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Know How / Dairy / Youngstock management

Youngstock management is a crucial part of dairy herd profitability with replacement heifers key to the future milking herd and dairy-bred beef a vital source of income. Read advice on newborn calf care, disease prevention, genetics, growth rates, replacement heifer policy and first-time breeding protocols.

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YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENT

How simple system keeps calf losses at 1% for block calver

Keeping calf mortality low while calving 650 cows in a 10-week block is no small feat. At Norwood Place Farm in Surrey, a simple feeding system, tight hygiene protocols and…

DAIRY

Why cutting dairy carbon footprint starts in the calf shed

For one south-west dairy, cutting carbon is about producing milk more efficiently, starting with the next generation of cows. Two Pools Farm, near Bristol, is one of 50 dairy farms…

YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENT

Benefits of smart ear tag calf data for targeted treatment

Smart ear tags for calves can pick up signs of pneumonia at least 24 hours before they are obvious to humans. But the advantage of this earlier disease detection will…

DAIRY

How smart ear tags are improving calf health and saving time

Smart ear tags are saving a Kelso dairy about two hours a day manually checking every calf. The technology is allowing the team at KSH Farms to focus on the…

YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENT

How a heifer rearing unit works successfully at scale

Economies of scale have allowed a contract farming business to maximise efficiency by sending replacement heifer calves from three of its dairy herds to a single, dedicated rearing unit. Farming…

DAIRY

How two dairies are using bovine pheromone to reduce stress

High-yielding herds milking through robots and running heifers as a separate milking group are now using a bovine pheromone to further reduce stress levels at first calving. Despite already operating…

Practical advice

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LIVESTOCK

Advice on pasteurisation of colostrum to improve calf health

Antibody-rich colostrum strengthens a neonatal calf’s immune system, reducing the animal’s future risk of contracting a microbial infection. But when that feed is contaminated with bacteria, absorption of those immunoglobulins…

LIVESTOCK

Advice on keeping track of dairy heifer rearing costs

Keeping calf and heifer rearing costs on a separate spreadsheet can highlight areas to cut waste and improve efficiency, while also monitoring to see if growth targets are being met.…

YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENT

Advice on how much milk to feed to grow resilient heifers

Calves on automatic machines can drink up to15 litres a day (when given the choice) in as few as seven and as many as 13 visits to the feeding station.…

DAIRY

Cow’s milk or calf milk replacer: 5 things to consider

Cost should not be the principal factor guiding choice of calf nutrition, but it is certainly influential. At a breakeven point of 32-34p/litre, there is currently no clear winner on…

YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENT

Feeding calves colostrum: Focus on quality over quantity

The industry must develop a new blueprint for colostrum and transition milk feeding that aligns vets and nutritionists to give calf rearers clarity on early-life nutrition. The industry standard has…

DAIRY

8 ways calf clubs are transforming rearing efficiency

Wyvern Farm Vets’ Proactive Farmer Programme has shown what many farmers already suspected: when calf rearers, vets and vet techs work together consistently, calf performance improves dramatically. Over the past…

Insights

DAIRY

GB Calf Strategy to focus on unweaned dairy beef calf welfare

Dairy beef is no longer seen as a by-product of the milk industry, but a suitable co-product to replace beef imports, as a result of the GB Calf Strategy’s work.…

FEED AND NUTRITION

Is insect oil an alternative fat source for calf milk replacer?

Using oil derived from black soldier flies as the fat source in calf milk powder could offer a more sustainable solution to current alternatives – without compromising on youngstock performance.…

MEDICINES

Why don’t more farmers use pain relief for sick calves?

Concern over managing the use of antimicrobials on-farm and a lack of understanding around the effectiveness of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) are preventing use of these drugs as standard in treating…

YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENT

Why calf starter feed is important for weaning

Offering calves a starter concentrate from day one – plus access to clean water – is critical for rumen development and, ultimately, avoiding a post-weaning dip in growth rates. Even…

YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENT

Benefits of lung scanning for respiratory disease in calves

A study involving eight commercial dairy farms has flagged up the value of scanning calf lungs for respiratory disease damage. Some two-thirds of the animals found with lesions had never…

FEED AND NUTRITION

Copper in dairy rations: Is too much as bad as too little?

Evaluating copper levels in every feed source and supplement before formulating rations for dairy cows – and youngstock – will help meet animal requirements but prevent overfeeding and protect animal…

LIVESTOCK

Why a congenital defect could cause calf losses

Ask a dairy or beef farmer if they have ever had a calf born with atresia, a condition commonly known as “waterbelly”, and the chances are they will say no.…

LIVESTOCK

Benefits of giving dairy calves toys on farm

Giving dairy calves plastic “toys” to play with helps them express their natural behaviour which, in turn, benefits their mental wellbeing. As a result, they are less likely to display…

YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENT

How a ‘big squeeze’ could help dummy calves to suck

Neonatal maladjustment syndrome in calves – also known as “dummy calf” syndrome – can be a challenge for dairy farmers to manage, often requiring extra labour to tube-feed youngstock. Typically,…

YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENT

Lack of heifer weight data costs US dairies

Timing first service in a maiden heifer to when she has reached a given percentage of mature bodyweight (not just her age) is essential to maximise genetic potential and future…

YOUNGSTOCK MANAGEMENT

Trial compares performance of whey protein v whey powder

Using a whey protein-based milk replacer, over a whey powder-based alternative, could increase saleable milk yields by almost £500 a heifer. This is according to research presented by Volac’s global…

FEED AND NUTRITION

Excess copper found to impair liver function in heifers

Feeding excess copper to dairy heifer calves can compromise liver function, leading to poorer fertility and lower milk yields in first lactation. This is according to AHDB-funded research at Harper…