This article is part of our series of original articles on emerging featured topics. Please check here to see other articles in this series.
Heifers are the future of your dairy operation, and require a significant amount of attention and decision-making. Will you raise your own heifers or contract them out? How will you manage nutrition, breeding, health, and even mastitis control? In this selection of DAIReXNET videos, you’ll find information on a range of calf and heifer topics, including …
This article is part of our series of original articles on emerging featured topics. Please check here to see other articles in this series.
Automated milk feeding (AMF) systems have been used in Europe for many years, but the usage in the US has increased in recent years. These systems allow for increased social facilitation among calves, redirection of labor from feeding to management of calves, consistency of milk delivery, and consumption of additional milk in smaller meals. Experience with …
Bovine respiratory disease (BRD), also known as shipping fever or pneumonia, is a significant problem for dairy replacement heifers. According to reports from the National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS), 18.1% of pre-weaned dairy heifers experienced respiratory disease (USDA 2012), but respiratory problems accounted for 22.5% of deaths in unweaned heifers and 46.5% in weaned heifers (USDA 2010). That means respiratory disease is the single greatest cause of heifer deaths after weaning. Long term effects on performance include decreased probability …
This article is part of our series of original articles on emerging featured topics. Please check here to see other articles in this series.
As soon as the dairy calf exits the uterus of the cow, the maternal nutrition and protection from disease by blood transfer of nutrients and immune cells directly to the fetus ceases. This nutrition and immunity now shifts to absorption of nutrients and immune cells found within colostrum to further protect the newborn and get …
This article is part of our series of original articles on emerging featured topics. Please check here to see other articles in this series.
The dairy calf begins its life as a simple stomached animal, yet spends most of its life as a ruminant whose digestion depends largely on fermentation. The change from one digestive method to another is a process that is called rumen development. A dairy cow has a four-part stomach system consisting of the reticulum, rumen, …
This article is part of our series of original articles on emerging featured topics. Please check here to see other articles in this series.
Dairy heifers represent a large expense of resources including feed, buildings, and labor, yet they return no money to the dairy farm until they calve. Our overall management of these heifers must be handled in a manner that yields the best quality heifer, with the highest potential to be productive and profitable, with a minimal cost …
This article is part of our series of original articles on emerging featured topics. Please check here to see other articles in this series.
Attention to dairy calf and heifer management is important for maintaining growth rates, minimizing health problems, and optimizing current and future profitability of the dairy farm. The presence of pumpkins and frost reminds us that the winter months are just ahead, and with most of the crops for the livestock now in storage, it’s time to …
A pre-weaned dairy calf has several basic needs that must be met in order for her to be healthy and achieve target weight gains. Generally speaking, these needs are: 1) optimal nutrition (quality and quantity), 2) free access to clean water, 3) a clean, dry, and comfortable resting area, and 4) adequate, draft-free ventilation with fresh air. Ensuring each calf is provided the proper environment is vitally important; the design and management of a calf housing facility directly affect …
Have you considered housing heifers in an old cow barn, or are you currently doing so? If so, this article is for you.
Many farmers have expanded herd size, requiring the construction of new facilities in order to house the larger herd. Still others have constructed new facilities to provide a better environment for their lactating cows and to increase labor efficiency. In both cases, the old cow barn is many times targeted to house replacements. Certainly using your old …
Once calves reach 5 to 6 months of age, they are ready to graduate from the transition management group and move on to the adolescent management group. Adolescent management group calves range in age from about 6 months to pre-calving (400 to 1,200 lbs.). Their needs are slightly different than those of transition calves. They need to become accustomed to larger animal groups, resulting in increased competition for feed, water, and choice resting space. This limited competition will help …
