The “right” people to “manage” the calf feeder

I want to challenge you to think differently about the people running your calf operation. The most successful dairies don’t employ people just to feed calves, they hire calf managers. A calf manager is one who is passionate about calf growth and welfare and much more than just an employee. They are constantly open to doing things better for their calves. The Foerster Technik calf autofeeder offers the technology to manage your calves even better than before.

The ideal calf manager for the autofeeder system is detail oriented. They pay close attention to sanitation of the feeding equipment and the facilities. They have a keen eye for observing calf health and behavior, picking up subtle changes that may indicate a problem.

A great calf manager might have a touch of “nerd” in their personality. This person should love data and learning from it. The best auto feeder systems supply valuable data such as drinking speed, daily consumption, breakoffs and other information that can be combined with personal observation and health assessments to make informed decisions.

Finally, our ideal calf manager is a great communicator. Remember, communication is not just talking. It’s a two-way conversation between the calf manager, other calf barn employees and the farm mangers and owners. Listening is just as important.

Once you’ve found the ideal calf manager, have installed the best auto feeder for your needs, have clean comfortable and efficient facilities, you are on a path to successful calf program over the long term.

As always, read the calf blog for more details on everything you need to know before, during and after your calf feeder investment.

Until next time, take care of those calves!

Bob James – Calf Blogger

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