Publications

Get the ambient environment right in a calf building and you'll be rewarded with healthy, well-grown animals. Get it wrong, and you could be facing an uphill battle. That's why it's essential that all buildings – new or existing – are set up to provide calves with a dry, clean environment with plenty of fresh air, but no draughts. This Dairy Insight explores the ambient environment of calf buildings and how you'll be rewarded with healthy, well-grown animals, setting them up for their life in the dairy herd.

Calf milk replacers (CMRs) have been available in the UK since the 1950s. Over the last couple of decades there have been significant changes to formulations, with many of the products available today a result of extensive research. With so many CMRs available at a range of prices, ingredients and nutritional quality, finding the correct one for your calves can be difficult. The purpose of this DAIRY insight publication is to help farmers to evaluate a CMR suitable for their rearing system. Though, it is worth remembering that CMRs are only one aspect of successful calf rearing

With feed and forage costs increasing substantially in the last few months, it is even more important to have a highly efficient heifer rearing system. Heifer calves are the future of most dairy herds, remember, you don't get a second chance at getting it right! This dairy insight will examine the current cost of calf rearing, best practices and the key to effective management.

Biosecurity is a strategic and integrated approach to managing risk to stop the introduction or spread of harmful organisms on farm. Whilst good farm biosecurity is hard to maintain on working farms where people and machinery are frequently moving on and off, biosecurity protocols should be part of any farm's infectious disease control plan. This DAIRY insight explores simple cost effective measures that when part of the normal farm routine they can vastly reduce the chance of an infectious disease arriving on farm and the associated negative consequences.

Computerised calf feeders are becoming increasingly popular to help labour efficiencies. Managed well, they can improve milk feeding consistency, drive weight gains and optimise calf performance. However, top notch hygiene and careful use of data is needed to realise their true potential. This DAIRY insight explores the key considerations when choosing a calf machine.

Heifer calves are the future of most dairy herds, and you don't get a second chance at getting it right. Therefore, time taken for attention to detail pays dividends, not only for the calf but for the lifetime of the animal – time and money that could be recouped many times over. This RESEARCH insight explores two recent studies, and asks if their findings can positively impact your heifer rearing management.

Poor fertility is one of the largest economic problems on dairy farms. Data from Kingshay Dairy Manager puts the losses as a result of poor fertility at £197 per cow, or the equivalent of 2.31p/litre which for an average 150-cow herd equates to £20,250/year. This RESEARCH insight looks at the latest developments in automatic heat aids and what can impact accurate heat detection.

Heifer calves are the future of your dairy herd, you don't get a second chance at getting it right. Therefore, time taken for attention to detail pays dividends not only for the calf but for the lifetime of the animal – time and money that could be recouped many times over. This dairy insight summarises best practice in colostrum hygiene and storage to get your calves off to the best possible start.

An increasing number of processors are introducing plans to encourage farmers to phase out calf euthanasia of healthy, young bull calves. Such a move is undoubtedly the right thing to do from both a moral and animal welfare perspective. However, it means some farmers will have to find ways to rear higher stock numbers, whilst also identifying an outlet for those calves. Arla's recent announcement that no calf should be euthanised under eight weeks old will impact on a large number of UK farmers. The key is to plan ahead to maximise the value of every calf, this DAIRY insight publication explores the key considerations.

In recent years many papers have been published around the procedure of disbudding, the use of NSAIDs, as well as health and safety aspects – including the inhalation of noxious gases during the process. This DAIRY insight explores a selection of this research.

Making sure cows are moved onto the correct winter ration will not only ensure milk production and cow health is maintained, but that the farm's grazing covers are closed correctly to allow adequate grass the following spring. This insight publication will highlight the key considerations for transitioning cows onto a winter diet.

Prompt recognition and treatment of disease are essential to reduce pain in cattle and promote cow welfare. Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are an important component in helping manage pain, inflammation and disease. This DAIRY insight publication will look at how NSAIDs can form part of a treatment regime in cattle.