As is true for all mammals, the umbilical cord serves as the pathway from the dam’s bloodstream to the calf’s bloodstream and liver, offering nourishment and waste removal during gestation...READ MORE ›
Evaluating a successful calf-raising program consists of monitoring both calf health and calf performance. ..READ MORE ›
Over the past several years, on-farm income for dairy producers has been less than ideal due to lower-than-average milk prices nationwide. In order to remain in business during tough times, it is sometimes necessary to turn to novel nutritional strategies when considering ways to increase feed efficiency and lower the cost of production. ..READ MORE ›
Optimizing milkfat is advantageous for both the performance of the animal and the profitability of the farm. In current dairy economics, butterfat continues to account for more than half of the producer’s milk check. ..READ MORE ›
For both ethical and economic reasons, the push to reduce antibiotic use in calf-raising facilities continues to increase, and new research attempts to illustrate various ways that calf managers can implement realistic and sensible disease-prevention strategies in their calf raising programs...READ MORE ›
Currently, one of the biggest opportunities for increased performance on our dairy farms centers around our fresh cow program. Fresh cows have a great opportunity for production potential, but if we do not set them up for success properly, they will not be able to achieve an optimal level of production. ..READ MORE ›
It’s no secret that there have been weather-related challenges across much of the U.S. this spring. Due to conditions like excessive snow and cold or relentless rainfall and cloudy days, planting delays have been widespread, causing many to reconsider their seeding decisions if spray and fertilizer weren’t already applied...READ MORE ›
It is common knowledge for some but less well-known by others that seasonality has a significant impact on the performance of pre- and immediately post-weaned dairy heifer calves...READ MORE ›
Alfalfa stands across the Midwest are sometimes damaged during the winter and early spring...READ MORE ›
Young calves are around 70–75 percent water by bodyweight and must be well-hydrated in order to s..READ MORE ›