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 […]
Smart Calf Rearing Conference This is the second installment on the proceedings of the 2023 Smart Calf Rearing Conference. Check the calf blog for the first one if you haven’t already read it. This installment features a summary of the presentations in Nutrition, Behavior and Sustainability of our Calf Management Systems. Nutrition Dr. Michael Steele […]
Smart Calf Rearing Conference Scientists, dairy industry personnel and calf growers recently gathered in Germany for 3rd Smart Calf Rearing Conference and the first since 2019. The conference began with the Nuemuhler Calf Practice Day hosted by hofgut neumuhle near Munchweiler. This program was attended by over two hundred people with a program focused on […]
*Post contributed by Dr. Bob James and Jan Ziemerink When the farm has an excellent program for maternity, newborn care and colostrum management the earlier the better! The most important consideration is to place the calf on the autofeeder when it has a vigorous appetite. These calves adapt well to this transition and are easy to train. […]
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.
Calf management strategies are continuously evolving as market conditions and social pressures evolve. In this post, we compare a few different options and highlight which practices are fundamental to raising the best calf, while being mindful of future changes on the horizon, so you can plan for long-term success.
In this brief video, Dan Truttman demonstrates how he trains his calves to drink from the autofeeder and shares some key tips for success.
When calves are first introduced to the autofeeder, it can take time for them to increase their consumption. Learn what might be causing this slow transition, and how to get them quickly consuming more milk.
Alyssa Dietrich graduated from Penn State University in 2013 with a B. S. degree in Animal Sciences. During the summer of of 2013 she interned with Elanco Animal Health. She obtained an M.S. degree in Dairy Science at Virginia Tech and was part of a joint study with Dr. Whitney Knauer on the management of automatic calf feeders. Read more …
