Breaking free from the chains of the past Where
truth moves faster than a Holstein calf No law
waiting on some printed page We're charting new
ground in the digital age From genomic codes
to robot facts We cut through the noise, no hold
them back not your daddy's dairy news tonight
we're sparking Welcome to the Bullvine Podcast,
where we tackle the dairy industry's biggest
challenges with bold insights and evidence -based
solutions. If you're tired of conventional wisdom
that's keeping your operation from reaching its
full potential, you're in the right place. Today,
we're diving deep into what might be the most
overlooked profit center on your dairy, your
pre -weaning calf program. We're talking about
research that shows how those first 60 days can
literally add over a thousand pounds of milk
per lactation to each animal. That's not hype.
That's hard science from Cornell University and
industry leaders who've cracked the code on maximizing
calf performance. If you've ever wondered why
some operations consistently outperform others,
or if you're ready to turn your calf barn into
a profit engine instead of a cost center, This
episode is going to change how you think about
early calf management. Let's get started. Welcome
to the deep dive. Today we're tackling something
really foundational for your dairy's bottom line.
That's the, well, the often underestimated power
of early calf performance. We've got a really
interesting article here from The Bullvine that
digs into the science. And we're going to pull
out the key insights for you. Our mission today,
really unpack the research in this piece. It
argues pretty convincingly that those first 60
days, they're not just about raising a calf.
They're about building a future profit engine
for your operation. Might challenge how you think
about things, but the data is strong. Let's get
into it. Yeah. And what's really fascinating
looking at this Bullvine article is how clearly
it draws that line. That line between early calf
performance, specifically average daily gain
or ADG, before weaning and, well, actual dollars
and cents years later. It really shifts the view,
doesn't it? Calf raising isn't just a cost. It's
maybe one of the smartest investments you can
make right now. OK, let's unpack that connection
then. The article puts pre -weaning ADG right
out front. calls it the key driver for milk production
for profit. That's a pretty bold claim. What's
the research actually showing? Well, this is
where it gets really interesting. The numbers
they cite, particularly from some long -term
work out of Cornell, they show this incredible
relationship. Get this. For every one kilogram
increase in pre -weaning ADG, that's about 2
.2 pounds. For us, those heifers produced an
extra 850 kilograms of milk. in their first lactation
alone. Wow. Hang on, let me translate that. So
for every pound of extra daily gain you get before
weaning, you're looking at, what, roughly 1 ,870
pounds more milk in that first lactation. That's
the number. It's pretty staggering when you think
about it that way. Incredible. Yeah. And the
Bullvine article pointed out something else interesting.
In commercial farm settings, the effect seemed
even stronger. They mentioned studies showing
over 1 ,100 pounds more milk per pound of pre
-weaning ADG. So the real -world impact. It might
be even bigger than the controlled studies. And
it's not just the milk check, is it? The article
mentioned other economic benefits, too. Oh, absolutely.
Calves that grow faster, they hit breeding size
sooner, right? So you can get them bred earlier.
That shortens the time to first calving, cuts
down that whole nonproductive rearing period,
which, you know, costs... real money every day.
Plus, the research is clear. These faster -growing,
healthier calves, they're much, much less likely
to be culled before they even get a chance to
milk and pay you back. Okay, so just how much
sway does this early period have? What percentage
of our future production is kind of locked in
early? The Cornell research cited. It concluded
that pre -weaning ADG alone explained about 22
% of the variation in first lactation milk yield.
Think about that. Almost a quarter of her production
potential. Heavily influenced, maybe even set,
before she's even weaned. 22%. Wow, that's huge
for just, what, 60 days? Exactly. It really highlights
the leverage you have in that early phase. So
what should farmers be shooting for then? What's
the target ADG according to this research? Well,
the NIHMS dairy study findings mentioned in the
article, they suggest that excellent growth means
exceeding 1 .8 pounds per day. That's about...
1 .82 kilos, falling consistently below that.
The data indicates they're just much less likely
to hit their genetic ceiling for milk. 1 .8 pounds
a day. Yeah. And it really raises a key question,
doesn't it? Are you actually tracking your calves
ADG, weighing them? Because, you know, if you
don't have that number, it's really hard to know
if you're hitting that target or where you might
need to improve. You can't manage what you don't
measure. Very true. Okay, let's shift to the
foundation. If you want that growth, the Bullvine
article, like pretty much everyone, points straight
to colostrum, calls it liquid gold. And rightly
so. The article makes a great point. Good colostrum
management is not just about immunity, though
that's obviously critical. It actually helps
program metabolic pathways, growth pathways,
things that affect that calf's health and productivity
for her entire life. It's like setting the defaults
for future performance. And with colostrum, timing
is, well, it's everything, right? Absolutely
critical. The research they discuss hammers this
home. One gallon of quality colostrum within
the first four hours. That absorption window
closes fast. One gallon, four hours. And then
they recommend following up. Another two quarts
at the second feeding. just to really make sure
you've established that strong base. Okay, but
it's not just volume. Quality matters, too. The
article mentions bricks testing. Exactly. You
can give the volume, but the quality isn't there.
