Calves & Heifers

Have you ever bought a new tractor and wished you would have recorded all the little things the dealer rep explained and showed to you? Calf raisers might very well have the same experience when installing autofeeders.

It is often assumed that because Jersey cows have higher fat content in their milk, milk replacers for Jersey calves also need to be higher in fat. However, this has not been confirmed, as research in Jersey calves is limited.

Producers want the best for each calf born on their farm, and feeding high-quality colostrum soon after birth in adequate amounts is key to raising healthy calves.

When feeding whole milk or milk replacer to calves, there is not a one-size-fits-all solution for dairy producers. The choice of which one to feed often comes down to each farm’s whole milk availability, its costs, the current milk price and the farm’s management capabilities. Whether you’re feeding whole milk, milk replacer or a combination of the two, here are three things to consider.

Your total cost to raise calves is an important metric, but it's especially important when profit margins are tight. Total feed costs or feed cost per pound of gain are common metrics; however, those figures may be misleading because they don't include the full picture.

Six percent of Holstein bull calves in the U.S. never make it to the feedlot. That’s because their path is diverted to become veal.