CALVES & HEIFERS

Would it surprise you that a critical difference between success and failure in raising calves is the attitude of the people taking care of the calves? How we view calves and how we view our time are critical to success of the calf operation because they impact calf performance.

Just as more is less, bigger is not always better when it comes to the growth and development of dairy heifers. The nature and growth of dairy cattle has vastly changed from decade to decade, and as traits have been genomically bred out of cattle, often the idea of “bigger equals better,” has become a misjudged trend.

Young ruminants rely heavily on milk in the early stages of life to provide proteins, energy and essential nutrients to grow and stay healthy.

“We have way too many calves with acidosis.”

“Rumen pHs are low, must be acidosis.”

Dr. Lowell T. Midla of Merck Animal Health recently discussed the importance of colostrum and vaccinations in the first three months of a calf’s life in a webinar hosted by the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association.

Winter always seems to sneak up on us before we know it. The amount of daylight gets shorter and shorter and the temperature gets colder and colder.