WEBVTT 00:00:10.550 --> 00:00:13.609 Welcome to the Bullvine Podcast, where we separate 00:00:13.609 --> 00:00:16.309 dairy fact from fiction with the subtlety of 00:00:16.309 --> 00:00:19.809 a Holstein stampede. Today, we're tearing open 00:00:19.809 --> 00:00:22.449 a feed bag of truth that'll make your accountant's 00:00:22.449 --> 00:00:26.280 head spin. What if I told you every $20 you save 00:00:26.280 --> 00:00:29.320 on calf feed today could be costing you $1 ,000 00:00:29.320 --> 00:00:32.859 in future profits? With Holstein Springers hitting 00:00:32.859 --> 00:00:36.960 $4 ,250 at Pipestone, we're exposing how penny 00:00:36.960 --> 00:00:39.420 -pinching nutrition programs are leaving dairy 00:00:39.420 --> 00:00:42.700 producers day while it's hemorrhaging cash. Stick 00:00:42.700 --> 00:00:46.079 with us as we break down the 170 % ROI secret 00:00:46.079 --> 00:00:49.539 weapon top operations are using, reveal why Whole 00:00:49.539 --> 00:00:52.369 Milk is a nutritional con artist, and show exactly 00:00:52.369 --> 00:00:54.969 how to build an antioxidant portfolio that turns 00:00:54.969 --> 00:00:58.390 calves into profit -generating assets. This isn't 00:00:58.390 --> 00:01:00.509 just animal science. It's financial warfare. 00:01:00.969 --> 00:01:03.590 Let's roll. All right, let's dive straight in, 00:01:03.609 --> 00:01:05.609 because this number I stumbled across while it's 00:01:05.609 --> 00:01:09.230 been rattling around in my brain. $4 ,250. Wow! 00:01:09.730 --> 00:01:12.549 Yeah. That's the recent going rate for Holstein 00:01:12.549 --> 00:01:15.109 Springers at Pipestone. Makes you stop and think, 00:01:15.170 --> 00:01:17.450 doesn't it? It certainly does. $4 ,250. That's 00:01:17.450 --> 00:01:19.879 significant. Right. Now, here's the real kicker 00:01:19.879 --> 00:01:21.400 for your bottom line for everyone listening. 00:01:22.159 --> 00:01:25.480 Are we potentially, you know, flushing serious 00:01:25.480 --> 00:01:28.140 future value down the drain by sweating the small 00:01:28.140 --> 00:01:32.319 stuff like calf feed costs today? It definitely 00:01:32.319 --> 00:01:35.260 makes you sharpen your pencil, doesn't it? We're 00:01:35.260 --> 00:01:37.299 really talking about a fundamental shift, I think, 00:01:37.299 --> 00:01:39.799 in how we need to view those youngsters. Well, 00:01:40.879 --> 00:01:43.120 for too long, maybe the calf was just seen as 00:01:43.120 --> 00:01:46.019 the next cow in line, you know. But with heifer 00:01:46.019 --> 00:01:48.000 availability looking tighter than a drum, heading 00:01:48.000 --> 00:01:51.540 into 2025 especially, well, the old way of thinking 00:01:51.540 --> 00:01:54.560 is becoming a seriously expensive luxury. Precisely. 00:01:54.640 --> 00:01:56.959 It feels like it's time to ditch that image of 00:01:56.959 --> 00:01:59.260 calves as just another set of mouths to feed 00:01:59.260 --> 00:02:03.000 and really recognize them for the appreciating 00:02:03.000 --> 00:02:04.700 assets they actually are. Walkie investments. 00:02:05.370 --> 00:02:07.890 Totally. Think about it. Every healthy, well 00:02:07.890 --> 00:02:11.370 -developed heifer represents, potentially, that 00:02:11.370 --> 00:02:15.110 $4 ,250 walking investment, maybe more, right 00:02:15.110 --> 00:02:18.009 there in your barn. And the producers who are 00:02:18.009 --> 00:02:20.789 really hitting their stride, it seems like they're 00:02:20.789 --> 00:02:23.469 adopting what some are calling nutritional cash 00:02:23.469 --> 00:02:26.960 flow management. Okay, that sounds a bit... Corporate, 00:02:26.960 --> 00:02:29.219 maybe. But break it down. Yeah, it might sound 00:02:29.219 --> 00:02:32.240 a bit fancy, but the core idea, it draws inspiration 00:02:32.240 --> 00:02:35.319 from Dr. Johan Osorio's work with transition 00:02:35.319 --> 00:02:37.539 cows, actually. Oh, interesting connection. And 00:02:37.539 --> 00:02:39.639 then it was cleverly adapted to calves by Tana 00:02:39.639 --> 00:02:42.680 Dennis over at Cargill. And it's surprisingly 00:02:42.680 --> 00:02:44.419 straightforward, but it really packs a punch 00:02:44.419 --> 00:02:46.479 economically. So how does that framing work? 00:02:47.120 --> 00:02:49.800 Thinking of a calf like its own little business. 00:02:49.840 --> 00:02:53.020 Exactly. Dennis's analogy is spot on. I mean, 00:02:53.039 --> 00:02:55.360 any business needs consistent cash flow, right? 00:02:55.500 --> 00:02:57.699 Not just to cover the immediate costs, but also 00:02:57.699 --> 00:02:59.580 to invest in future growth. Okay, makes sense. 00:02:59.699 --> 00:03:01.780 Well, a calf's business is all about growth, 00:03:01.919 --> 00:03:04.759 building that robust immune system, setting the 00:03:04.759 --> 00:03:07.080 stage for productive lactation down the road, 00:03:07.139 --> 00:03:09.979 and it's cash flow. That's the nutrition. That's 00:03:09.979 --> 00:03:11.960 the nutrition. It's the energy, the essential 00:03:11.960 --> 00:03:16.219 amino acids, and... Crucially, those antioxidant 00:03:16.219 --> 00:03:19.240 defenses we supply through their diet. That's 00:03:19.240 --> 00:03:21.000 the incoming revenue for that calf's business. 