Standard practice in the dairy industry is to separate the calf and dam immediately after birth
and raise calves in individual pens during the milk-feeding period. In nature and in extensive …

A feeding regimen that allows a smooth transition from milk to solid feed is vital for
successful heifer-rearing programs. In the past, research efforts have focused on the …

The preweaning management of dairy calves over the last 30 yr has focused on mortality,
early weaning, and rumen development. Recent studies suggest that nutrient intake from …

Simple Summary The rumen is an important digestive organ that plays a key role in the
growth, production performance and health of ruminants. Promoting rumen development …

Several studies and a 2013 meta-analysis have proposed that increased feeding of milk or
milk replacer to neonatal calves may improve subsequent milk production. However, data …

In the dairy industry it is common practice to separate cow and calf shortly after birth but this
practice is disputed because of animal welfare concerns. Some producers, in many …

The rearing period has a key influence on the later performance of cattle, affecting future
fertility and longevity. Producers usually aim to breed replacement heifers by 15 months to …

Data from calf studies conducted over the past 20 yr has shown that preweaning nutrient
intake, from milk or milk replacer, can have profound effects on development of the calf that …

Dairy calves have traditionally been kept in individual pens throughout the milk-feeding
period. Social rearing is associated with increased solid feed intake and, hence, higher …

Here we report dairy calf management practices used by 242 smallholder family farmers in
the South of Brazil. Data were collected via a semi-structured questionnaire with farmers …