Calves are increasingly vulnerable to heat stress as hot summers become more common in the UK. Still, there are steps rearers can take to mitigate the impact on their youngstock, such as including additives in calf milk replacers [...]

Early life nutrition is a key player in protecting the health status of young calves. Although turnout is largely dictated by weather and ground conditions, for calves it mostly happens in late spring. While grass is a cheap source of feed, it must be managed well if calves are to reap the benefits from it and avoid issues such as summer scour syndrome.

We were delighted to see this article about Vortex Holstien in British Dairying in April 2024 https://www.britishdairying.co.uk/

Calf mortality rate from birth to weaning has fallen to just 1.5% at a Dorset dairy farm since a new milk replacer made from low heat skim and buttermilk was introduced.

Performance and weight gain can be set back if a calf suffers bloat and, as the condition is more common in automatic feeding than conventional, it is important in these systems to get everything right from hygiene to feed concentration to prevent cases

Changes in weather conditions can have an effect on calf health and performance, it is common to see a rise in pneumonia and rotavirus cases after a sudden change in weather conditions.

In our housing webinar, we spoke about the importance of housing and things to consider when planning your shed including:AirflowElevationEase of access for cleaning See the plan for our featured shed here

Deciding on which disinfectant to use can be tricky so here are some useful resources to help. For a list of DEFRA-approved disinfectants go to: Defra Approved Disinfectants How much disinfectant should you use?   Disinfectant Calculator Download the decision tree here:  decision tree pull up

Dive into the comprehensive guide to dairy beef enterprise. Join Farmer Charles Goadby of D Goadby & Sons, Bonanza Calf Nutritionist Selina Field, and Tom Warren from Bonanza Calf Nutrition as they impart their extensive knowledge and experience. This webinar is a goldmine for farmers seeking practical solutions for calf nutrition, streamlined management, and ways to boost profitability in a dairy beef enterprise.

There is good reason why farmers are keen to improve calf rearing, to ensure heifers produce their first calf at 24 months and remain in the milking herd for as long as possible. In the Netherlands a recent survey found that most farmers use age as the main determinant for serving maiden heifers, targeting 25-26 months as age at first calving.