News

Even with the mild weather we have been experiencing in Southern Idaho this winter and spring, it was still nice to escape to some real "warmer" weather in Tucson Arizona for the Dairy Calf and Heifer Association annual meeting! There was so much good information shared in all the break-out sessions, but I wanted to highlight some of those that I felt were most important.   Revised Gold Standards A fifth edition of the Gold Standards was presented at the conference this year.  Changes included: Morbidity rates Colostrum recommendations Average daily gain targets Beef-dairy cross guidelines Weaning criteria Heifer retention...

Calf health traits are genetically correlated with survival, longevity, and other fitness traits. They influence how many heifers actually make it to first calving and how long they stay in the herd. Leveraging genomic information helps avoid one‑sided selection for milk yield that might otherwise erode disease resistance.

Fat is a nutrient that is gaining attention in all areas of both human and animal nutrition. Fat is a critical nutrient for energy, organs, hormone production, and cell function. It is essential for brain health, nerve signaling, and healthy epithelial barriers.   Fat for Calves Fat is a critical energy source for pre-weaned calves, supporting rapid growth, immune development, and organ function. Whole milk naturally contains about 26–40% fat (DM basis), but commercial milk replacers often provide less fat and are widely different in both fat content and source. The challenge is to meet the nutrient needs of the...

Preparing for calving season starts long before the first water bag appears. It’s best to have a plan in place that involves people, facilities, and supplies for both the calves and the cows. Utilizing research-based principles on the timing and management of calving helps reduce death loss, improve animal health, and decrease labor.   Pick the right calving window Choosing when to calve is one of the most powerful decisions you make. Producers must consider geography, forage growth, weather extremes, labor availability, herd type, and marketing plans into their decision of when to calve. In our small herd we like...

Milk may be the number one revenue source for dairy farms, but dairy producers are also beef producers and beef is a second avenue for income them. Current market situations including closed boarders and declining beef cattle herd size have left American feedlots empty and looking for cattle to fill them up...