Calves

Milk replacer was historically developed in order to spare salable milk. However, milk replacer is now valued for its ability to provide a convenient, safe, consistent, and cost-effective source of nutrients for pre-weaned calves so long as proper mixing and feeding protocols are followed.

There is no question that heat stress can negatively impact animal performance. Exposure to heat stress reduces daily gains, milk production, and reproductive efficiency, though specific impacts on production varies depending on the magnitude and duration of heat exposure. Prolonged exposure to heat stress is much more detrimental than short-term heat stress and its effects linger long after temperatures drop back below the heat stress threshold.

Maryland Milk Moos Newsletter (March 2021-Volume 2, Issue 1). Topics include pre-weaned calf housing and nutrition, grazing tips, and management of poor alfalfa stands.

Recent research suggests numerous benefits to housing pre-weaned calves in small groups, such as improved starter grain intake and greater social flexibility.

While it has been demonstrated that feeding hay is not needed to support adequate rumen development before weaning, there are some occasions when feeding a small amount of forage before weaning can be beneficial.

Summer is here and with that comes, what sometimes seems, a never-ending battle with flies. Flies can pose a significant problem for all animals on the farm. Following a (usually much welcomed) bout of wet summer weather, fly populations sometimes seem to explode. There are three major types of flies with economic significance to the U.S. dairy industry: horn flies, face flies, and stable flies. Control measures vary somewhat depending on which type of fly is causing issues. Below are four steps you can take to help reduce the fly load for your animals.

Heat stress can have dramatic and lasting impacts on the performance of dairy cows, heifers, and calves.

This article discusses herd-level indicators of transition program success. Whether you are building a new program or evaluating your current program. You need to look at areas that can help pinpoint needed improvements.