2021 Fall & Winter Calf & Heifer Special Edition

DAIRY ST R FALL & WINTER

Calf & Heifer Special Edition

PHOTO BY JENNIFER COYNE/DAIRY STAR

October 23, 2021

Page 2 • Dairy Star Special Edition • Saturday, October 23, 2021

DAIRY ST R www.dairystar.com

522 Sinclair Lewis Ave. Sauk Centre, MN 56378 Phone: (320) 352-6303 Fax: (320) 352-5647

Calves are an investment at J&A Dairy

Published by Dairy Star LLC General Manager/Editor

Mark Klaphake - mark.k@dairystar.com 320-352-6303 (ofce) 320-248-3196 (cell) 320-352-0062 (home) Ad Composition

Nancy Powell 320-352-6303 nancy.p@dairystar.com Consultant Jerry Jennissen 320-346-2292 Editorial Staff

Jennifer Coyne - Assistant Editor (320) 352-6303 • jenn@dairystar.com Danielle Nauman - Staff Writer (608) 487-1101 • danielle.n@dairystar.com Stacey Smart - Staff Writer (262) 442-6666 • stacey.s@dairystar.com Abby Wiedmeyer - Staff Writer 608-487-4812 • abby.w@dairystar.com Maria Bichler - Copy Editor 320-352-6303 Advertising Sales Main Ofce: 320-352-6303 Fax: 320-352-5647 Deadline is 5 p.m. of the Friday the week before publication

Sales Manager - Joyce Frericks 320-352-6303 • joyce@dairystar.com Mark Klaphake (Western MN) 320-352-6303 (ofce) • 320-248-3196 (cell) Laura Seljan (National Advertising, SE MN) 507-250-2217 fax: 507-634-4413 laura.s@dairystar.com Jerry Nelson (SW MN, NW Iowa, South Dakota) 605-690-6260 jerry.n@dairystar.com Bob Leukam (Northern MN, East Central MN) 320-260-1248 (cell) bob.l@star-pub.com Mike Schafer (Central, South Central MN) 320-894-7825 mike.s@dairystar.com Amanda Hoeer (Eastern Iowa, NE WI) 320-250-2884 • amanda.h@dairystar.com Megan Stuessel (Western Wisconsin) 608-387-1202 • megan.s@dairystar.com Kati Kindschuh (Northeast WI and Upper MI) 920-979-5284 • kati.k@dairystar.com Deadlines The deadline for news and advertising in the Dairy Star is 5 p.m. Friday the week before publication.

Subscriptions One year subscription $35.00, outside the U.S. $110.00. Send check along with mailing address to Dairy Star, 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave., Sauk Centre, MN 56378.

MARK KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR

Tryone Aho (from leŌ), Thomas Aho and Adrian Aho stand in their calf barn at J&A Dairy near Frazee, Minnesota. The Ahos use a tube-venƟlated hoop barn to house calves unƟl about 1 month of age.

New calving area, barn get youngstock off to strong start

By Jennifer Coyne jenn@dairystar.com

FRAZEE, Minn. – From the minute a calf hits the ground, its health and well-being are essential for the viability of J&A Dairy.

“We invest in our calves because they’re the future of our herd,” Tyrone Aho said.

Tyrone is the herdsman at J&A Dairy where his cousins, Adrian and Jamin Aho, milk 448 cows in Becker County near Frazee.

In July, the family completed an addition onto their freestall barn which includes a maternity pen to compliment the farm’s youngstock management program; a system that was redesigned three years ago with the construction of a tube-ventilated hoop barn.

Dry cows freshen in a large, sawdust bedded pen and then the calves are immediately transferred to individual pens inside the hoop barn.

“We’ve made some huge improve-

ments, and so far, the cows and calves are doing great,” Adrian said.

In 2018, the brothers decided to construct a building that would house the calf pens. Not only could the facility provide a better environment for the animals, but it also had potential for a better working environment for Tyrone, Adrian, and Adrian and Jamin’s dad, Reino, who are the primary caretakers of the youngstock.

“Honestly, I didn’t like feeding calves in hutches,” Adrian said. “My brother, Tim, has a similar setup to this at his farm. That’s what we based Turn to AHOS | Page 4

Dairy Star Special Edition • Saturday, October 23, 2021 • Page 3

Abundant thanks to our nation’s farmers!