00:03:21.219 --> 00:03:24.900 Gotcha. So when that nutritional cash flow gets 00:03:24.900 --> 00:03:28.919 squeezed, that's when the problems start. That's 00:03:28.919 --> 00:03:31.139 when the wheels can start to wobble. Yeah. We 00:03:31.139 --> 00:03:33.500 all feel the pressure to tighten the purse strings, 00:03:33.680 --> 00:03:35.919 especially when milk checks fluctuate like they 00:03:35.919 --> 00:03:38.740 do. Oh, absolutely. But nickel and diming the 00:03:38.740 --> 00:03:41.539 calf feed. trying to maybe shave 20 bucks here 00:03:41.539 --> 00:03:44.240 or there. It can be the textbook definition of 00:03:44.240 --> 00:03:47.520 being penny wise and pound foolish. Right. You 00:03:47.520 --> 00:03:50.000 see that tiny immediate saving on the feed bill, 00:03:50.060 --> 00:03:52.120 but what's the real cost down the line? Exactly. 00:03:52.240 --> 00:03:55.180 What's the tally in terms of stunted growth, 00:03:55.439 --> 00:03:57.939 more sick days, more treatments, and ultimately 00:03:57.939 --> 00:04:01.780 just a less valuable animal entering the milking 00:04:01.780 --> 00:04:03.659 string maybe six months or a year later than 00:04:03.659 --> 00:04:05.620 she should. Couldn't agree more. Let's maybe 00:04:05.620 --> 00:04:07.919 zero in on energy for a moment. That's kind of 00:04:07.919 --> 00:04:09.699 the base currency, wouldn't you say, in that 00:04:09.699 --> 00:04:12.159 calf's internal system? Yeah, absolutely fundamental. 00:04:12.400 --> 00:04:14.979 So when a calf isn't taking in enough energy, 00:04:15.219 --> 00:04:18.180 maybe the milk replacer or the starter isn't 00:04:18.180 --> 00:04:20.639 quite cutting it. Or perhaps they're battling 00:04:20.639 --> 00:04:23.540 some sort of stress. Like cold stress or transport. 00:04:24.200 --> 00:04:26.360 Exactly. They go through what we could call an 00:04:26.360 --> 00:04:29.519 energy revenue shortfall. And to keep the lights 00:04:29.519 --> 00:04:31.980 on, metabolically speaking, their bodies have 00:04:31.980 --> 00:04:34.759 to start rating those very, very limited fat 00:04:34.759 --> 00:04:37.019 reserves they have. And that's a huge difference 00:04:37.019 --> 00:04:39.360 comparing to our mature cows, right? I mean, 00:04:39.379 --> 00:04:41.939 a dry cow, even a lactating cow, she's in decent 00:04:41.939 --> 00:04:44.620 shape. She has some body conditions she can mobilize. 00:04:44.759 --> 00:04:47.339 She's got reserves. Correct. But these young 00:04:47.339 --> 00:04:50.360 heifers, particularly in those critical first, 00:04:50.560 --> 00:04:54.160 say, four months, They just don't have that buffer. 00:04:54.220 --> 00:04:56.819 They are quite literally living nutritionally, 00:04:56.819 --> 00:04:59.360 sort of hand to mouth, paycheck to paycheck, 00:04:59.459 --> 00:05:00.939 if you like. Yeah, that's a good way to put it. 00:05:00.980 --> 00:05:02.639 If the fuel isn't there consistently, they're 00:05:02.639 --> 00:05:05.379 in the red almost immediately. Precisely. And 00:05:05.379 --> 00:05:08.040 the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and 00:05:08.040 --> 00:05:10.279 Rural Affairs, OMARFRA, they have some really 00:05:10.279 --> 00:05:12.560 compelling figures that show just how rapidly 00:05:12.560 --> 00:05:14.680 their nutritional demands escalate. Oh, yeah. 00:05:14.779 --> 00:05:18.319 Well, a young calf, maybe. one to two months 00:05:18.319 --> 00:05:22.240 old, needs roughly 7 .5 kilograms of feed per 00:05:22.240 --> 00:05:25.100 month. Seems manageable. Okay. But fast forward 00:05:25.100 --> 00:05:28.800 to six or seven months old, that jumps to nearly 00:05:28.800 --> 00:05:32.680 100 kilograms. Wow, that's a massive leap, more 00:05:32.680 --> 00:05:35.480 than tenfold. It's a monumental increase. So 00:05:35.480 --> 00:05:38.060 if your feeding strategy isn't evolving right 00:05:38.060 --> 00:05:40.759 alongside those surging needs, well, those revenue 00:05:40.759 --> 00:05:43.319 shortfalls we talked about become... Almost inevitable. 00:05:43.579 --> 00:05:45.139 It really just underscores that a set it and 00:05:45.139 --> 00:05:48.720 forget it approach to calf feeding is basically 00:05:48.720 --> 00:05:51.439 asking for trouble. It really is. And it highlights 00:05:51.439 --> 00:05:53.500 what I think I'm seeing is a real divergence 00:05:53.500 --> 00:05:55.259 in the industry. It feels like two different 00:05:55.259 --> 00:05:58.160 camps. How do you mean? Well, on one side, you've 00:05:58.160 --> 00:06:00.180 still got producers who view calf nutrition primarily 00:06:00.180 --> 00:06:02.579 as just another expense category, something to 00:06:02.579 --> 00:06:05.139 trim whenever margins get tight. The cost cutters. 00:06:05.220 --> 00:06:07.420 Yeah. But on the other side, there's this growing 00:06:07.420 --> 00:06:09.899 number who are treating it as a strategic investment. 00:06:10.279 --> 00:06:12.660 An investment with the potential for seriously 00:06:12.660 --> 00:06:15.139 impressive returns. And that return, I mean, 00:06:15.139 --> 00:06:17.379 the ROI figures we've seen bandied about, they 00:06:17.379 --> 00:06:19.680 can be truly eye -opening when you run the numbers. 