Calves & Heifers

If you raise cattle, you likely know about and have dealt with dystocia or calving difficulty. How dystocia is scored and assessed can prove quite variable.

We expect a lot from heifer calves in today’s modern dairy world, which requires more efficiency and consistency for success. Populating the milking herd with any heifer is no longer viable.

With heifer raising accounting for roughly 20 percent of total farm expenses, paying close attention to heifer nutrition and management is essential for raising quality replacement animals without adding on unnecessary expenses.

Jerseys are the fastest growing population among dairy breeds, and it’s no surprise the industry is hungry for more data on how to better feed and manage them. With respect to feeding Jersey calves, there is still limited information available on nutritional strategies in the first four months of life.

We often think the weaning period is the only traumatic transition period for calves; however, the entire pre-weaning period consists of many difficult and stressful periods of transition.

When selecting a liquid feeding program for growing calves, there are benefits and drawbacks to consider, including nutrient intake targets for growth goals, program management, economics and potential disease risks.