Over the years, our business has given us a healthy appreciation for just howhard our local farmers work to nourish ourfamilies and our nation’s economy.

www.Bongards.com

Page 4 • Dairy Star Special Edition • Saturday, October 23, 2021

ConƟnued from AHOS | Page 2

this off of when putting this together.”

The scheme is simple yet effective.

A group of 60 calf pens line the sidewalls of the 30- by 140-foot hoop barn which was constructed with two half sections of a building. Calves lay atop wheat straw over a couple inches of sawdust, with gravel beneath to act as a permeated barrier for moisture.

The Ahos manually pitch out the pens after a calf moves out of the barn at about 1 month of age. The gravel remains but the sawdust and straw are replenished for the next calf.

“Pitching it all out is the worst part of this barn,” Tyrone said.

Right now, as calves enter the barn, the youngest are housed on the south side of the building. Once the older ones leave, the newborn calves will be housed in pens on the north end of the barn.

“We try to order them from youngest to oldest, going in a row and grouped in sections of the barn,” Tyrone said.

“For example, just the other day, we had four newborn calves. They’re all housed in adjacent pens.”

The center aisle of the barn is cement which allows for the Ahos’ Milk Shuttle to move easily through the barn.

Calves are fed pasteurized milk twice daily and receive free-choice grain the entire time they are housed in the JENNIFER COYNE /DAIRY STAR

The tube-venƟlated hoop barn can house up to 60 calves in individual pens at J&A Dairy near Frazee, Minnesota.

MARK KLAPHAKE/DAIRY STAR

Prefresh cows are housed in a sawdust-bedded maternity pen adjacent to the freestall barn. The pen was constructed this past summer.

building. After one month, they are relocated to group housing at a different farm site.

The Ahos began feeding pasteurized milk with the milk delivery system about 1.5 years ago. Previously, calves were fed milk replacer in buckets and bottles.

“The pasteurized milk just starts them off right,” Adrian said. “We used to feed powdered milk after that rst feeding, but it just didn’t work

Healthy calves create a more profitable herd.

Make First Arrival® with Encrypt® a core part of your digestive and immune health support program for your calves during the critical early growth period.

as good. We really like how we’re doing it now.”

Tyrone agreed.

“With the shuttle, we can determine how much we’re feeding each individual calf,” he said. “It’s efcient. We move through the barn, lling the pails down both rows of calves.”

The system has allowed the Ahos to signicantly cut their time feeding calves. Tyrone said all 60 calves could be fed in 15 minutes barring

no troubles with sick calves, or newborns learning how to drink.

While the barn design allows for more efcient management of the youngstock, more importantly, it has created a healthier environment for the calves.

“Since being in this setup, calf health has been really good,” Adrian said. “And, we’re seeing the calves gain Turn to AHOS | Page 5

Dairy Star Special Edition • Saturday, October 23, 2021 • Page 5

ConƟnued from AHOS | Page 4

a lot better than they were before.”

Tyrone agreed.

“We’re seeing the calves grow faster because they’re healthier,” he said, noting a signicant decrease in scours and pneumonia incidences.

“Even if we do get one or two calves that come down with scours, it’s not spreading.”

The tube ventilation and hoop barn design allow for sufcient air ow throughout the building. Exhaust fans on the east end of the barn turn on when temperatures in the building exceed 50 degrees, and the tube is constantly running to bring air in and circulate amongst the animals.

“They always talk about how much air animals really need to be in a healthy environment,” Adrian said.

The facility is not heated, but the light-colored sidewalls allow ample natural light and heat in.

“This was really built so all the calves and those feeding the calves

could work out of the elements,” said Adrian, mentioning young calves wear jackets when temperatures are consistently below freezing. “If the sun is

“We invest in our calves because they’re the future of our our herd.”

TYRONE AHO J&A DAIRY

shining, it warms up a little in here.”

“In this environment, (the calves) can handle 20 below weather pretty well with ample bedding and calf coats,” he said.

The Ahos raise one-third of their most elite Holstein heifers and keep a few bull calves that have the potential for breeding.

