The Dairy Calf and Heifer Association (DCHA) recently announced new calf raising standards for Holstein calves from birth to 6 months old. Progressive Dairyman Editor Walt Cooley discussed the development and industry impact of the new standards with DCHA President and Calf-Tel National Sales Manager Calf Management Consultant Lewis Anderson.
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A challenge that dairy producers face with their newborn calves is consistency, says Calf–Tel calf–care specialist Lewis Anderson. Anderson has more than 30 years of extensive calf–raising and management experience. He recommends developing a standard operating procedure or SOP to achieve consistency with your calves. Here are some points to include in an SOP:
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Whether you’re raising calves indoors or out, there are several commonly accepted fundamental elements that remain the same: comfort, separation, ventilation, health and bio-security, ease of use and economy. You can have the latest system available but if these fundamentals are not met – your success rate will suffer. There are numerous housing options available: wood, metal, fiberglass, plastic and high-density polyethylene, to name a few. The housing system you use can have a huge impact on your calf management. With so many options available, choosing the right one can be difficult. The last thing you want is to invest in a housing system that does not work for you. To help make the right decision, look at the fundamental calf-raising elements and rate each system’s ability to help you achieve success in each of these areas.
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20 Acres of Calves at Joseph Gallo Farms
The harvest of dairy genetics is a nonstop process at Joseph Gallo Farms, where a calf is born every 32 minutes.
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Production and performance standards established for Holstein calves, from birth to 6 months of age, across the United States. Download DCHA Gold Standards
Heifer growers partnering with allied industry and acedemia dedicated to growing high quaility dairy replacement heiferss.
http://www.pdhga.org/index.htm
Heifer Tips are seen bimonthly in Dairy Herd Managment's Calf and Hiefer Advisor and archived on the DCHA Web site.
www.pdhga.org/heifertips.htm
Calf Notes.com is copyrighted by Dr. Jim Quigley, and is your source for pertinent, non-commercial and unbiased information on raising young dairy calves. http://www.calfnotes.com
Calf Note #56 – Benefits of Calf Hutches for Housing Young Dairy Calves by Dr. Jim Quigley
Calf hutches are one of the most effective management practices for improving health and growth of calves prior to weaning. They have been used successfully for many years throughout the world, and remain one of the most popular options for housing calves in the U.S. Hutches provide isolation, a critical component of calf rearing prior to weaning. Prior to weaning, the calf's immune system is underdeveloped and less competent to deal with infectious pathogens. Consequently, preweaned calves are more susceptible to infectious organisms, and the rate of morbidity is especially high prior to weaning. Surveys throughout the world have identified the preweaning period as the one of greatest risk for dairy calves.
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