CALVES & HEIFERS

Cold temperatures are here and winter is quickly approaching. As temperatures drop, calf barns are closed up and the ventilation rates are turned down. As an industry we do this reflexively, but is it what’s best for the calves?

The dairy industry has seen a large trend towards high-level milk feeding programs for calves in the past decade. This has allowed producers to realize the growth potential of young animals and improve welfare.

Several different forms of animal monitoring equipment have been developed and adopted by dairy producers for use in lactating animals. Some of these same technologies have been put to use in other areas around the farm and it begs the question, “Does video surveillance have a place in the calf barn?”

With hundreds of visits to all sizes and types of dairy farms under their belts, a panel of calf care specialists recently addressed the question, “What is your opinion of automatic calf feeders?”

At Anderson Farms (prefix Silverstream Holsteins) in Howick, Quebec, nothing is left to chance when it comes to herd management. They milk 100 cows and own 1,100 acres of land, which includes 4,600 maple trees. Four of their bulls are also in A.I.

Due to the perception of our climate in Canada, when temperature stress is discussed, it’s usually in the context of cold stress.