Videos: Raising Your Best Calf

Calf care and training videos on the theme " Raising Your Best Calf" are available (in English and Spanish) HERE or at the url

go.unl.edu/calfcarevideos

These videos were developed jointly by Cooperative Extension staff at University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Iowa State University under the leadership of Jennifer Bentley, Kim Clark and Hugo Ramirez-Ramirez.

Topics include: (video for each topic in either English or Spanish)

Newborn Calf Care: Passive Immunity
                               : Processing of Newborn Calves
                               : Harvest and Storage of Colostrum
                               : Evaluation of Colostrum Quality
                               : Recommended Colostrum Feeding Techniques
                               : Using the Esophageal Tube Feeder
                               : Evaluation of Protein Absorption from Colostrum

Hygiene: Environments for Pathogens
             : Monitoring Hygiene

Stress Handling: Introduction
                         : Flight Zone
                         : Point of Balance
                         : Newborn calf handling
                         : Heat and Cold Stress
                         : Transportation

Automatic Calf Feeders: Management
                                      : Facilities
                                      : Nutrition
                                      : Health
                                      : Cleaning and Sanitation
                                      : Summary

Using pain mitigation when disbudding calves

This is the title of a "easy-read" article by Dr. Charlotte Winder (University of Guelph).

Paragraph headings are:

• What drugs are effective for pain control?
• What about sedatives?
• Does it matter what method I use?
• Does it matter how old the calves are?

She says the "take-home" messages are:

• Work with your herd vet to develop disbudding protocols for your farm.
• Ensure calves are healthy at the time of the procedure.
• Disbud calves well ahead of weaning or moving.
• Make sure people performing this procedure are comfortable with both administering pain control and performing disbudding.

Full article appeared in February 25, 2020 issues of Progressive Dairy, pp 60-61

The URL is

https://www.progressivedairy.com/topics/calves-heifers/using-pain-mitigation-when-disbudding-calves

or click HERE

Five Must Haves for Rumen Development

This is the title of a good article summarizing the basics of rumen development in young dairy replacement calves.

It is HERE or use this URL

https://calfcare.ca/the-five-must-haves-for-proper-rumen-development/

Enjoy.