Raising dairy replacement animals is a challenging job in that heifer raisers are responsible for the milking herd’s future-the next generation of milk cows. The cost of raising dairy calves and replacement heifers is the second highest expenditure on the farm, behind feed costs. It is a major component in making a dairy operation profitable, but yet sometimes is neglected as a profit center for the farm since no direct income is generated by the replacement herd. Programs and educational materials to help improve on-farm profitability through the replacement are available in the following areas:

Programs and Opportunities:

• 2009 Raising Quality Dairy Heifers
• Dairy Replacements’ Cost of Production Analysis
• Heifer Growers’ Discussion Groups
• Dairy Workers’ Training-Calf Management Skills (offered in English & Spanish)
• Dairy & Heifer Best Management Practices
• Heifer Facilities & Ventilation
• Eastern Wisconsin Dairy Team’s “Raising Quality Dairy Replacements” Seminars (Held annually each February)

Materials and Resources:

Cost of Raising Heifers Resources & Tools

• Cost of Raising Heifers-2007 ICPA Report
• Cost of Raising Heifers Fact Sheet
• Real Herds Real Heifers – The Cost of Raising Calves- Presented at the 2008 Dairy Calf & Heifer Association Profit Symposium, Sioux Falls, SD, & Lansing, MI
• Real Herds Real Heifers – The Cost of Raisin’ Todays Dairy Heifer- Presented at the 2008 Dairy Calf & Heifer Association Profit Symposium, Sioux Falls, SD & Lansing, MI)
• Raising Healthy Dairy Calves While Keeping Cost Low - Presented by UW-Extension Kewaunee County Agriculture Agent Aerica Opatik at the 2008 “Start ‘em Right. . . Raise ‘em Right” Calf Management Seminar
• Hoard’s Dairyman Magazine – “Real Herds – Real Heifers’ Series
  • “Caring for calves an expensive business”, January 10, 2008
  • “Feed expenses eat heifer raising budgets”, January 25, 2008
  • “There’s nothing equal when raising calves”, February 10, 2008
  • “Big spread exists on hours needed to raise calves”, February 25, 2008
  • “In just nine years. . . heifer raising costs jumped over 50 percent”, March 10, 2008
  • “Options exist to reduce expenses”, March 25, 2008
• Dairy Calf Enterprise Budget and Cost of Production Analyzer and Simulator - Developed by Dr. Gregg Hadley, UW-Extension Farm Financial Management Specialist
• Dairy Heifer Enterprise Budget Analyzer and Simulator - Developed by Dr. Gregg Hadley, UW-Extension Farm Financial Management Specialist
• Keeping Heifer Raising Profit Margins Profitable – Presented by UW-Extension Farm Financial Management Specialist Dr. Gregg Hadley

Facilities, Housing & Ventilation

• “Ideal Wisconsin Calf Pen”
• Diagrams of the “Ideal Wisconsin Calf Pen”
• “Improving Calf Barn Ventilation With a Bit of Fresh Air” Positive Pressure Ventilation Ducts for Nursery Calf Barns
• “Mechanical Ventilation for Individual Pen Calf Barns Calculator” – Developed by UW-Extension Farmstead Engineering Specialist Brian Holmes
• Calf Ventilation – A Breath of Fresh Air – Presented by UW-Extension Specialist Brian Holmes
• “Ventilating Calf Barns in Winter: Designing Calf Facilities to Enhance Air Quality for the Calf” - Developed by Dr. Dave Kammel, UW-Extension Dairy Engineer

Herd Health & Management

• Optimizing Calf Repiratory Health
• “Calf care affects herd’s later value”, Wisconsin Agriculturalist, February 2007
• “Is Typhoid Mary in your herd?”, Wisconsin Agriculturalist, October 2007
• Optimizing Calf Health - Presented at the 2009 World Dairy Expo International Shortcourse
• Optimizing Calf Health – Spanish – Presented at the 2009 World Dairy Expo International Shortcourse
• Developing the Rumen Developing the Heifer
• Observations of Custom Heifer Raisers by WI Dairy Producers - Presented at the 2007 UW-Extension Raising Quality Dairy Replacements Seminar, Fond du Lac & Green Bay
• Dairy Calf Pneumonia: Problem and Perspective - Presented by Dr. Sheila McGuirk, UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine
• Managing the High Risk Calf - Presented by Dr. Sheila McGuirk, UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine
• Reproductive Management of Dairy Heifers - Presented by UW-Extension Dairy Reproductive Specialist Dr. Paul Fricke
• Smooth Transitions: Feeding Heifers for a Smooth Transition into Lactation – Presented by University of Minnesota Extension Dairy Nutritionist Dr. Noah Litherland
• Caring for the Pre-fresh Heifers: Vaccination and Care Strategies from the Womb to the Parlor – Presented by Dairyland Veterinary Service Veterinarian Dr. Phil Pearson
• Cattle Handling Options for Heifers – Presented by UW-Extension Kewaunee County Agriculture Agent Aerica Opatik

Other Resources:

• University of Wisconsin Extension-Heifer Management
• University of Minnesota Extension-Calf Management
• University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine Calf Management Resources
• University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine Calf Housing Ventilation
• Dairy Calf and Heifer Association
• Calving Ease
• Calf Notes
• Dairy Herd Management (click on Calf & Heifer Resource Center)

STAFF

If you have any questions regarding Agriculture Dairy & Livestock in Sheboygan County, please contact:

Tina Kohlman – Dairy & Livestock Agent
Sheboygan County – UW Extension
5 University Drive
Sheboygan, WI 53081
Phone: 920-459-5900
Fax: 920-459-5901
Email: tina.kohlman@ces.uwex.edu