Step up calf nutrition in cold weather

Falling temperatures can compromise calf growth and health.

"At 68 degrees F, whole milk will allow (a 90-pound calf) to gain about 0.75 pound per day," says Robert Corbett, dairy veterinarian and nutritionist in Spring City, Utah.

However, if the temperature drops to 32 degrees F, calf growth will suffer.

"Even on a whole milk program, which has a much better nutrient content than a 20:20 milk replacer, we still are going to have weight loss when we get down into freezing conditions," Corbett said during a recent Dairy Calf & Heifer Association Webinar. Work with your clients to adjust the solids content of milk/milk replacer to accommodate weather conditions and calf growth.

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