00:06:20.019 --> 00:06:21.220 Like what kind of numbers are we talking about? 00:06:21.240 --> 00:06:24.100 Okay, consider this. An extra, say, $32 spent 00:06:24.100 --> 00:06:27.000 on high -quality antioxidants per calf. Sounds 00:06:27.000 --> 00:06:29.939 like an expense, right? $32, okay. But that investment 00:06:29.939 --> 00:06:33.540 can translate directly to maybe $45 saved on 00:06:33.540 --> 00:06:35.560 treatment costs because the calf is healthier. 00:06:35.980 --> 00:06:37.620 Okay, so you're already ahead. You're already 00:06:37.620 --> 00:06:40.720 ahead. Plus, you might see a 15 % uptick in growth 00:06:40.720 --> 00:06:43.740 rate. And when that heifer freshens, that faster, 00:06:43.759 --> 00:06:46.019 healthier growth could mean an added value of 00:06:46.019 --> 00:06:50.279 anywhere from $375 to maybe even $625. Whoa. 00:06:50.439 --> 00:06:54.980 So you put in $32, save $45, and gain potentially 00:06:54.980 --> 00:06:57.620 hundreds more down the line. Exactly. Do the 00:06:57.620 --> 00:07:01.420 math on that. That's a staggering 1 ,070 % to... 00:07:01.610 --> 00:07:04.970 1 ,850 % return on that initial $32 investment. 00:07:05.310 --> 00:07:08.709 That's almost unbelievable. You'd be hard pressed, 00:07:08.829 --> 00:07:10.649 I mean, really hard pressed to find another on 00:07:10.649 --> 00:07:12.709 -farm expenditure that consistently delivers 00:07:12.709 --> 00:07:14.569 those kinds of numbers. Makes you wonder what 00:07:14.569 --> 00:07:16.389 else we're overlooking, doesn't it? Where else 00:07:16.389 --> 00:07:18.129 could we be getting that kind of payback? Absolutely. 00:07:18.189 --> 00:07:20.170 Show me the piece of equipment or the management 00:07:20.170 --> 00:07:22.529 tweak that promises that kind of ROI. It sounds 00:07:22.529 --> 00:07:24.800 almost too good to be true. But the data suggests 00:07:24.800 --> 00:07:27.579 it's real. And the savvy operators, they're not 00:07:27.579 --> 00:07:30.660 just blindly tossing in any generic antioxidant. 00:07:30.660 --> 00:07:32.660 They're thinking strategically. Right. They're 00:07:32.660 --> 00:07:35.220 building what you might call an antioxidant portfolio 00:07:35.220 --> 00:07:37.759 for their calves. It's kind of like a retirement 00:07:37.759 --> 00:07:40.899 fund, but for calf health. That's a great analogy. 00:07:41.040 --> 00:07:43.420 Instead of securing their financial future, it's 00:07:43.420 --> 00:07:45.800 safeguarding the calf's health and future productivity. 00:07:46.639 --> 00:07:49.800 Diversification. Yeah. Now, what's really interesting, 00:07:49.899 --> 00:07:53.050 you mentioned the OMAFRA data earlier. It seems 00:07:53.050 --> 00:07:55.170 the payoff from these nutritional investments 00:07:55.170 --> 00:07:58.189 isn't actually uniform across all operations. 00:07:58.610 --> 00:08:01.350 No, it's not. And this is where it gets a bit 00:08:01.350 --> 00:08:03.649 counterintuitive. The data actually indicates 00:08:03.649 --> 00:08:05.670 that you get the biggest bang for your buck, 00:08:05.790 --> 00:08:08.310 the highest return on nutritional investments 00:08:08.310 --> 00:08:10.449 in the more challenging environments. Really? 00:08:10.810 --> 00:08:13.649 Not in the already top tier operations. Not necessarily. 00:08:13.730 --> 00:08:16.730 Think lower quality pasture or maybe situations 00:08:16.730 --> 00:08:19.709 where stress levels are just inherently higher. 00:08:19.910 --> 00:08:22.029 You'd almost assume the biggest gains would be 00:08:22.029 --> 00:08:23.990 in those already optimized settings layering 00:08:23.990 --> 00:08:26.029 on top. Yeah, I would have thought that. So why 00:08:26.029 --> 00:08:28.189 the difference? Well, it's kind of like finding 00:08:28.189 --> 00:08:30.430 an undervalued stock in a down market, maybe. 00:08:30.870 --> 00:08:33.539 When the baseline conditions aren't ideal. That 00:08:33.539 --> 00:08:36.799 extra nutritional support makes a much more significant 00:08:36.799 --> 00:08:39.220 difference in the calf's ability to not just 00:08:39.220 --> 00:08:43.299 survive, but actually thrive. Ah, okay. They're 00:08:43.299 --> 00:08:45.340 more vulnerable to begin with. So that added 00:08:45.340 --> 00:08:48.399 resilience from the premium nutrition, it just 00:08:48.399 --> 00:08:50.120 shines through more dramatically. It has more 00:08:50.120 --> 00:08:52.779 impact. Exactly. It's about maximizing potential, 00:08:53.059 --> 00:08:56.379 even when, or perhaps especially when, the starting 00:08:56.379 --> 00:08:58.860 point isn't perfect. That makes sense. And it's 00:08:58.860 --> 00:09:00.799 not just theory. I heard this anecdote about 00:09:00.799 --> 00:09:04.080 a producer who... You know, after really crunching 00:09:04.080 --> 00:09:06.399 the numbers and grasping this whole idea of calves 00:09:06.399 --> 00:09:09.919 as walking financial securities. I love that 00:09:09.919 --> 00:09:12.580 term. Right. They actually decided to expand 00:09:12.580 --> 00:09:15.080 their heifer program because they saw a genuine 00:09:15.080 --> 00:09:18.000 profit center there, not just a replacement cost 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:19.980 they had to bear. That's a fantastic example 00:09:19.980 --> 00:09:22.539 of that, like light bulb moment when the economics 00:09:22.539 --> 00:09:25.720 really click. So, OK, let's get practical. How 00:09:25.720 --> 00:09:28.519 do we actually go about constructing this antioxidant 00:09:28.519 --> 00:09:32.370 portfolio for our calves? Tana Dennis, you mentioned 00:09:32.370 --> 00:09:35.450 she outlined three key principles. What are they? 00:09:35.529 --> 00:09:37.649 Right. The first one is all about backup protection. 