So yeah, measuring bricks with a refractometer
is key. The standard you're shooting for, based
on the research, is at least 22 -23%. That tells
you about the concentration of those vital immunoglobulins.
Higher bricks, more protective power. Precisely.
More antibodies, more growth factors. And interestingly,
the article even cited a study where giving a
supplemental colostrum feeding like 12 to 16
hours later actually improved serum protein levels
in the calves. Ah, so better transfer even later
on? Yeah, suggesting maybe that window isn't
quite as hard closed as we sometimes think or
that topping them up helps. Point is, healthier
calves have more energy to put towards growth,
not fighting off bugs. And there was some really
intriguing stuff in there about colostrum maybe
doing more than just prevention. Yes, this is
quite exciting. There's emerging evidence cited
in the article that suggests colostrum might
play a dual role, not as preventing scours, but
potentially acting as a treatment, too, which
could, you know, help reduce antibiotic use.
A treatment? How so? Well, think about what's
in it. Over 100 times the antibodies of regular
milk, sure, but also vitamins. minerals, bioactive
compounds, things like lactoferrin, oligosaccharides.
These components can actively fight pathogens,
reduce inflammation in the gut, support beneficial
bacteria. So it's got this therapeutic potential
built right in the tool you already have on farm.
That's fascinating. OK, but even with perfect
colostrum, calves get sick. And the article points
to scours and respiratory disease as major roadblocks
to that ADG. Oh, they're huge profit killers.
The numbers cited are pretty stark. Scours accounts
for something like 56 percent of illness before
weaning and worse, 32 percent of deaths. Almost
a third of deaths from scours. Wow. And even
if they survive, the impact lingers. It absolutely
does. That's a crucial point the article makes.
The long -term cost is significant. Research
shows heifers that had scours early on, they
gained about 50 grams less per day throughout
their entire growing period. 50 grams less every
day? Yeah, and then about 10 % lower milk in
their first lactation. And they're three times
more likely to calve after 30 months old. Think
about the cost of feeding that heifer for extra
months with no return. Ouch. Okay, and what about
antibiotics for scours? The article had some
thoughts there. It did. It noted that in the
U .S., something like 75 % of Scour's cases get
antibiotics. But the concern is many cases aren't
bacterial. They're viral or protozoal, like crypto.
So the antibiotics aren't hitting the cause.
Right. And meanwhile, they can mess with the
calf's gut microbiome, which might impact digestion
and growth later on. But there is a positive
note, too. Yes. Again, pointing back to colostrum,
a study mentioned showed that adding dried colostrum
to milk replacer cut the need for antibiotic
treatments by more than half. So another potential
benefit there. Okay. The other big one was respiratory
disease. The silent profit killer. Yes, silent
because you might not see dramatic signs, but
it's dragging down performance. The article highlighted
studies showing just how common lung consolidation,
basically lung damage is, even subclinically.
And calves with uncured or chronic pneumonia,
they're ADG tanks compared to healthy pen mates.
We're talking like 930 grams a day versus over
1 ,100. Big difference. And if they come in with
lung issues already, they're kind of set up for
failure. That's what the data suggests. One study
showed they were over four times more likely
to end up with chronic pneumonia later. And their
starting ADG was lower, too. So management right
at arrival or maybe sourcing becomes critical.
Exactly. And the article mentioned tools that
can help, like using quick thoracic ultrasonography,
QTUS, to screen calves. Find those subclinical
lung issues early. Intervene proactively before
that growth potential is just gone. Protecting
lung health is absolutely vital for hitting those
ADG targets. Okay, so we've covered colostrum,
we've covered battling disease. What about the
day -to -day, the practical feeding and management
stuff the article suggests for really boosting
that ADG? Right, the nuts and bolts. Precision
feeding is a big one. The research is really
clear here. Calves need way more than just maintenance
calories if you want that kind of growth. The
article recommends aiming for levels like one
gallon twice daily. Or maybe three quarts three
times a day, right from day two. You've got to
fuel the growth, not just keep them alive. And
does what you feed make a difference? Whole milk
versus replacer? It seems to, yeah. The Bullvine
article discussed findings where calves on whole
milk gained about 0 .1 kilos, or that's 0 .22
pounds more per day compared to standard replacer.
Okay. Likely the higher fat, harder solids. That's
the thinking. Just more nutrient dense. Now,
if you are using a replacer, the protein level
is really critical, according to the article.
