Pheromone product FerAppease, which mimics the scent of a cow’s udder, may help boost cattle gains and immune systems by lowering calf stress during key periods.
Tag Archives Weaning
Pheromone product promises to keep cattle calmer
FerAppease, which mimics the scent of a cow’s udder, may help boost cattle gains and immune systems
Top tips for successful dairy calf weaning
A step-down approach to weaning is critical, since today’s dairy calves consume more milk
Dairy calves weaned gradually are more likely to have greater gain, more feed consumption and fewer health issues than those weaned abruptly.
Post-weaning success: Setting up a low-stress switch from milk to feed
You don’t have to lose calf performance during the post-weaning period
Weaning procedures and management in the weeks directly after being separated from the cow can make a big difference in calf performance and health outcomes.
Weaning ramps for piglets gain traction
Almost all HyLife hog barns have put their names in for the invention
[UPDATED; Feb. 10, 2022] It started with a request from the staff at one of the many hog barns associated with HyLife Foods. Weaning piglets was hard on the back: bend down, pick up a 12-pound piglet, vaccinate it, bend to put it down again, this time sorted by sex. Rinse and repeat hundreds of
Weaning considerations for healthy calves
This is the second-most stressful period in a calf’s life, and management is key to success
Whether calves will be retained and backgrounded or sold shortly after weaning, it is important to consider the impacts of weaning strategies on calf health and performance, says Janna Block, North Dakota State University Extension livestock systems specialist at the Hettinger Research Extension Center. Many producers wean calves at the same time every year but
Weaning calves early isn’t normal but is an option when feed is short
There’s some clear benefits for the herd, but what do you do with the calves?
Glacier FarmMedia – When feed is tight and times are tough, early calf weaning is an option — albeit an unusual one, says one of the country’s leading cattle experts. “Early weaning is talked about a lot, but not many people do it,” said Dr. John Campbell, a professor of large-animal clinical sciences at the
Body condition vital to calving success
Proper feed, good water and a reasonable space with wind protection will keep a cow content
During the last trimester of pregnancy in beef cows, the fetus grows rapidly, placing increasing nutrient demands on the cow. In addition, cold weather increases the cow’s nutrient requirements. “Body condition plays an important role in successfully wintering beef cows,” says Yuri Montanholi, North Dakota State University Extension beef cattle specialist. “Late weaning, overstocking, late
Connecting the dots: Less stress = less sickness = fewer treatments for cattle
The time spent on acclimation is easily reclaimed with the benefit of improved herd health, says longtime vet
Low-stress handling has been around for decades, but the practice is becoming more widespread. “There has always been a bit of a trend,” said Dr. Roy Lewis, a well-known Alberta veterinarian who had a large-animal practice for many years. But while the techniques are commonly used in the handling of purebred bulls, on some cow-calf
When feed is in short supply, time to cull
Beef 911: Downsizing the herd will be profitable if you have good records and good reasons for culling
With the shortage of feed across Western Canada, this may be a good year to downsize by extra culling. The question of what the next wave of culls should be goes beyond reproduction — the fall is also an ideal time to consider culling problem cows. The yearly cost to maintain those cows is at
Feed the cow, feed the calf
Ensuring that cows receive adequate nutrition after calving is critical
The most crucial time for your cows to be fed right is right after calving. “The first 60 to 90 days post-calving is the most nutritionally demanding period in the production cycle of a cow and arguably one of the most important in achieving production goals,” says Janna Kincheloe, the North Dakota State University Extension
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