00:09:38.049 --> 00:09:40.649 Think about a well -balanced investment portfolio. 00:09:41.190 --> 00:09:44.909 You've got stocks, bonds, maybe some real estate. 00:09:45.190 --> 00:09:47.830 Diversification. Exactly. To weather market fluctuations. 00:09:48.409 --> 00:09:52.090 Well, a calf's antioxidant defense system needs 00:09:52.090 --> 00:09:54.509 that same kind of variety. Different antioxidants 00:09:54.509 --> 00:09:57.809 target different types of oxidative stress. So 00:09:57.809 --> 00:09:59.730 you wouldn't bet the farm on just one stock. 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:02.019 And you shouldn't rely on just one antioxidant 00:10:02.019 --> 00:10:04.600 for your calves. Precisely. Don't put all your 00:10:04.600 --> 00:10:06.620 eggs in the vitamin E basket, for example. Okay, 00:10:06.639 --> 00:10:08.600 makes perfect sense. Diversify the defenses. 00:10:09.019 --> 00:10:11.080 What's the second piece of the puzzle? The second 00:10:11.080 --> 00:10:13.639 concept is synergistic effects. Basically, some 00:10:13.639 --> 00:10:15.500 nutrients just work better together than they 00:10:15.500 --> 00:10:17.659 do on their own. Like a team. Exactly like a 00:10:17.659 --> 00:10:20.500 team. The classic example is vitamin E and selenium. 00:10:20.899 --> 00:10:23.379 Selenium plays a really vital role in regenerating 00:10:23.379 --> 00:10:25.860 oxidized vitamin E, essentially recharging it 00:10:25.860 --> 00:10:28.610 so it can keep working. Ah, so selenium helps 00:10:28.610 --> 00:10:31.730 vitamin E do its job better and for longer? Correct. 00:10:31.929 --> 00:10:34.730 It boosts its effectiveness, prolongs its protective 00:10:34.730 --> 00:10:38.029 action. It's a perfect case of the whole being 00:10:38.029 --> 00:10:40.169 greater than the sum of its parts. One plus one 00:10:40.169 --> 00:10:42.590 equals three, sort of. Okay, synergy. Got it. 00:10:42.649 --> 00:10:45.029 And the third aspect? The third is providing 00:10:45.029 --> 00:10:47.870 a buffer against the unexpected. I mean, life 00:10:47.870 --> 00:10:51.470 on a dairy farm, it rarely follows a neat, predictable 00:10:51.470 --> 00:10:54.009 script, right? Understatement of the year. Yeah. 00:10:54.330 --> 00:10:57.240 Sudden weather shifts heat waves. Cold snaps, 00:10:57.500 --> 00:10:59.899 the stress of transportation, regrouping, even 00:10:59.899 --> 00:11:02.799 minor illnesses. They can all throw a calf system 00:11:02.799 --> 00:11:05.480 out of whack very quickly. So the portfolio acts 00:11:05.480 --> 00:11:08.799 like a safety net. Exactly. A comprehensive antioxidant 00:11:08.799 --> 00:11:11.279 portfolio acts as that safety net, providing 00:11:11.279 --> 00:11:13.419 extra resilience to help them navigate these 00:11:13.419 --> 00:11:15.299 bumps in the road, these unforeseen challenges. 00:11:15.639 --> 00:11:17.259 So it's about having that nutritional safety 00:11:17.259 --> 00:11:20.539 margin built in for when things inevitably don't 00:11:20.539 --> 00:11:23.139 go exactly according to plan. That's it. It really 00:11:23.139 --> 00:11:26.169 reinforces Dennis's point then about. proactively 00:11:26.169 --> 00:11:29.370 feeding those diverse antioxidants to build that 00:11:29.370 --> 00:11:31.889 well -diversified financial portfolio for calf 00:11:31.889 --> 00:11:34.870 health. Really powerful way to frame it. It is. 00:11:34.929 --> 00:11:37.990 Now, look, let's be pragmatic here. We know not 00:11:37.990 --> 00:11:40.169 every farm operates with unlimited resources. 00:11:40.710 --> 00:11:42.950 Budgets can be tight, really tight sometimes. 00:11:43.129 --> 00:11:45.549 Absolutely. Reality bites. But even with those 00:11:45.549 --> 00:11:48.769 financial constraints, there are strategic ways 00:11:48.769 --> 00:11:51.269 to allocate your nutrition dollars. You want 00:11:51.269 --> 00:11:53.029 to put them where they'll have the greatest impact. 00:11:53.269 --> 00:11:55.950 Right. It's about prioritizing, isn't it? Where 00:11:55.950 --> 00:11:58.129 should producers focus their attention, their 00:11:58.129 --> 00:12:01.330 dollars, if they can't? maybe overhaul their 00:12:01.330 --> 00:12:04.049 entire calf program overnight. Okay, number one 00:12:04.049 --> 00:12:06.929 priority, I'd say, is the first 30 days of life. 00:12:07.129 --> 00:12:10.129 Absolutely pivotal. Why so critical? Well, their 00:12:10.129 --> 00:12:12.029 immune systems are still developing, they're 00:12:12.029 --> 00:12:14.809 naive, and they're encountering a whole host 00:12:14.809 --> 00:12:16.850 of new environmental challenges and pathogens 00:12:16.850 --> 00:12:19.210 for the first time. Yeah, it's a high -risk period. 