The research suggests aiming higher, like 25
% protein or even more, those standard 20 % protein
replacers. They just don't support that optimal
growth rate as well, even if you feed the same
volume. Good point. So higher protein if using
replacer. What else? Pasteurization. Even for
whole milk, it provides a small but measurable
ADG boost about... 0 .03 kilos or 0 .066 pounds
per day, according to the data cited. Interesting.
And what about the environment, the calf housing,
bedding? Does that stuff actually impact gain?
It absolutely does. It's easy to overlook, but
the environment plays a real role in growth efficiency.
Remember that NAHMS study they mentioned? It
showed bedding type mattered. Calves on straw
actually had better ADG than calves on sand or
no bedding. Huh. Stroh wins. Seems so. And temperature's
massive, especially in colder climates or during
winter. Calves burn a lot of energy just staying
warm. If you don't increase their feed intake
to compensate, where does that energy come from?
Comes from potential growth. Exactly. Gets diverted
away from ADG. So adjusting feed for temperature
is crucial. And consistency. That seemed to pop
up a few times. Oh, completely vital. Consistency
is king with calves. Same feeding times, same
milk temperature, same concentration every single
time. It reduces stress, improves digestion,
cuts down on upsets. The article really emphasized
that having and following standardized protocols
for everything. It really pays off in hitting
those growth goals consistently. Okay, so pulling
this all together, this deep dive into the bullvine
article, it makes it crystal clear. Those first
60 days. They're not just a waiting period. They're
absolutely foundational. The evidence really
stacks up, doesn't it? When you approach cap
raising strategically using this kind of research,
it stops being just a cost line item. It really
becomes one of your dairy's most powerful ways
to drive future profit. Let's just quickly bullet
point those key takeaways, again, based on this
Bullvine article. Things for you to really keep
front of mind. Okay, number one. Higher pre -weaning
ADG directly translates to more milk, potentially
over 1 ,100 pounds more in first lactation for
every pound of gain. That's huge leverage. Two,
colostrum, non -negotiable. Focus relentlessly
on the four Qs, quality, over 22, 23 % bricks,
quantity, one gallon plus two quarts, quickly,
within four hours, and maybe squeaky clean feeding
equipment. It sets the stage for immunity and
growth programming. Three, feed for growth, not
just maintenance. Higher volumes, like one gallon,
twice daily. Consider whole milk or bump up that
replacer protein over 25%, and crucially, adjust
for cold stress. Give them the fuel they need.
Four, health is wealth. Scours and pneumonia
are thieves. They steal ADG and future performance.
Proactive monitoring, good hygiene, and maybe
exploring those colostrum -based supports to
reduce impact and antibiotic reliance. And five,
invest early, profit long -term. The goal, double
birth weight by weaning. That means hitting that
1 .5 to 1 .8 pound ADG target. And you got to
track it to know if you're getting there. That's
a fantastic summary. A real roadmap pulled straight
from the research analyzed in that Bullvine article
gives you concrete things to look at on your
own operation. And you can find more great stuff
like this over at www .thebullvine .com. Definitely.
And remember, applying these strategies, it's
not just about healthier calves today. It's about
setting up your whole herd, your whole business
for... better efficiency, lower replacement costs,
and yeah, ultimately better profitability down
the line. So we'll leave you with this thought
based on everything we've unpacked today from
the Bullvine article. Knowing how much that early
ADG impacts your future revenue, what's one specific
thing in your calf program right now? Maybe it's
colostrum timing, maybe it's feed volume, maybe
it's weighing calves more often, maybe it's bedding
management in the cold. What's one thing you
could realistically adjust, maybe even starting
this week, to better capture that incredible
potential? We really hope this deep dive has
given you some valuable perspective, some practical
ideas to take back to the farm and help you build
that future profit engine one healthy, fast -growing
calf at a time. That's a wrap on today's deep
dive into the million -dollar investment sitting
right in your calf barn. The research is crystal
clear. What happens in those first 60 days determines
whether you're building future profit or just
raising expensive pets. Here's your action plan.
Start measuring ADG on every calf. Get your colostrum
protocol dialed in. And remember, doubling birth
weight by weaning isn't just a nice goal. It's
your ticket to animals that produce over 1 ,000
pounds more milk per lactation. Want the full
breakdown with all the research, citations, and
implementation strategies we discussed today?
Head over to www .thebullvine .com. That's T
-H -E -B -U -L -L -V -I -N -E dot com. You'll
find this episode's show notes plus hundreds
of articles challenging conventional dairy wisdom
with the data to back it up. Thanks for listening
to the Bullvine Podcast. And remember, in this
industry, the operations that question everything
are the ones that profit from everything. Until
next time, keep pushing boundaries and demanding
better from your business. The Bullvine, where
dairy meets disruption.