Heifer prices steady
Heifer prices have been holding relatively stable the last month. A survey of livestock markets around the country shows that current heifer prices range from $1,175 to $2,100 for top- or supreme-rated springing heifers, says Greg Scheer, dairy analyst at Doane Advisory Services in St. Louis. The price of medium-grade springers ranges from $900 to $1,775. The chart below shows the reported prices from recent heifer sales of springers and calves by region.

	Springing heifers		Heifer calves
	Supreme/top grade	Approved/medium grade	90 to 120 pounds
Escalon, Calif.	$1,700-$2,000	$1,300-$1,600	90 to 120 pounds
Portales, N.M.	$1,175-$2,100	$ 1,500-$1,750	Not reported
Ithaca, Wis.	$1,700-$2,050	$ 1,400-$1,725	$ 360-$585
Sulphur Springs, Texas	$1,200-$1,925	$ 900-$1,275	$ 70-$375
New Holland, Pa.	$ 1,700-$2,000	$ 1,550-$1,775	$400-$530

Welcome to the Feb. 26 edition of Calf and Heifer Adviser, published by Dairy Herd Management^® magazine.

Calf and Heifer Adviser and its core sponsors are committed to providing you with the information you need to make informed and timely business decisions.

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Study examines step-down milk feeding
A South Korean study shows that a step-wise reduction in the amount of milk fed to calves on a higher plane of nutrition yields a three-fold benefit. During the study, calves fed whole milk at the rate of 20 percent of bodyweight, and later at 10 percent of bodyweight, gained more weight, were heavier and had better feed efficiency than conventionally fed calves. For more details, go to www.dairyherd.com.

No increase in diarrhea either
The Korean study, reported in the February Journal of Dairy Science, also dispels the popular myth that calves fed a greater amount of milk experience more diarrhea. In the study, calves fed whole milk at the rate of 20 percent of bodyweight “safely consumed greater amounts of milk without any noticeable increase in diarrhea,” say the researchers. In fact, during the third and fourth week of age, the occurrence of diarrhea was lower in calves fed in a step-down fashion versus calves fed at the traditional rate of 10 percent of bodyweight. The researchers point out that diarrhea is usually related to sanitary, management and housing conditions rather than the amount of milk intake.

Leg bands identify sick calves
Colored Velcro leg bands identify calves that need treatment at El-Vi Farms in Newark, N.Y. For example, a yellow leg band identifies scouring calves that need an electrolyte feeding during the night shift. The electrolyte boost helps keep those calves hydrated during the 15- to 16-hour interval between the evening and morning feeding, adds George Andrew, one of the partners.

Truck box earns new life as warming house
A refrigerated-truck box has been given new life as a warming house for newborn calves at one Colorado dairy. Employees at Galeton Dairy added extra insulation to the walls and ceiling, mounted an electric heater for extra heat when it’s really cold, and covered the entrance with heavy tarps. Deep-straw bedding greets newborns, and wall-mounted containers hold everything employees need to process a newborn calf. The truck box’s chain gate must be kept closed to prevent cows from settling into the warm quarters.

Consider spot checks
Debbie Preston conducts periodic spot checks on the amount of milk delivered to calves at Galeton Dairy in Galeton, Colo. This keeps calf feeders on their toes, prevents procedural drift and demonstrates the importance of getting the right amount of milk into each calf. Pre-weaned calves are fed to achieve a rate of gain of 1.7 to 1.8 pounds per day. Since increasing the amount of nutrients fed, the dairy has seen lower morbidity and mortality rates. Pre-weaned calf mortality now stands at 1.5 percent.

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