Practical ideas and answers to calf health and calf scours prevention.

By Ryan Daubert

Originally published in Progressive Dairy as Labor’s Hidden Toll on Dairy Calf Health

About two-thirds of calf diseases develop during the first four weeks of life, so the people caring for calves during that period have an outsized effect on survival, growth and future productivity. Ryan Daubert argues that dairy producers should see their calf care staff as a health investment rather than simply a labor expense.

Drawing on his own experience managing a cattle-feeding operation, Daubert describes how hard it is to find workers suited to calf raising, a job that involves long hours, harsh weather and frequent illness and death. Calf care involves many tasks that each depend on the person doing them, including feeding, colostrum management, sanitation, treatment and responding to heat, cold and transport stress. When staff gradually stop following health protocols, results suffer. Daubert also stresses low-stress handling, noting research that links it to better daily gain.

To build a stronger team, Daubert recommends keeping protocols simple, training employees until they can show they’ve mastered each one and explaining the reasons behind each step. He also suggests cross-training so care stays consistent when someone is absent or leaves. He points to training resources such as the Calf Care and Quality Assurance (CCQA) program, the FARM Program and state extension offices. Katie Grinstead of Vir-Clar Farms, a 2,800-cow dairy in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, describes how her farm trains new hires on basic tasks first and saves milk feeding and treatment for later. She also explains how the farm supports its workers with transportation, uniforms and English classes.

The article ends with a checklist of signs that a calf care team is working well, from timely colostrum feeding to clean equipment and employees who stay.