MONDAY, July 12, 2010 subscribe | view as web page | dairyherd.com
Calf & Heifer Adviser Welcome to Calf & Heifer Adviser, published by Dairy Herd Management® magazine. Calf and Heifer Adviser and its core sponsors are committed to providing you with the information you need to make informed and timely business decisions.
NUTRITION NOTES

Elanco

First-lactation benefit to feeding whole milk
According to a study published in the June Journal of Dairy Science, there may be benefits to feeding whole milk to calves. In this study, heifers fed whole milk as calves produced 5.3 pounds per day more milk than their counterparts fed milk replacer. Read more.

Supplementing waste milk
Waste milk is a common source of nutrients for preweaned calves. Because the composition of waste milk varies, many producers utilize calf milk replacer to increase the nutrient content. However, if you supplement waste milk with calf milk replacer, you may be over-providing some nutrients and under-providing others. Learn more.

DCHACows vary in ability to transfer IgG to colostrum
New research published in the July Journal of Dairy Science analyzed the IgG content in colostrum. Results showed a large variation in the amount of IgG transferred to colostrum. Read the study details.
MARKET MONITOR

Heifer prices higher out West
Heifer prices at the most recent auctions topped at $1,650 for top end springing heifers in Turlock, Calif. But sales in the other locations were lower with the next highest top end price at $1,400 in Stratford, Wis. Top-end dairy calf prices in Stratford, Wis., and Sulphur Springs, Texas, were both $210, reports Greg Scheer, dairy analyst with Doane Advisory Services in St. Louis, Mo.

(See the table below)
 
Springing heifers
Heifer calves
 Location (sale date)
Supreme/top grade
Approved/medium grade
90-120 pounds
Turlock, Calif. (7/2/10)
$1,300-$1,650
$1,100-$1,275
NR
Stratford, Wis. (7/6/10)
$1,150-$1,400
$800-$1,150
$100-$210
Sulphur Springs, Texas (7/1/10)
$900-$1,150
$675-$900
$40-$210
New Holland, Pa. (7/7/10)
$1,100-$1,250
    $875-$1,050
NR


HEALTH WATCH

DHM
How does your calf housing stack up?
Research presented this week at the American Dairy Science Association annual meeting evaluated housing type, bedding type and the effects of cooling calves with fans during summer months. This research indicates that calves housed in poly hutches bedded with sand have significantly greater concentrations of airborne bacteria, which increases the chances for respiratory infections. Read more.

Water critical for rumen development
Providing clean, free-choice water to your calves is essential for proper rumen development, says Susan Day, young animal technical manager with Land O'Lakes Purina Feed. Learn more about the role that water plays in rumen development.

Get a record system and use it
Keeping records is a very important part of any operation. It's especially important when it comes to raising calves, says Steve Hayes, veterinarian with Day 1 Technology in Winona, Minn. Hayes offers the following advice on establishing a record-keeping system.

Wean in pairs
Results from a study published in the July Journal of Dairy Science indicate that calves housed in pairs have reduced calf responses to weaning and improved performance after weaning. Read the study details.
MANAGER TO MANAGER

Get ahead of heifer reproduction
Summer's heat stress is upon us, bringing challenges in maintaining reproductive performance. Heifers represent the best genetics within the herd, and ensuring they are bred and freshening in a timely manner is crucial to future production. Use these tips to get heifers bred this summer.

DCHATips for tracking protocol compliance
Training employees to perform tasks according to a standard procedure is important, but training by itself may not produce the results you expect. Protocol drift often occurs, and can create a gap between what managers want employees to do and what they are actually doing. Use these tips to monitor employee performance.

Too much of a good thing
Molasses is a traditional flavoring agent used to improve palatability and encourage consumption; however, make sure your starter doesn't have too much of it, says Susan Day, young animal technical manager with Land O'Lakes Purina Feed. Research shows that high molasses content in calf starters might actually lead to reduced intake.

Colostrum checklist
Is your colostrum management program up to par? Use these points from Sheila McGuirk, veterinarian at the University of Wisconsin, to evaluate your colostrum management.


QUESTION of the MONTH

Where do you raise your calves?:
  1. Hutches
  2. Calf barn
  3. Greenhouse barn
  4. Other

Submit your answer here.

Web Poll responses will appear in the next edition of this newsletter.

Last issue's poll results:
In the last year, did you: (46 responses)
A) Downgrade to a lower-protein milk replacer (0%)
 
B) Start feeding whole milk (20%)
   
C) Change a supplier of milk replacer (7%)
   
D) Upgrade to a higher-protein milk replacer (15%)
   
E) None of the above (59%)
   
 

INDUSTRY CONNECTION

This is a big deal
FDA issues draft guidance on proposed changes for antibiotic use in livestock. Learn more.

Train employees to provide animal care
Training employees is essential to improving employees' animal-husbandry skills and can provide motivation for improving their overall performance. Use these tips to develop an employee-training program.

Study to look at failure of passive transfer
A Washington State University study is in progress to estimate the prevalence of failure of passive transfer and its association with colostrum management practices on Washington state dairies. Learn more about this study.

Bovine respiratory disease survey
The Bovine Respiratory Disease committee is asking dairy farmers for their participation in a survey on risk factors and limitations associated with BRD. Learn more.

Save the date
The following list highlights some of the upcoming educational opportunities available to you.
  • AVMA Annual Meeting, July 31-Aug. 3, Atlanta, Ga. More information.
  • Conservation in Action Tour, Aug. 2-3, Virginia. More information.
  • Kentuckiana Dairy Exchange, Aug. 3-4, Russelville, Ky. For more information, email: Jbewley@uky.edu.
  • PDMP Forum: How to Make Money Dairying, Aug. 5, Martinsburg, Pa. More information.
  • Dairy Policy Summit, Aug. 18, Wisconsin Dells, Wis. More information.
  • 2010 Risk and Profit Conference, Aug. 19-20, Manhattan, Kan. More information.
  • AABP Annual Meeting, Aug. 19-21, Albuquerque, N.M. More information.
  • Central Veterinary Conference, Aug. 28-31, Kansas City, Mo. More information.
  • Joint Industry and Regulatory Strategy Forum on Animal Disease Traceability, Aug. 30-31, Denver, Colo. More information.
For a more detailed calendar of events, click here.



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