More dairy farms are turning to group housing. In this second article on housing young calves, how group housing is working on farms. (Read the first article here)The content of this article comes from a video podcast produced by the Dairyland Initiative at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. It is hosted by Courtney Halbach, extension specialist, […] Read more
Tag Archives dairy calves
Why group calf housing continues to grow
Labour efficiency, strong growth and socialization are reasons why farmers choose group housing of calves
Purple coneflower can aid calf immunity
Humans have taken purple coneflower, or echinacea, to manage colds and infections
A University of Guelph study shows that feeding purple coneflower to dairy bull calves has positive effect on immunity and inflammation levels. Purple coneflower, known by the scientific name echinacea, has long been used by humans to try and prevent the common cold, infection and skin wounds and conditions. It is thought to stimulate immune […] Read more
VIDEO: Calves for a Cause draws crowds, top genetics
Funds go to the London Children’s Hospital
The fourth annual Calves for a Cause sale brought together more than 100 lots to raise funds for the London Hospital Foundation. The sale, which was hosted by the Canadian Dairy Xpo (CDX), brought together about 40 top genetic calves, but also rare semen, embryos from top cows and even old, rare dairy sales catalogues […] Read more
Colostrum has value for sick calves
Colostrum testing and feeding frequency has risen on Canadian dairy farms
Researchers say Canadian dairy farmers are doing a better job of getting colostrum to their calves and measuring to make sure those calves have absorbed enough to create passive immunity. Now they are pushing the boundaries further on uses for colostrum and finding value in feeding transition milk. Why it matters: Heifers that don’t receive […] Read more
Scoring fecal consistency can help to better treat calves with diarrhea
Properly identifying diarrhea severity can lead to better health outcomes
Fecal consistency scoring (FCS) is a valuable tool that can be used to treat calves with diarrhea in a timely manner. According to Dr. David Renaud, an assistant professor in the Department of Population Medicine at the University of Guelph and a consultant with ACER Consulting Inc., diarrhea remains one of the most commonly diagnosed […] Read more
Transition milk continues to show benefits
Improved gut health and reduced mortality are some benefits
A recent study shows that dairy farms are encouraged to feed transition milk to calves following the colostrum feeding. Transition milk is defined as the second to sixth milking after calving. “It’s low in IGG (immunoglobulin G) concentrations, but higher in other bioactive molecules like hormones and oligosaccharides and antimicrobials that have other benefits for […] Read more
Housing pre-weaned calves in pairs shows benefits
Higher levels of socialization leads to better daily gains, say researchers
Housing pre-weaned dairy calves in pairs has been increasing in popularity in the U.S. and Canada in recent years, and with good reason – research and on-farm evidence shows that it can result in better growth rates and increased welfare at weaning. For decades the tradition has been to house calves individually in the pre-weaning […] Read more
Higher protein levels suggested for dairy calf starter
Science Notes: University study looks to find a winning combination
Dairy producers know early nutrition for young calves has far-reaching impacts, both for the long-term health and productivity of the animals and for farm profitability. With the goal of increasing not just body weight but also lean tissue gain, a new University of Illinois study finds enhanced milk replacer with high crude-protein dry starter feed […] Read more
Group housing gives insight into tailored calf diets
Partnered calves had greater dry matter consumption than singles
Group housing may be the most cost-effective option for tailoring calf nutrition to stage of growth. Why it matters: The veal and dairy industries continue to weigh the pros and cons of individual versus group calf housing, and studies could tip the scales toward group housing. Attendees at the virtual edition of the Healthy Calf […] Read more
Respiratory diseases in young livestock have lasting effects
Prevention starts with living environment and vaccinations
Respiratory diseases are most common in calves during the post-wean period and they can have long-term effects. Why it matters: Respiratory diseases are extremely common on dairy farms, although they are simple to prevent. They can have lasting effects on cattle up to their first lactation. Dr. Dave Renaud presented ways to prevent respiratory diseases […] Read more
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