The other two-thirds of the heifer calves, along with all the Holstein-Limousine crossbreds, are also raised to weaning before being sold to their heifer raiser in Deer Creek.

With the family’s intentions of developing genetically superior replacements for the milking herd, their structural and protocol improvements are proving to be wise investments.

“All of this is more user-friendly, where everything is on-site and out of the weather,” Tyrone said. “We’re able to observe and care for calves efciently JENNIFER COYNE/DAIRY STAR and we know healthy A Holstein-Limousine crossbred is raised in the Ahos’ calves develop into calf barn. The crossbreds are raised unƟl weaning and protable cows.” then sold to the farm’s heifer raiser.

Celebrating C elebrating 100 100 Years Years of of

PASSIONATE PROVEN PERFORMANCE ® RITCHIE

Ritchie Water is Smart Water

OmniFount CattleMaster

4622_Ritchie100_Ad_Passion_Carlson_85x11_v3.indd 1

6/8/21 10:35 AM

EcoFount

WaterMaster

WaterMaster

For the last 100 years, Ritchie has been n manufacturing a complete line of livestock watering products with the highest specifications in the industry..

From a single horse Stall Fount to a fountain that waters up to 500 head, s, Ritchie fountains are top quality. Plus, every Ritchie fountain is backed by our 10 year limited warranty.

For more information contact us: For more information contact us: Carlson Wholesale

@carlsonwholesale

Carlson Wholesale

@carlsonwholesale

(800) 669-4038 • www.carlsonwholesale.net

AVAILABLE AT: www.jcb.com

jcb.com/agriculture

Best-in-class visibility.

The new JCB Series III agricultural telehandlers feature an all new, next generation cab designed specifically to meet the needs of the agricultural customer.

A&C Farm Service, Inc. Jct. Hwys. 55 & 23 Paynesville

320-243-3736

www.acfarmservice.com

Page 6 • Dairy Star Special Edition • Saturday, October 23, 2021

Two Great Livestock Auction Facilities!

SPECIAL DAIRY SALES

THE

LAST MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH IN PERHAM

Professional Auctioneers & Ringmen Many Years of Experience Selling Dairy Cattle

• Professional Marketing • Catalog Cows for Breeding & Production Records • Mailing List to over 6,000 potential buyers • Website, Dairy Star, Radio Advertisements • Live Online thru CattleUSA - Over 300 buyers approved to bid

THE

SPECIAL DAIRY SALES

LAST WEDNESDAY OF EVERY MONTH IN MOTLEY • Professional Marketing • Catalog Cows for Breeding & Production Records • Mailing List to over 6,000 potential buyers • Website, Dairy Star, Radio Advertisements • Live Online thru CattleUSA - Over 300 buyers approved to bid

Professional Auctioneers & Ringmen Many Years of Experience Selling Dairy Cattle

Open Sundays Noon-8pm to Receive Stock • Complimentary Hay & Water Pens Provided

45240 COUNTY ROAD 80 E PERHAM MN 56573

218-346-3415

View & bid live at cattleusa. com

MITCH BARTHEL OWNER/AUCTIONEER

218-639-5228

PERHAMSTOCKYARDS.COM • CATTLEUSA.COM

32638 US-10 MOTLEY, MN 56466

218-352-6546

MITCH BARTHEL OWNER/AUCTIONEER

View & bid live at cattleusa.com

218-639-5228

JOE VARNER 218-352-6546

TRICOUNTYSTOCKYARDS.COM • CATTLEUSA.COM

Ensure Better Calf Health with Chlorine Dioxide!

STOP

BACTERIA WITH

Chlorine-Dioxide Disinfectant / Sterilant

A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE WATER INJECTION SYSTEM

Use EXSPOR on: • Calf hutches • Calf bottles • Calf nipples • Calf buckets • Parlor/milk room walls • Drains and more!

REDUCES:

• Respiratory Issues • Scours • Crypto • Salmonella • E-coli

FOAM OR SPRAY ON

Fast and effective against ALL kinds of harmful substances including bacterial spores as well as bacteria, viruses and fungi!