00:12:19.450 --> 00:12:21.649 It is. There's intense immune system activity 00:12:21.649 --> 00:12:24.509 going on. So targeted nutritional support during 00:12:24.509 --> 00:12:26.889 this specific time can significantly influence 00:12:26.889 --> 00:12:29.110 their long -term health and performance trajectory. 00:12:29.289 --> 00:12:32.750 Okay, first 30 days. Where else? Stressful periods 00:12:32.750 --> 00:12:35.129 in general. Weaning is a big one, obviously. 00:12:35.409 --> 00:12:37.909 Moving to new housing, mixing groups, dealing 00:12:37.909 --> 00:12:39.909 with extreme weather conditions, heat or cold. 00:12:40.399 --> 00:12:42.960 Those predictable stress points. Exactly. Those 00:12:42.960 --> 00:12:45.139 are times when calves are definitely more vulnerable 00:12:45.139 --> 00:12:47.500 and they'll derive significant benefit from that 00:12:47.500 --> 00:12:49.580 additional nutritional support, especially antioxidants. 00:12:50.019 --> 00:12:53.059 Makes sense. Anything else? And maybe think about 00:12:53.059 --> 00:12:56.440 your genetically superior animals. Those heifers 00:12:56.440 --> 00:12:59.500 destined to be your top producing cows, it's 00:12:59.500 --> 00:13:01.879 likely a very wise investment to ensure they 00:13:01.879 --> 00:13:04.519 get optimal nutrition early on to help them actually 00:13:04.519 --> 00:13:06.799 reach that full genetic potential you paid for. 00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:09.429 Good point. maximize the return on your genetic 00:13:09.429 --> 00:13:11.870 investment too. Yeah. Okay. So those are key 00:13:11.870 --> 00:13:16.289 priorities. What about situations where maybe 00:13:16.289 --> 00:13:19.490 a more premium all out approach might be less 00:13:19.490 --> 00:13:21.730 critical? Where could you maybe pull back a little? 00:13:21.850 --> 00:13:24.740 Well, If you're really fortunate and you consistently 00:13:24.740 --> 00:13:28.019 maintain excellent calf rearing conditions, top 00:13:28.019 --> 00:13:30.539 -notch hygiene, low stress, really robust health 00:13:30.539 --> 00:13:33.340 across the board. The ideal scenario. The ideal, 00:13:33.440 --> 00:13:35.820 yeah. Or if you have access to really high quality 00:13:35.820 --> 00:13:37.899 pasture that provides a good natural source of 00:13:37.899 --> 00:13:41.000 antioxidants, maybe later in life, the need for 00:13:41.000 --> 00:13:43.620 extensive supplementation might be somewhat reduced. 00:13:43.899 --> 00:13:47.019 And also, if you're already using well -formulated 00:13:47.019 --> 00:13:49.860 commercial calf feeds or milk replacers that 00:13:49.860 --> 00:13:52.639 you know include a comprehensive blend of antioxidants 00:13:52.639 --> 00:13:55.700 you might already be covering many of these bases 00:13:55.700 --> 00:13:58.799 right so it's about understanding what your current 00:13:58.799 --> 00:14:02.039 program actually delivers first absolutely know 00:14:02.039 --> 00:14:04.620 your starting point that's a good reminder it's 00:14:04.620 --> 00:14:06.460 not a one -size -fits -all prescription is it 00:14:06.460 --> 00:14:09.019 definitely not but for those looking to make 00:14:09.019 --> 00:14:12.320 improvements maybe step things up what's a practical 00:14:12.320 --> 00:14:16.539 way to start implementing these ideas without 00:14:16.539 --> 00:14:19.580 you know Breaking the bank immediately. I think 00:14:19.580 --> 00:14:21.580 a phased approach is often the most manageable. 00:14:21.799 --> 00:14:25.480 Start somewhere. Like where? Well, probably the 00:14:25.480 --> 00:14:28.419 initial and often simplest step for many producers 00:14:28.419 --> 00:14:31.440 feeding whole milk is to address that well -documented 00:14:31.440 --> 00:14:34.019 deficiency we talked about, vitamin E and selenium. 00:14:34.139 --> 00:14:37.940 50 % gap. Exactly. Fortifying whole milk or even 00:14:37.940 --> 00:14:40.759 waste milk with just those two essential nutrients 00:14:40.759 --> 00:14:42.840 can make a really tangible difference relatively 00:14:42.840 --> 00:14:45.360 easily and affordably. Okay, that's a solid first 00:14:45.360 --> 00:14:47.820 step. What's next? The next step could be to 00:14:47.820 --> 00:14:50.500 incorporate targeted supplementation during those 00:14:50.500 --> 00:14:52.759 known stress periods we identified, weaning, 00:14:52.919 --> 00:14:57.230 transport, weather changes. Just boost the antioxidants 00:14:57.230 --> 00:14:59.429 around those times. Be strategic about it. Be 00:14:59.429 --> 00:15:01.830 strategic. And then, you know, as you observe 00:15:01.830 --> 00:15:04.029 the benefits, maybe see fewer treatments, better 00:15:04.029 --> 00:15:07.710 growth. And as your budget allows, you can progressively 00:15:07.710 --> 00:15:10.470 work