Dairy Calves - News & Insights
Stay updated on the latest dairy calf management strategies. Explore expert advice on colostrum management, calf nutrition, disease prevention, and the beef-on-dairy trend to ensure a healthy, productive future for your herd.
The Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program has released an updated version of its Animal Care standards.
Among the mix of technologies, management factors, and strategies to raise healthy calves: genetics. There is growing evidence that calves can inherit the ability to resist calfhood diseases like pneumonia and scours from their parents.
Holstein springers tread into $3,000 per head territory again this month, roughly double year-ago values.
Modern Holstein cows have an average gestation length of around 276 days, several days shorter than current references typically suggest.
Rumen-protected choline has been shown to produce a host of benefits for transition cows, from improved liver function to better immunity and higher milk production. New research shows it can help build better calves, too.
Beef-cross calves continue to fetch astounding values of more than $1,000/head in some markets.
As beef-dairy crossbred calves become a more widespread industry staple, they present their own set of specific benefits and challenges to the marketplace. A recently published study by Iowa State University researchers explored both.
Many feed additives marketed to improve calf health can have value. One of them is adsorbents, which bind toxins and thus prevent intestinal inflammation and damage.
Having the right tools for the job can improve any management scenario. When it comes to raising calves, 5 helpful tools were emphasized at the recent Dairy Calf and Heifer Association Annual Conference.
After years of negative margins, it might just be profitable to raise and sell excess dairy replacement heifers again.
Cows are more prone to heat stress than calves, right? Not necessarily, according to University of Wisconsin researcher Jimena Laporta.
Skills learned in a beef feedlot serve dairy heifer grower Erik Mohrlang well as he manages 14,000 dairy heifers at a Colorado custom-rearing yard.
The national shortage of dairy replacement heifers is beginning to bear out more distinctly in heifer prices.
As temperatures begin to creep their way higher, consider these strategies to help keep calves cool and healthy during the heat of the summer.
The SENSEHUB monitoring ear tag incorporates a blinking LED light so workers can quickly and easily locate those animals and apply appropriate interventions.
The goal of formulating milk replacer is to as closely as possible duplicate – and even improve upon – whole milk. A team of researchers is exploring how to do that based on fat source choices and fatty acids.
Calf prices continue to surge to new heights, with reports of newborn beef-cross bottle calves fetching upward of $1,000 per head.
Animal health supplier, Solvet, has announced a philanthropic relationship with the National 4-H Council, in which it will donate proceeds from the sales of one of its animal-welfare-promoting products.
Bacteria, viruses, and protozoa all have crafty methods of making preweaned calves sick. Veterinarian Don Sockett shares his advice on fighting these organisms through effective cleaning and sanitation routines.
Kansas Dairy Development provides temporary housing for up to 80,000 head of cattle — from a few days old to springers nearly ready to calve. Their formula for success is all in the details.
The best-quality colostrum is thick, creamy, and has a beautiful golden color, right? Not necessarily, according to Danish veterinarian and researcher Hanne Skovsgaard Pedersen.
Numerous studies have now shown that feeding colostrum replacer to mimic transition milk has beneficial effects for preweaned calves.
If you want to stay ahead of calf health and catch sickness in its earliest stage, University of Minnesota Graduate Student Abbigail Prins offers a handy detection tip.
The “old” AI (artificial insemination) is intended to land cows in the maternity pen. Now, the “new” AI (Artificial Intelligence) is being engaged to monitor them.
Though maternity pens can sometimes feel chaotic to manage, there are additional ways to help minimize stress and create a calmer calving environment for both cow and calf.
Producers have embraced technology for their mature herd, and now more dairies and calf ranches are exploring how to use it to streamline management for the youngest members of their herd – calves and heifers.
Higher prices for beef calves are incentivizing dairy producers to breed crossbred bull calves
Whether you’re building a new calf barn or retrofitting an existing structure, there are measures that can be taken to ensure the best possible calf comfort, welfare, and health.
The total U.S. dairy replacement heifer herd is down about 14,000 head compared to the start of 2023.
Gene editing has been used experimentally to produce polled calves and calves with lighter-colored haircoats. Now, USDA researchers, have produced a calf with reduced susceptibility to bovine viral diarrhea virus.