Advanced Dairy Solutions

Bob’s Dairy Supply

540 E. County Rd. A • Dorchester, WI 54425 278 W. Court St. • Richland Center, WI 53581 (715) 654-5252 (608) 647-4488

East Central Dairy Supply 2195 Hwy. 23 • Mora, MN 55051 (320) 679-1029

Professional Dairy Systems Eastern Iowa Dairy Systems Anderson Dairy Systems, Inc. 1449 Homecrest Ave. • Wadena, MN 56482 105 3rd Ave. NW • Epworth, IA 52045 1312 13 1/2 Ave. • Barron, WI 54812 (715) 537-3300

Athman Dairy Inc.

238 Main Street North • Pierz, MN 56364 (320) 468-2494

HIGHLY EFFECTIVE AGAINST • Prototheca • Staph Aureus • Mycoplasma

Removes IRON, MANGANESE and SULFUR in water!

FOR MORE INFO - CONTACT ONE OF THESE DEALERS...

Advanced Dairy Systems

9 State Rd. 29 • Spring Valley, WI 54767 (715) 772-3201

Pure 3000 Chlorine Dioxide Technology

(218) 632-5416

D&D Ag Supply

133 Atlantic Ave. NE • Pennock, MN 56279 (320) 599-4466

(563) 876-3087

Fuller’s Milker Center, Inc. 423 U.S. 61 • Lancaster, WI 53813 (608) 723-4634

Gorter’s Clay & Dairy Equipment 1400- 7th St. SE • Pipestone, MN 56164 (507) 825-3271

Tri-County Dairy Supply, Inc.

4107 N US HWY 51 • Janesville. WI 53545 608-757-2697

Precision Dairy Equipment 24548 IA-13 • Elkader, IA 52043 (563) 245-2560

Lang’s Dairy Equipment, Inc.

2337 Millennium Rd. • Decorah, IA 52101 (563) 382-8722 1467 West 5th Street • Winona, MN 55987 (507) 452-5532

Leedstone

222 E Co Rd 173, Melrose, MN 56352 (320) 256-3303 24260 Cty. Rd. 27 • Plainview, MN 55964 (507) 534-3161

Leedstone

1720 Freitag Dr. • Menomonie, WI 54751 (715) 231-8090

United Dairy Systems

210 N. Industrial Pkwy • West Union, IA 52175 (563) 422-5355

Dairy Star Special Edition • Saturday, October 23, 2021 • Page 7

SDSU studies calf health issues Experiments look at water quality, effectiveness of postbiotics

By Jerry Nelson

jerry.n@dairystar.com

BROOKINGS, S.D. – Researchers at South Dakota State University are continuing to study a variety of factors that can help dairy farmers with raising calves.

A recent study looked into the effects that water quality can have on the health and growth performance of dairy calves. According to the study’s authors, poor water quality can negatively affect water’s palatability and consumption.

Heifer calves are some of the most selective and vulnerable animals on the dairy farm.

“Water availability and quality are essential to raising healthy calves,” said Dr. Maristela Rovai said. “Water is key in rumen development and keeping the calf hydrated.”

In an experiment carried out

by Rovia and other researchers, six weaned Holstein heifer calves were placed in individual pens. Each pen was equipped with ve identical water buckets that were arranged in a row.

The three center buckets were supplied with puried reverse osmosis water, city water and untreated well water from a local

dairy farm. The two end buckets were left empty to eliminate border effects.

The calves were given grass hay on a free choice basis and were fed ve pounds of commercial calf grower pellets twice a day. Water levels were checked three times a day, and water was added as needed.

Daily intakes of feed and water were recorded, and the position of each water was randomized every day for each heifer calf to help reduce position bias.

Wa t e r q u a l i t y w a s checked prior to the weeklong experiment. The reverse osmosis water was by far the softest at 17.60 milligrams per liter. Next came the city water at 249 milligrams per liter, while the dairy farm well water had a hardness of 964 milligrams per liter. The dairy farm’s well water also tested positive for E. coli.

The reverse osmosis water had only a fraction of the calcium, magnesium, sodium and sulfates that were found in the other two water sources.

During the experiment, it was found that the reverse osmosis water was consumed by the calves in the greatest quantity. In fact, ve of the six Turn to RESEARCH | Page 8

PHOTO SUBMITTED

(Above) Dr. Ahmed Salama and Dr. Maristela Rovia conduct an on-farm study to test the effec�veness of giving a daily dose of a postbio�c to newborn calves at a dairy in South Dakota. The goal of the experiment was to see if the postbio�c boosted the calves’ immune response.