towards implementing a more comprehensive 00:15:10.470 --> 00:15:14.210 year round antioxidant program. That sounds like 00:15:14.210 --> 00:15:17.230 a sensible, achievable strategy. Build it over 00:15:17.230 --> 00:15:20.169 time. Yeah. Step by step. Now let's flip the 00:15:20.169 --> 00:15:23.669 coin. Let's consider the alternative. What happens 00:15:23.669 --> 00:15:26.629 when we don't? prioritize that nutritional cash 00:15:26.629 --> 00:15:30.029 flow. What's the real downside of skimping? Yeah, 00:15:30.070 --> 00:15:31.970 that's when calves can end up in what we could 00:15:31.970 --> 00:15:34.289 call nutritional debt. They're essentially expending 00:15:34.289 --> 00:15:36.090 more energy, more nutrients than they're taking 00:15:36.090 --> 00:15:38.330 in. Like going bankrupt, nutritionally speaking. 00:15:38.590 --> 00:15:40.350 It's the nutritional equivalent of a business 00:15:40.350 --> 00:15:43.029 teetering on bankruptcy, yes. And there are two 00:15:43.029 --> 00:15:45.610 particularly vulnerable phases where this is 00:15:45.610 --> 00:15:48.210 most likely to happen. The first is early in 00:15:48.210 --> 00:15:51.100 life. Especially if milk intake, for whatever 00:15:51.100 --> 00:15:54.059 reason, just isn't sufficient to fuel their incredibly 00:15:54.059 --> 00:15:56.200 rapid growth rate. Not enough revenue coming 00:15:56.200 --> 00:15:59.340 in. Exactly. And the second really critical period 00:15:59.340 --> 00:16:02.559 is right around weaning. That transition time 00:16:02.559 --> 00:16:05.340 when their consumption of solid starter feed 00:16:05.340 --> 00:16:08.419 hasn't yet ramped up enough to fully compensate 00:16:08.419 --> 00:16:10.659 for the nutritional contribution they were getting 00:16:10.659 --> 00:16:12.899 from milk. Yeah, that weaning transition always 00:16:12.899 --> 00:16:15.000 seems like such a precarious time. They're losing 00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:17.639 that consistent, highly digestible nutrition 00:16:17.639 --> 00:16:20.700 from milk. Right. And their rumen isn't yet fully 00:16:20.700 --> 00:16:23.759 firing on all cylinders to efficiently utilize 00:16:23.759 --> 00:16:26.659 that starter feed. It's a real nutritional tightrope 00:16:26.659 --> 00:16:29.470 walk. It absolutely is. And as Tana Dennis pointed 00:16:29.470 --> 00:16:31.809 out, calves that are running on a minimal cash 00:16:31.809 --> 00:16:33.950 flow diet or those that have low savings, you 00:16:33.950 --> 00:16:36.889 know, low reserves of essential nutrients, they 00:16:36.889 --> 00:16:39.769 are far more susceptible to oxidative stress, 00:16:40.049 --> 00:16:42.669 illness, and the resulting cellular damage. Makes 00:16:42.669 --> 00:16:45.029 them sitting ducks almost. Pretty much. And this 00:16:45.029 --> 00:16:47.210 brings us right back to that whole milk issue 00:16:47.210 --> 00:16:50.090 again. The fact that standard whole milk typically 00:16:50.090 --> 00:16:53.769 falls around 50 % short of a calf's vitamin E 00:16:53.769 --> 00:16:56.289 and selenium requirements, that's huge. It is. 00:16:56.649 --> 00:16:59.370 It means if you're relying solely on unfortified 00:16:59.370 --> 00:17:01.370 whole milk, you're essentially starting your 00:17:01.370 --> 00:17:03.669 calves off with a significant nutritional handicap 00:17:03.669 --> 00:17:05.190 right out of the gate. You're putting them in 00:17:05.190 --> 00:17:09.470 debt from day one. Wow. That 50 % deficit, it's 00:17:09.470 --> 00:17:11.910 a pretty sobering statistic when you put it like 00:17:11.910 --> 00:17:14.269 that. It really highlights the fundamental importance 00:17:14.269 --> 00:17:18.549 of at least addressing that specific gap. even 00:17:18.549 --> 00:17:20.670 if other program changes have to take more time. 00:17:20.789 --> 00:17:22.930 Agreed. It's low -hanging fruit, really. Okay, 00:17:22.990 --> 00:17:25.210 so let's try and distill all this down into some 00:17:25.210 --> 00:17:27.470 really actionable advice. What? What are, say, 00:17:27.609 --> 00:17:30.670 three concrete steps our listeners could take, 00:17:30.730 --> 00:17:33.390 maybe starting today or tomorrow, to begin boosting 00:17:33.390 --> 00:17:35.410 their heifer profitability through nutrition? 00:17:35.750 --> 00:17:39.490 Okay, three steps. First one, proactively plan 00:17:39.490 --> 00:17:41.309 for stress. Don't wait until the thermometer 00:17:41.309 --> 00:17:43.930 plunges or the weaning date is staring you in 00:17:43.930 --> 00:17:47.299 the face. Be prepared. Be prepared. Build those 00:17:47.299 --> 00:17:49.779 nutritional reserves before these predictable 00:17:49.779 --> 00:17:53.099 challenges arise. What does that look like? Well, 00:17:53.220 --> 00:17:55.319 it might involve increasing milk volume when 00:17:55.319 --> 00:17:58.000 cold weather is forecast. It could mean adding 00:17:58.000 --> 00:18:00.759 extra antioxidants to the diet a few days before 00:18:00.759 --> 00:18:04.200 a planned stressful event like transport or regrouping. 