Calves & Heifers

Bloating in calves under 3 weeks old is usually caused by accumulating gas in their abomasum. This is a high-mortality-rate disease (usually over 60%) that happens quickly (usually within 24 hours).

“The dairy producer plays a critical role in veal production,” said Dr. Jessica Pempek, animal welfare specialist and assistant professor at The Ohio State University. “Establishing the foundation for superior calf health and performance really begins on the dairy farm at birth.”

Pair raising calves is increasing in popularity in the North American dairy industry, where some welfare and productivity benefits have been consistently shown in recent studies.

Properly storing, handling and mixing milk replacer not only helps the product retain its quality, it also ensures calves are consistently fed. Although it seems that mixing powder and water is simple, many issues can occur that impact both powder quality and animal performance.

Creating lifelong immunity in baby calves has never been more important. A proactive approach to health, nutrition and management is a must from day one. Having a proper program in place not only improves the health of the animal, but it can also improve resilience to stress and disease.

Dairy herd management is very data driven with exceptional progress made in the use of data from areas such as feeding, parlor operation, milk production and herd health to make timely decisions influencing dairy profitability.