Knowledge base

We work closely alongside farmers, veterinarians and scientists to constantly expand our knowledge, which we are then happy to share with you.

Categories: Colostrum, Diarrhea, Housing, Hygiene, Milk powder, Respiratory health
| Housing

Measurement is knowledge

It is difficult to assess calf growth when the animals are still young. The rate of growth is even more difficult to estimate during the period from the start through to the moment they are placed on grates. Read more for tips from our specialist.

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| Respiratory health

Airways: every calf’s powerplant

Healthy airways mean that animals perform well. “To keep the fires burning, you need oxygen,” explained veterinarian Niels Geurts from the Netherlands.

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| Diarrhea

Young cattle specialist Ger van Wersch: ‘a single day of diarrhea means four days lost growth’

In the judgement of young cattle specialist Ger van Wersch, among calves suffering from nutrition-based diarrhea, everything should be focused on re-establishing a calm gastrointestinal tract.

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| Housing, Hygiene, Respiratory health

Veterinarian Niels Geurts ‘80% are airway problems’

Transporting young calves and placing them in a new environment with calves from other farms represents a huge health challenge. Veterinarian Niels Geurts of the Thewi veterinary practice in The Netherlands sees the consequences of the process on a daily basis and points out the areas for improvement in calf rearing on dairy farms.

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| Housing, Respiratory health

Keeping warm is very important! Feeling cold? Put the calf in a bodywarmer

As the outside temperature falls, it is important to keep calves warm. Cold consumes energy which is then not available for growth. Young cattle specialist Johan Verdaasdonk shares tips to prevent a growth dip by cold weather.

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| Housing

Always difficult: the transition to lying boxes

From the straw pen to lying boxes is always a big change for calves. From a warm bed of straw where they can lie together, they need to learn to settle down in the individual pens.

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| Housing, Milk powder

How many calves should be kept in a group?

The ideal group size is between four and six calves. When feeding with buckets or for example at a milk bar, this is a manageable number of animals of around the same age, that will not compete too much.

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| Housing

What is the best accommodation during the milk period?

Calves should be kept on straw for three to four months. Then comes the lying box with a floor grating, to prevent calves’ claws growing too long. However, to encourage rapid growth and good health, Lieke Janssen, young cattle specialist at Agrifirm in The Netherlands, recommends the straw pen.

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| Milk powder

Higher concentration and more liters for a higher growth potential

Higher concentration and more liters for a higher growth potential. Read about the positive effects of intensified feeding.

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The best start for a better future

Dairy farmers worldwide are challenged to work to increasing efficiency. In creating a profitable farm, a healthy and productive herd makes all the difference.

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Nutrifeed

We guarantee high-quality young stock feeds combined with excellent nutritional knowledge. In addition to Kalvolac calf milk powders, we also offer ­specialist products for pigs, young goats and lambs. For more information, visit our Animal Nutrition pages.