PHOTO SUBMITTED

(Right) Dr. Maristela Rovai checks the height and weight of a heifer calf. The calf was part of an on-farm experiment that tested the immunological effects of a postbio�c that was administered on a daily basis.

SHE’S GOING TO GIVE YOU THE BEST YEARS OF HER LIFE. GIVE HER SOMETHING SIMPLE TO START.

Many productive days lie ahead. Optimal gut health, immunity and lifetime performance all start with just one gram per day.

Learn more at: DiamondV.com/SmartCare

SmartCare

Page 8 • Dairy Star Special Edition • Saturday, October 23, 2021

Con�nued from RESEARCH | Page 7

® Dynamint UDDER CREAM Use daily and watch herd health improve!

• Organic approved • Contains essential oils, including peppermint • Helps control and prevent edema, mastitis and infection

PHOTO SUBMITTED

Weaned calves are offered water that has varying levels of quality during a research trial at South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota. It was found that the calves preferred reverse osmosis water over city water and untreated well water from a local dairy farm.

Learn more about Dynamint Udder Cream on YouTube

800 776 7042 | coburn.com

UNIVERSAL FEEDER

ROUND BALE OR SQUARE BALE OR TMR FEEDING

CALL FOR PRICING

calves showed a clear preference for the reverse osmosis water. City water came in second and the untreated well water was found to be the least preferred.

On average, the calves drank nearly twice as much reverse osmosis water as untreated well water.

The researchers concluded that a reverse osmosis filtration system would encourage greater water intake by growing heifer calves in a situation where untreated well water is the only water source.

“Providing good quality water to livestock is a major challenge in the Midwest region, and water quality should be our focus when raising calves,” Rovai said. “Good management practices also include monitoring the calves’ water consumption.”

In another study, Dr. Ahmed Salama and Rovai looked at the possible

immunological benets of postbiotic usage in calves. The postbiotic contained bioactive ingredients produced during the fermentation process of lactic acid bacteria (probiotic) and non-bitter yeasts (prebiotic).

“The claimed benets of postbiotics as a feed supplement include better feed efciency, growth performance and an increase in natural resistance to diseases,” Rovai said.

The study was carried out on a local dairy farm. A group of 70 Holstein-Jersey heifer calves was evenly divided into two groups. Half of the calves began receiving a daily dose of the postbiotic Probisan at 3 days of age while the other half of the calves served as a control group.

The calves were all fed the Turn to RESEARCH | Page 9

Lange Ag Systems

NEED SOME FRESH AIR?

LANGE AG SPECIALIZES IN VENTILATION SYSTEMS FOR CALF & HEIFER BARNS DPOSITIVE PRESSURE TUBES - TRAINED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN DVENTILATION FANS DVENTILATION CONTROLS DCURTAIN SYSTEMS

Paynesville, MN

320-243-7552

JEFF LUEDERS 320.894.6282

WILLMAR, MN • 320.231.1470 www.LangeAgSystems.com

ConƟnued from RESEARCH | Page 8

PHOTO SUBMITTED

SDSU researchers observe the speed of healing aŌer dehorning in a control group of calves and in a group that had been given a postbioƟc. It was found that the calves that received the postbioƟc healed faster and had fewer infecƟons. same and were all nasally vaccinated with Inforce 3 at 9 weeks of age. At 16 weeks of age, nasal secretions were collected and analyzed for immune components.

Blood was also collected from the calves and challenged with E. coli and Salmo nella lipopolysaccharides. After being incubated for 3.5 hours, the blood’s plasma was harvested and checked for the immune response.

At the end of the study, there were no difference in the average body weight between the treated group and the untreated group. However, it was discovered that the nasal secretions of the treated calves had an increased level of immunoglobins. The lipopolysaccharides

Dairy Star Special Edition • Saturday, October 23, 2021 • Page 9

blood challenge also showed that the treated calves’ blood had a decreased inammation reaction. These results suggest that postbiotics might be used in the future as an alternative to antibiotic treatments.