00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:06.599 Get ahead of it. Get ahead of it. Or it might 00:18:06.599 --> 00:18:08.759 mean meticulously monitoring and encouraging 00:18:08.759 --> 00:18:11.599 starter intake well in advance of weaning so 00:18:11.599 --> 00:18:13.660 that transition isn't such a shock. Think of 00:18:13.660 --> 00:18:16.539 it like like putting on your snow tires before 00:18:16.539 --> 00:18:18.880 the first blizzard hits, not after you're already 00:18:18.880 --> 00:18:21.940 stuck in a snow bank. Good analogy. Solid advice. 00:18:22.059 --> 00:18:24.279 Okay. Plan for stress. What's the second practical 00:18:24.279 --> 00:18:26.880 step? The second is to diversify your antioxidant 00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:29.279 sources. We talked about the portfolio idea. 00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:32.039 Don't rely on just one single vitamin or mineral. 00:18:32.200 --> 00:18:35.099 Mix it up. Mix it up. Aim to include things like 00:18:35.099 --> 00:18:38.740 glutathione precursors. The amino acids methionine 00:18:38.740 --> 00:18:41.599 and cysteine are key there. A comprehensive range 00:18:41.599 --> 00:18:44.599 of vitamins. ACE are the big ones. Essential 00:18:44.599 --> 00:18:46.980 trace minerals. Selenium, obviously, but also 00:18:46.980 --> 00:18:50.339 copper, zinc, manganese. And maybe even consider 00:18:50.339 --> 00:18:53.380 incorporating some plant -based compounds, polyphenols 00:18:53.380 --> 00:18:55.839 and such, that are known for their antioxidant 00:18:55.839 --> 00:18:59.079 properties. A well -rounded approach just offers 00:18:59.079 --> 00:19:01.299 much more comprehensive protection against different 00:19:01.299 --> 00:19:04.039 kinds of challenges. Variety is the spice of 00:19:04.039 --> 00:19:06.779 life, and apparently the key to a resilient calf, 00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:11.200 too. Makes sense. Diversify sources. And the 00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:14.440 third takeaway. The third is simply track your 00:19:14.440 --> 00:19:16.880 performance. Monitor the numbers. You're running 00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:19.480 a business, right? Supposedly. And like any successful 00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:21.720 enterprise, you need to monitor your key performance 00:19:21.720 --> 00:19:24.500 indicators, your KPIs, keep detailed records, 00:19:24.819 --> 00:19:27.480 track health events, scours, pneumonia cases, 00:19:27.759 --> 00:19:30.019 track treatment expenses. How much are you spending 00:19:30.019 --> 00:19:32.460 on meds? Track growth rates. Are they hitting 00:19:32.460 --> 00:19:35.599 benchmarks? Even monitor feed intake if you can. 00:19:35.759 --> 00:19:38.119 Get the data. Get the data. Because this information 00:19:38.119 --> 00:19:40.339 will provide invaluable insights into whether 00:19:40.339 --> 00:19:42.319 your nutritional program is actually working. 00:19:42.539 --> 00:19:45.299 Is it translating into healthier, faster growing 00:19:45.299 --> 00:19:47.839 calves with lower costs? You simply can't. You 00:19:47.839 --> 00:19:50.059 can't improve what you don't measure. Absolutely 00:19:50.059 --> 00:19:51.960 fundamental. You can't manage what you don't 00:19:51.960 --> 00:19:53.779 measure. Yeah. It applies here just like anywhere 00:19:53.779 --> 00:19:56.380 else in the business. For sure. And as Dennis 00:19:56.380 --> 00:19:58.440 reminds us, the ultimate goal is to keep that 00:19:58.440 --> 00:20:01.720 calf's nutrient balance sheet, its cash flow 00:20:01.720 --> 00:20:04.220 firmly in the black, especially during those 00:20:04.220 --> 00:20:06.160 demanding times when they're drawing down more 00:20:06.160 --> 00:20:08.319 heavily on their energy and antioxidant reserves. 00:20:08.500 --> 00:20:11.289 Keep them solvent. nutritionally speaking. Keep 00:20:11.289 --> 00:20:13.609 them solvent. So maybe as a quick starting point, 00:20:13.710 --> 00:20:15.950 just a brief checklist for everyone listening 00:20:15.950 --> 00:20:18.009 to consider. Okay, let's hear it. First, honestly 00:20:18.009 --> 00:20:21.230 assess your current antioxidant provision. Are 00:20:21.230 --> 00:20:23.170 you adequately meeting their needs, especially 00:20:23.170 --> 00:20:25.509 considering things like that whole milk gap? 00:20:25.670 --> 00:20:28.609 Right. Second, identify the key stress points 00:20:28.609 --> 00:20:30.890 your calves encounter throughout the year on 00:20:30.890 --> 00:20:34.589 your farm. When are they most vulnerable? Know 00:20:34.589 --> 00:20:37.250 your risks. Know your risks. Third, specifically, 00:20:37.450 --> 00:20:39.569 if you're feeding whole milk, Are you addressing 00:20:39.569 --> 00:20:42.069 that significant vitamin E and selenium deficiency? 00:20:42.430 --> 00:20:46.089 Yes or no? Crucial point. Fourth, are you proactively 00:20:46.089 --> 00:20:48.549 building nutritional reserves before stress hits 00:20:48.549 --> 00:20:51.230 or are you always reacting after the fact? Proactive 00:20:51.230 --> 00:20:54.329 versus reactive. And finally, fifth, are you 00:20:54.329 --> 00:20:57.930 consistently tracking your results, health, growth 00:20:57.930 --> 00:21:00.849 costs to actually see what's working effectively 00:21:00.849 --> 00:21:03.380 and what might need tweaking? in your program. 