Form of starter affects consumption
University of Kentucky researchers compared the consumption habits of calves fed a ground starter, a pelleted starter or a textured starter. None of the calves ate much starter in the first three weeks of life. The researchers also discovered that calves fed the pelleted starter consumed less total grain over the six weeks of the trial than calves fed the ground or textured starters. Follow this link for more details from the study.

Timing is critical in vaccination program
The goal of your vaccination program should be to prime a calf’s immune system as it develops. However, certain times are better to vaccinate than others. For example, a specific type of white blood cell — called T-cells — that calves receive from their dams’ fresh colostrum disappears between three to five weeks of age, says veterinarian Robert Corbett of Spring City, Utah. "This is a very poor time to vaccinate a calf because her immune system is going through a stage of development," he explains. Your best windows of opportunity are between one and three weeks of age or after five weeks of age. Be sure to follow product labels and avoid vaccinations during times of stress, like dehorning and weaning.

Calving area includes unique features
When Shiloh Dairy, Brillion, Wis., expanded its special-needs area, it invested in five individual calving pens. Each pen includes a headlock and a vacuum line so that colostrum can be harvested easily after calving. This helps employees get 6 pints of colostrum into calves immediately after birth, and a second feeding four to six hours later.
   Each calf is removed from the pen immediately after birth. The calf is placed on a plastic sled and transported to a newborn calf hutch inside the calving barn. It is then vigorously rubbed with two or three towels to stimulate circulation and respiration. Calves spend their first 24 hours here for care and observation. The barn includes a row of 10 hutches for heifers and a separate row of seven hutches for bulls. Each is scrubbed clean and disinfected after each calf.

Deliver consistent milk solids
At Johnson Dairy in Eaton, Colo., they feed milk replacer in order to give calves a consistent diet. During the first two weeks of life, the level of milk solids is boosted to 12 percent. From then on, milk solids are boosted to 17 percent. To make sure calves receive a consistent diet, each batch of milk replacer is tested with a "Brix" refractometer. The refractometer helps ensure that the milk solids in the milk replacer remain consistent.

Avoid ice buildup
To avoid slips and falls during cold Midwest winters, one southeast Minnesota dairy installed in-floor heating in crossover alleys and around pen waterers. The strategy helps avoid frozen manure buildup in the crossover alleys and prevents dangerous icing around waterers.

Calf-housing pen protocols
Sunshine Genetics, of Whitewater, Wis., maintains a calf death loss of less than 1 percent with Holstein and Brown Swiss calves born on-farm. That's especially important, given that all calves born here are high-value embryo-transfer calves. Karen Marsh, calf manager, says keys to success include the following calf-housing protocols:

• All calves are raised in hutches placed 5 to 6 feet apart.
• Hutches are placed on a gravel pad.
• The hutches are rotated seasonally between three different gravel-pad locations.
• Each pad is cleaned following removal of calves and remains unused for three to six months.
• New gravel is applied before calves return to the area.
• Hutches, front panels and feed pails are washed and sanitized between each calf.
• Absolutely no visitors are allowed in the calf-housing area. This includes employees who work in other areas on the farm.
• Hutches are bedded with straw in winter and dry-wood shavings in summer.

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