The current trend in the dairy industry is to decrease age at conception, thereby decreasing age at first calving (AFC) to decrease raising costs by generating income from milk production sooner.

Dr. Rebecca Klopp, calf and heifer specialist for Purina Animal Nutrition, is joining us today to share why care and nutrition play an important role in overall calf health, growth and future milk production performance.

The initial cost of implementing the appropriate heat abatement in barns and on pasture may be intimidating, but keeping all cattle, including heifers, cool can provide a good return on your investment as it makes them more comfortable, thereby making the negative effects of heat stress less severe, and setting them up for success for their future lactations.

Against the backdrop of ongoing water shortages and high feed costs, there are compelling reasons to increase the productive life of dairy herds.

The transition period is a tumultuous period for a cow and those of us trying to manage them. During this time cows are particularly prone to mineral and metabolic imbalances that can leave them more susceptible to diseases as well as lower milk production and poorer reproductive performance.