00:21:03.599 --> 00:21:05.660 Excellent. That's a really practical checklist 00:21:05.660 --> 00:21:07.980 folks can use right away, just mentally run through 00:21:07.980 --> 00:21:11.259 those points. Hopefully. So, okay, bringing it 00:21:11.259 --> 00:21:13.819 all the way back around them. Yeah. That striking 00:21:13.819 --> 00:21:17.839 $4 ,250 price tag for those Holstein Springers 00:21:17.839 --> 00:21:19.680 at Pipestone that we started with. Yeah, still 00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:21.519 resonates. It really does. And maybe the real 00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:24.200 question isn't, you know, can you afford to invest 00:21:24.200 --> 00:21:26.500 in premium calf nutrition in this kind of market? 00:21:26.660 --> 00:21:28.539 It feels like the question is, can you really 00:21:28.539 --> 00:21:31.950 afford not to? That's exactly it. The dairy operations 00:21:31.950 --> 00:21:34.670 that are truly thriving now, and frankly, the 00:21:34.670 --> 00:21:36.470 ones that are best positioned for long -term 00:21:36.470 --> 00:21:38.930 success in the coming years, they're the ones 00:21:38.930 --> 00:21:41.430 that recognize each calf as a valuable economic 00:21:41.430 --> 00:21:44.049 unit from day one. Yeah. They get the walking 00:21:44.049 --> 00:21:46.750 financial security idea. They get it. They understand 00:21:46.750 --> 00:21:48.869 the critical role of that consistent nutritional 00:21:48.869 --> 00:21:51.630 cash flow, having adequate antioxidant reserves 00:21:51.630 --> 00:21:54.470 built up, and implementing a well -diversified 00:21:54.470 --> 00:21:56.349 nutritional strategy to protect that investment. 00:21:56.890 --> 00:22:00.150 And those operations that are maybe still holding 00:22:00.150 --> 00:22:03.170 on to the older notion that calf nutrition is 00:22:03.170 --> 00:22:06.069 simply another cost line item to minimize wherever 00:22:06.069 --> 00:22:08.289 possible. Well, the blunt reality is they're 00:22:08.289 --> 00:22:10.269 likely leaving a substantial amount of potential 00:22:10.269 --> 00:22:13.150 profit just sitting on the table, untapped potential. 00:22:13.369 --> 00:22:16.029 Yeah, profit that's getting eroded through maybe 00:22:16.029 --> 00:22:19.089 higher treatment costs, slower development, delayed 00:22:19.089 --> 00:22:22.710 age at first calving. Ultimately, replacement 00:22:22.710 --> 00:22:25.710 heifers that just don't achieve their full genetic 00:22:25.710 --> 00:22:27.670 and economic potential. Yeah, leaving money on 00:22:27.670 --> 00:22:30.650 the table is exactly right. So maybe the final 00:22:30.650 --> 00:22:32.630 thought for everyone listening, as you head out 00:22:32.630 --> 00:22:35.890 to your calf barn today or tomorrow, really ponder 00:22:35.890 --> 00:22:39.630 this. Are you truly investing in your future 00:22:39.630 --> 00:22:43.470 herd with your calf program? Or are you just... 00:22:43.880 --> 00:22:46.079 feeding your calves? It's a fundamental question, 00:22:46.160 --> 00:22:47.859 isn't it? And the answer carries significant 00:22:47.859 --> 00:22:50.200 weight, real financial weight for the long -term 00:22:50.200 --> 00:22:52.099 viability and profitability of your dairy. Yeah. 00:22:52.140 --> 00:22:54.400 Look at your calf program through that purely 00:22:54.400 --> 00:22:56.839 economic lens for a change. What's the real return 00:22:56.839 --> 00:22:59.839 you're getting or could be getting on your nutritional 00:22:59.839 --> 00:23:02.220 decisions? It's definitely a deep dive worth 00:23:02.220 --> 00:23:04.039 taking for your own operation. Couldn't agree 00:23:04.039 --> 00:23:07.339 more. A very worthwhile exercise. If today's 00:23:07.339 --> 00:23:09.880 episode lit a fire under your feed cart, you'll 00:23:09.880 --> 00:23:12.420 find our complete calf nutrition ROI calculator. 00:23:13.429 --> 00:23:15.990 antioxidant supplementation checklist, and the 00:23:15.990 --> 00:23:20.289 full $4 ,250 CAF article at thebulveen .com. 00:23:20.670 --> 00:23:23.130 Subscribe now wherever you get your podcasts 00:23:23.130 --> 00:23:25.970 and smash that five -star rating if you're ready 00:23:25.970 --> 00:23:28.890 to stop leaving money in the manure pile. For 00:23:28.890 --> 00:23:32.170 our diehard dairy strategists, join 30 ,000 -plus 00:23:32.170 --> 00:23:35.390 pros getting our Bullvine Daily newsletter, your 00:23:35.390 --> 00:23:37.789 weekly playbook for outsmarting the dairy markets. 00:23:38.109 --> 00:23:41.809 Until next time, remember, in this heifer economy… 00:23:41.980 --> 00:23:45.140 You're either investing in nutrition or bankrupting 00:23:45.140 --> 00:23:47.900 your future. Thanks for joining us today for 00:23:47.900 --> 00:23:50.799 the Bullvine Podcast. We don't just report the 00:23:50.799 --> 00:23:52.839 revolution. We are the revolution.