In Memory of Dr. Robert “Bob” James It is with great sadness that we share the news of the sudden passing of Dr. Robert “Bob” James on August 21, 2025. Dr. Bob James was not only an internationally recognized expert in calf rearing, but also a passionate teacher, mentor, and bridge-builder between research and practice. […]
Discover the truth about ad libitum and 40FIT calf feeding plans. This post clears up common misconceptions and explains how automated feeders can support natural calf behavior, improve growth, and optimize early-life nutrition.
Learn how to interpret autofeeder data to improve calf nutrition and behavior. This tip compares two real-world feeding plans—highlighting how visit patterns and milk concentration affect calf health, feeding stall use, and overall efficiency.
Is your calf program due for a rethink? After decades of individual housing and restricted milk feeding, dairy consultant Robert James challenges the status quo. He explores the benefits of group housing, automated feeders, and data-driven management — all aimed at improving calf health, labor efficiency, and long-term performance. Discover why now might be the time for change.
Small daily actions can have a big impact. Learn how to build an effective monitoring routine using your calf autofeeder system. This week’s tip focuses on health checks, data interpretation, and maximizing the value of your technology—one step at a time.
Are you a calf manager or a calf feeder? First, let’s start with some definitions. The calf feeder is the person who does their job. They aren’t recognized for either great or poor calf care. It’s a “low ranking” job on the farm. A calf manager sets goals, analyzes data, evaluates their resources and allocates […]
Keep it clean!! Our discussions pertaining to calf management frequently focus on nutrition, milk or milk replacer, colostrum, vaccinations, feed additives……. Rarely do we consider the impact of hygiene on our success in raising calves. For this post, let’s consider the impact of hygiene on calf health and growth. Calving environment – While in utero […]
When is the best time to introduce calves to the autofeeder? There are two views to consider when making this decision. Traditionally it’s been highly recommended to keep calves housed individually for health reasons. Typically, calves have some mild scours sometime during the first 10 days of life, likely due to delays in development of […]
Inadequately cleaned autofeeders can create unhealthy conditions for the calf, and impair the longevity of the equipment. Watch this how to video to learn how to carefully clean and sanitize your autofeeder.
The calf autofeeder system provides “opportunities” to better manage one’s calf proactively through the availability and use of data. Take a few minutes to start each day by reviewing these core areas.
