Are you capturing the full genetic potential of your calves?
Whether you’re running a commercial operation or breeding for elite, high-type individuals, you likely invest significant time, effort and money into selecting the best matings for your cows. While genetics play an important role, they’re only part of the equation when it comes to building your herd’s next generation. In the end, your management practices determine whether your calves reach their full genetic potential.
Leverage data to optimize your management practices and set your calves up for long-term success in the herd.
The ripple effect of a single health event
In a recent VAS webinar, Dr. Mike Nagorske, director of research at SCCL, shared an eye-opening example involving five genetically identical clone calves. Despite receiving the same milk replacer, care and management from day one, two calves weaned 40-50 pounds lighter than their siblings. The culprit? Scours.
This highlights how even one health setback can disrupt a calf’s development. What’s even more concerning is that these early health events often have a ripple effect, impacting the animal’s performance as she matures into adulthood.
Is your calf management holding back milk production?
To set calves on the path to success, a strong start is a must. According to Dr. Nagorske, most calf health challenges can be grouped into three main categories. Let’s break down these bottlenecks and explore their long-term impact on your herd’s productivity.
Scours
Calves that avoid scours aren’t just healthier – they’re more profitable. Studies show they produce about 716 more pounds of milk in their first lactation and experience higher average daily gains. On the flip side, calves that experience scours are at a higher risk of complications down the road, including respiratory diseases. In fact, these calves are 1.5 to 2 times more likely to develop respiratory issues, further hindering their ability to reach full potential.
Respiratory Issues
Lung issues in heifers could cost you 1,157 pounds of milk per first-lactation animal. Is that a risk you’re willing to take? A study of over 14,000 calves found that those treated for pneumonia in their first 120 days not only produced less milk but also saw an increase in culling rates. Specifically, 35% of heifers with bovine respiratory disease (BRD) were culled before calving, compared to just 17% of those without it.
Colostrum Management
“The first few hours of a calf’s life are a critical window of opportunity,” emphasizes Dr. Nagorske. Failing to administer colostrum during this window can lead to far-reaching consequences, potentially costing you up to $1,500 per calf. Nearly half of that loss is directly tied to reduced milk production in the first two lactations. Proper colostrum management is the first step in protecting your investment and ensuring that each calf gets the best possible start for a lifetime of high performance.
Where to start
From birth to weaning, there are countless data points that can be collected on your calves. But should you track them all? Collecting data takes time and resources, which can be limited on the farm. More importantly, data is only useful if it leads to action.
Instead, Dr. Nagorske recommends prioritizing a few data points. Focus on the bottlenecks in your calf program – those areas where solving a single issue can drive the biggest impact. By narrowing your focus, you can make incremental improvements that optimize your program over time.
How to make data work for you
Once you’ve identified the bottlenecks you want to focus on, it’s time to collect the right data. Here’s where technology can make all the difference.
VAS mobile solutions make it easier for your calf team to collect data efficiently, accurately and on the go. VAS offers a variety of mobile tools, included in your DairyComp subscription, so you can choose the one that best fits your team’s needs. Here’s how they work:
Pocket CowCard: Scan a calf’s RFID tag to instantly access her information on a mobile device and manage tasks. You can check off completed tasks or add notes in real time, making it quick and hassle-free.
DC on Mobile: This cloud-based app allows for offline data entry and easy synchronization when a connection is available. It works on both Android and iOS, giving your team the flexibility to manage calves and worklists from anywhere.
Whether you’re tracking vaccinations, monitoring weight gains or identifying treatment needs, mobile tools offer a convenient way to gather data and gain more visibility into your calf program. This data not only helps improve current calf care practices but also provides insight into a cow’s entire lifetime of events once she reaches milking age.
As Craig Walter, VAS senior educator, says, “If you don’t track the data, you can’t measure progress – and without measurement, there’s no way to improve.”
Ready to maximize your herd’s potential? Get in touch with VAS support or your farm performance consultant to learn how the tools and features in your DairyComp or MyDC on PULSE subscription can help you achieve more.
Not a VAS customer yet, but want to know how our technology can enhance your calf management? Contact us today, and our team will reach out to discuss your herd management needs.
