the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin, for more years than I can count, I know how special a dairy-exclusive event can be.
It can be a great one-stop shop for all your farm needs, a wonderful place to visit with friends and neighbours, and an excellent chance learn something new – whether in the classroom or live demonstrations.
I’m planning to be there and I hope you are too. If so, please stop by our booth to say “hi.” We’ll be in the main entrance of Hall 1.
