Calf Care at Bohnert Farm « Back

Quality care for just-born calves is of extreme importance to dairy farmers and similarly, this is of upmost importance to us at Bohnert Farm.
 
At half past three o’ clock in the morning, you can find two of our employees, along with my mother in-law outside feeding calves. This is no small chore, especially since we have 40-50 young Jersey calves ready to eat—all at once.

Calf chores start by our employees greeting each calf, collecting empty water buckets, and making sure each and every calf is doing well. Employees then gives calves milk replacer, which is a very close match to the mother’s milk, mixed with warm water and served at just the right temperature.

Once the calf has drunk its milk, employees provide the calf with a clean bucket filled with water. They serve fresh grain and add bedding to keep its house warm and dry. Employees feed calves twice daily and check on them periodically throughout the day.

Calves are housed separately from one another to create a warm, dry, healthy environment for the calf, and to ensure each calf gets the best possible nutrition during its first weeks of life.

Just-born calves are moved away from their mothers after birth. The reason for this is calves that are left with their mothers do not receive an adequate amount of colostrum. When we house them individually, we can help the calf get the right amount of colostrum and nutrition it needs.

Colostrum is a dairy cows’ first milk after having a calf, and it is rich in nutrients and antibodies to help strengthen the immune system. The calf’s mother is milked soon after birth to collect the colostrum that we can then, give to the calf. Employees keep a close eye on the mother to make sure she is having her needs met with proper nutrition and care.

Today has been a busy day for Bohnert farm with four calves being born within 24 hours. My husband and our employees are working hard to ensure the young calves have a bright, productive future ahead.