The Calf Specialist Workshop is a two day program designed to improve the understanding of newborn calf health and growth. Both new hires and those experienced in calf care find this program valuable. Classroom style presentations and discussion give the necessary background to understand the reasons why calves remain healthy or succumb to disease. On farm demonstrations, such as a necropsy and hands-on practice, including intravenous administration, reinforce the important management points and procedures.

Nationally there is a large economic loss associated with stillborn births (8 percent)and pre-weaning death rate (10 percent)on dairy farms. Much of this is avoidable with better procedures even if substandard facilities cannot be addressed in the short term. The stream of heifers entering the milking herd is critical to maintaining herd size and if large enough, offers either herd growth from within or a cash crop of heifers for sale.
Dairy producers have traditionally focused on the milking herd and not as much on youngstock. The price of heifer calves and springing heifers makes purchasing rather than raising your own an expensive proposition. For rather small inputs, dairy farmers can cut losses sometimes in the tens of thousands of dollars by placing better protocols in place and more extensively training employees.
Agriservice people such as veterinarians, nutritionists, consultants and bankers are interested in programs such as this to augment their work and help them promote improved herd management.

Two programs were offered in a nine county area. Using a modified version of previous calf focused workshops, a two-day, rather than four-day, session was developed. The long program limited the number of participants able to attend and the shorter version encouraged participation. Promotion through veterinary clinics and feed companies was helpful. Team newsletter advertising, electronic and direct mailings were used as the core means of reaching the target audience.
Industry specialists and successful heifer managers were used to help deliver the program, with team dairy specialists providing the leading role.
Best management practices were emphasized. Calving pen management, calf nutrition, vaccinations and housing were major topic areas. An on-farm section served to exemplify management practices and record keeping and allows hands-on practice of procedures such as colostrum evaluation, physical examination, dehorning, blood sampling, intravenous medicating, oral tubing, intratracheal intubation and resuscitation. Stethoscopes and thermometers were given to particpants in addition to a Calf Manager CD and other reference materials. Host farms enjoyed the benefit of a review and discussion of their calf operations.

17 participants from 14 farms and businesses attended these workshops. There were two Latino workers, two persons interested in developing a calf raising operation, one new dairy Extension associate, two feed industry reps and 10 calf care workers who attended these sessions. Two less experienced workers were driven 70 miles each way each day by their employer to one of the programs. These individuals were very interactive at the classes and expressed satisfaction at what they learned.
Exit comments from experienced workers indicated that they felt better equipped to address problems on their farms.
The Latino workers have assumed more responsibilites in calf rearing. One person looking to start a calf operation wrote a note stating that the program gave her the knowledge to successfully save a poor-risk calf and better raise others. One of the feed industry reps has moved on to a more calf focused company.
At the host farm, calf managers was very pleased to participate and pick up some tips from the program and have expressed interest in helping with future programs.

enhance dairy replacement viability and economics

• registration fees
• feed company
• animal health products company

• Maureen Zorn (Animal Science)
• Sam Leadley (Attica Veterinary Associates)
• Jeanne Wormuth (CY Heifer Farm)
• Pam Sodja (Offhaus Farm)
• Mike Keller (Alltech, Inc.)