The Role of Data

Calf growth from birth to calving is increasingly understood as critical to cow productivity and longevity, and

The role of data and information regarding our feeding programs – liquid feeds, transition to weaning, and dry feed – it’s critical to understand how feeds work together to provide the proper profile of nutrients to the calf – the right nutrients at the right time.

Whether it’s osmolality of milk replacers or liquid blends,

Or the age at which calves reach “mature rumen development” (as indicated by the MEratio in the graph below)

Calf rearing is increasingly dependent on good data to make the right rearing decisions.  For example, feeding programs should be developed to meet specific growth targets for calves to reach the appropriate body weight at the appropriate times.  Selecting the farm’s target age at first calving and the farm’s average cow mature body weight allow us to calculate specific growth rates throughout the growing period.  Generally, targets of 800 to 900 grams of average daily gain are needed to achieve an appropriate body size at calving at 22 to 24 months of age for Holstein heifers.

Data are critical and Calf Notes Consulting is contributing to the availability of good data by providing tools like LPSolve to allow producers and their advisors to make better decisions.