LivestockFans and shade for young calves pay off in milk years later, research shows
Studies by Dr Jimena Laporta's group at the University of Wisconsin-Madison found cooled calves ate more, needed fewer treatments and later gave more milk.
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Calves
Livestock
LivestockCalf pneumonia risk rises as temperatures swing: how to prevent it
Pneumonia kills 3 percent of calves born and is the commonest cause of death in calves under 10 months; colostrum, hygiene, ventilation, sensible stocking and vaccination are the main defences.
LivestockMaternity pens for dairy cows: space, privacy and clean bedding at calving
Penn State Extension says individual and group calving pens both work if farms keep them clean, uncrowded and low-stress, with about 13 square metres of resting space per cow and room for 120% of the average calving rate.
LivestockA heavy weaner is not the whole story: what long-term cattle research says
Beef Central's weekly genetics review draws on decades of Hereford records from a US research herd and an Australian Angus trial to show that a calf's weaning weight mixes its own growth with its mother's, and that chasing one trait can cost fertility.
LivestockUniform weights and vaccination records pay off in online calf sales, study finds
A University of Saskatchewan study of 1,164 feeder calf lots sold online in Western Canada in 2025 found premiums for tight weight ranges, larger lots and documented vaccinations.
LivestockCanadian dairy farms face mandatory cow exercise and calf contact rules from April
Under Dairy Farmers of Canada's proAction programme, daily exercise for tie-stall cows and social contact for calves from birth become mandatory on 1 April 2027, with more housing rules due in 2029 and 2031.
LivestockHow an Indiana stocker picks healthy calves at the sale barn
Chad Baker buys freshly weaned or long-weaned calves, favours vaccinated animals, mixes breeds and avoids big frames when feed costs matter.
LivestockNearly 24,900 Irish farmers apply for the €28m Beef Welfare Scheme
Applications rose 1.4% on 2025; the scheme pays suckler farmers per calf for meal feeding around weaning, vaccination and parasite or forage testing.
LivestockUS fall calf run starts as prices ease; CattleFax sees slow herd rebuilding
CattleFax analyst Holden Ramey says the highs are in after fall-delivered calves lost more than $400 a head, with drought, feed costs and packing capacity keeping herd expansion gradual.
LivestockFeeding colostrum beyond day one may cut scours in dairy calves, studies suggest
A Penn State Extension veterinarian says transition milk fed for several days can help calves' gut development, but the first feed of high-quality colostrum in the first hours still matters most.
LivestockNose-then-needle vaccine plan gave calves stronger protection in Saskatchewan trial
A Western College of Veterinary Medicine trial found calves given an intranasal vaccine at birth and a systemic booster at turnout fared better against respiratory disease than calves given the systemic shot alone.
Livestock
Lung scans catch pneumonia in calves that look perfectly healthy, AFBI study finds
Thoracic ultrasound at AFBI Hillsborough found moderate pneumonia in 14.8 per cent of 108 calves by 12-13 weeks of age, none of which showed visible signs of disease, pointing to targeted treatment instead of blanket group dosing.
LivestockWinter Care for Cows: Feed, Water, Shelter and Newborn Calf Protection
Keep cows healthy and milking through the cold months: extra feed, fresh water, a draught-free but ventilated shed, dry bedding and special care for newborn calves.