The emergence of plant-based dairy products has engulfed the consuming public in an aggressive wave of popularity in recent years -- and it’s not likely to stop.
The values for Holstein springing heifers held steady or inched slightly upward in most markets this past month, and are 20-40% higher compared to last year at this time.
After incurring the investment to raise a heifer to freshening age, a difficult calving is the last thing you want as she attempts to enter the milking string.
Raising replacement heifers is a long-term investment, to be sure. In most herds, the cost of raising heifers from birth to calving far exceeds their market value, especially at today’s prices.
Today’s U.S. dairy calf and heifer raisers may be ahead of the curve in adopting the management styles that will drive the U.S. dairy industry 50 years from now.
Flies are more than just an annoyance for calves in warm weather. High fly populations also can spread diseases among calves; cause stress and reduced immunity; and negatively impact growth and weight gain.
Modified live vaccines can be effective in building immunity in cattle, because they stimulate an immune response to a variation of disease-causing organisms. But those live organisms can be touchy and temperamental.
Second only to feed costs, labor is a significant expense for most dairy farms. At the same time, managing labor requires a considerable time investment for dairy owners.
The physical and emotional toll of these circumstances are feeding a growing incidence of depression and anxiety among farmers, as evidenced in the results of a poll commissioned by the American Farm Bureau Federation.
University of Florida researcher Geoffrey Dahl shares how the detriments of in-utero heat stress impact the productivity of heifer calves for generations.
While it is possible to wean calves from milk-based rations at as early as 6 weeks of age, University of Guelph calf researcher Michael Steele says it’s not optimal.
NMSU has developed a series of training videos in native languages to help ensure that every dairy worker is informed of the best methods to ensure their personal safety, as well as that of the animals in their care.
Cornell University’s Jason Karszes shares one approach to model the financial impact that different management performance within the replacement program can have on the replacement businesses and the overall dairy.
The more difficulty a cow has giving birth, the more challenging life in the outside world will be for her calf, according to New York Calf and Heifer Specialist Sam Leadley.
Most modern gig businesses are fueled by web-based apps that allow service seekers and providers to connect with a few taps of a cell phone. Now farmers and ranchers can do the same with the advent of the HitchPin app.
Pregnant heifers are one cohort on dairies that don’t need nutrient-rich diets. In fact, over-feeding mature heifers can lead to excess fat deposition, which may cause calving difficulties and challenging lactation transitions.
How helpful would it be to look inside live calves to inspect their lung condition? That’s now possible with the same ultrasound technology veterinarians use to diagnose pregnancies.
As more farms adopt automatic feeders and group housing to raise their preweaned calves, more, too, is being understood about the factors that impact calf health in such rearing systems.
