Help ensure that calves get off to a healthy start by getting involved in the calf management on the source dairies. This can be a political hot potato that directly impacts the heifer grower's success. So, the progressive ones may welcome your involvement as an intermediary. The calving area should be designed for obstetrical work with easy places to restrain cows and easy access to water. It must be clean and dry.
Calves born into a cold wet environment loaded with bacteria have a difficult time surviving.
Despite the continuing publicity about the importance of colostrum management, many producers still don't have effective quality controls to ensure that every calf receives the four quarts of high-quality colostrum critical to long term calf health. Audit your clients' colostrum-management program to ensure that colostrum is sufficient in quality, quantity and timing after birth. Check IgG status of calves. Test the IgG status of incoming calves five days of age or less at the originating dairy prior to heifer growers receiving them. But when everything is done well, they can complement one another.