News
Calf Care Around the World: Paul Lindeque - South Africa to USA
We will start our tour this week in Central Texas, USA at Beattie Cattle. Paul Lindeque is the owner and director of the facility. Paul grew up on a ranch in South Africa where they raised many different types of farm animals and crops. Paul spent some time serving in the military and then attended college. During college he had the opportunity to be an agriculture exchange student in the USA...
Single vs. Group Housing
Group housing of calves has increased in popularity over the past few years. Originally, single calves were raised alone in a hutch or pen to reduce the spread of disease, avoid cross-suckling, minimize competition, and facilitate management of calves at different ages. Over the past two decades, farm management has evolved to include group calf raising systems that minimize labor and simplify work load...
Fresh Cow Health
Calving is a stressful event for both the cow and the calf. Management practices that minimize stress and support immune function are crucial during this event. The first few days postpartum are the most critical days in the life of a dairy cow. Proper nutrition and management during this time is important to maintain immunity, prevent metabolic disorders, and achieve high milk production throughout lactation...
Importance of the Dry Period
The dry period is an important time of rest and repair. Often times the importance of the dry period is overlooked. However, proper dry cow management is important to prepare the cow for the next lactation. During the dry period the cow’s immune system is hard at work clearing up subclinical infections, repairing the gut, and ramping up the immune system to prepare for the next lactation.
Benefits of Chromium Supplementation
It was once believed that all feedstuffs would provide sufficient concentrations of essential trace minerals. However, recent studies have shown that among our most common feed ingredients, they are often lacking in many essential trace minerals. Chromium is one of these minerals that cattle are not getting enough of from forage and grain feeds.