Each stage of a calf’s nutritional program is important to ensuring a healthy and profitable calf crop.

A sound and well-managed feeding program is critical after birth to allow a good foundation for calves.

In addition to water, colostrum and milk replacer, a calf starter should be fed after birth.

Warm weather is just around the corner, and with that warm weather comes flies.

Calf hutches and pens are a perfect breeding ground for flies because of bedding, manure, spilled milk and feed.

Not only are flies a nuisance to both animals and employees, they impact the health and well-being of the animals and cause economic losses.

Managing calf facilities in summer can be challenging, but preparing for the challenges before the hot weather hits can ensure your calves remain as healthy and comfortable as possible. Areas to evaluate include bedding, ventilation and nutrition.

Bedding
Because a calf’s natural cooling system works best when its coat is dry, bedding should always be dry and clean. Wet and soiled bedding is a perfect breeding ground for disease, flies and other insects and should be avoided.

The job of keeping equipment clean is a very important one – especially the job of keeping calf-feeding equipment clean. If calf-feeding equipment is not kept clean, disease can spread between calves and they can quickly become ill.

But keep in mind, just because something looks clean does not mean that it is. To truly be clean, calf-feeding equipment must also be sanitized.

Waste milk is defined as milk that cannot be sold for human consumption. Depending upon the farm, waste milk may include milk from recently fresh cows, milk from cows treated for mastitis or other illness, and it may even include surplus colostrum.

To make sure the waste milk is safe to feed calves, most farms will use a pasteurizer to kill any pathogens that might cause disease.