An additional evaluation was conducted when the calves were dehorned.

At about 43 days of age, the 70 calves in the study were dehorned after being administered a general sedative and a nonsteroid anti-inammatory drug. The calves were closely observed for the next three weeks. The number of infections and the speed of wound healing were recorded.

At 10 days after dehorning, almost 50% of the calves in the control group showed signs of inammation at the wound site. Only 27% of the calves that were supplemented with Probisan suffered wound healing problems at that time. At 20 days after dehorning, the treated group continued to show a clear advantage regarding the number of infections and the speed of healing at the wound site.

Better healing of the wound sites in the calves that were supplemented suggests an improvement in immune response. These ndings highlight the usefulness of postbiotics in calves that are exposed to stressful situations or adverse conditions.

“As researchers, we are constantly trying to develop ways to prevent or treat diseases that affect livestock,” Rovai said. “The productivity, welfare and health of calves should be improved by management or feeding. The calf’s care is an integral part of obtaining healthy and productive dairy cows. When calves are well fed, they are in good health and well-being, producing more milk in future lactations.”

Calf Feeders For healthy growth of a new generation!

The DairyFeed J C400+, V600+ and V640+ calf feeders are professionally designed to support calf rearing at your agricultural operation. The automated feeders are computerized, giving you targeted control over all relevant data and enabling you to optimize daily nutrition for your calves from the day they are born.

BENEFITS: • Using the calf feeders reduces your workload • Calves grow healthily • Suitable for any herd size: one to four drinking boxes with teats designed for calves • Variable portion sizes as either powder or all-milk blends • Quick and easy: Link the calf feeders using DairyPlan 21 software

Ask Jon about the best solution for your operation!

Jon Stein 320-352-5762 • 1-800-342-2697 Henning Area 218-849-0211

DAIRY EQUIPMENT CENTRE AND SUPPLY INC.

40625 State Hwy. 28 • Just West of Hwy. 71 • Sauk Centre, MN

Give them the start of a lifetime.

The Yeast Probiotic of Choice

The Prebiotic of Choice

• Improves average daily gain • Supports rumen development by increasing starter intake ,PSURYHV ӾEHU GLJHVWLELOLW\

• Reduces risk of scouring events • Supports immune development • Inhibits impact of pathogens on the gut • Leads to reduced mortality

3KLOHR LV WKH DQLPDO KHDOWK GLYLVLRQ RI WKH /HVDӽUH JOREDO KHDOWK FDUH JURXS RI FRPSDQLHV 2XU GDLU\ SURGXFW SRUWIROLR RӽHUV QDWXUDO VROXWLRQV SURYHQ WR VXSSRUW LQWDNH LPPXQH IXQFWLRQ DQG IHHG HԀFLHQF\ LPSURYLQJ \RXU ERWWRP OLQH For more information please contact your local Phileo representative or call customer service at 877-677-7000 RU HPDLO LQIR#SKLOHR OHVDӽUH FRP

Page 10 • Dairy Star Special Edition • Saturday, October 23, 2021

Ventilation, sanitation key to raising calves Selz-Pralle Dairy sees great improvements in new facility

By Danielle Nauman danielle.n@dairystar.com

H U M B I R D , Wi s . – Planning and preparing for the future plays a pretty big role in managing any dairy farm. Like most other dairy farms, at Selz-Pralle Dairy near Humbird, Wis., those plans and preparations include a primary focus on the future generations: the calves that will make up the

milking herd for years to come.

Scott Pralle and Pam SelzPralle milk 500 registered Holsteins on their Clark County dairy farm. Their three grown children, Ryan, Jessica and Nicole, all continue to be involved in the home farm, despite all working off the farm in other ag-related jobs.

When it comes to caring for their calves, the Pralles believe in going all-out and striving for perfection. Sometimes that philosophy can make the current

DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR

Selz-Pralle Dairy family members – (from leŌ) David Trimner, Jessica Trimner-Pralle, ScoƩ Pralle, Pam Selz-Pralle, Nicole Pralle and Ryan Pralle – milk 500 cows on Selz-Pralle Dairy near Humbird, Wisconsin.

DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR

Calves at Selz-Pralle Dairy are raised in groups of four in their recently built posiƟve-pressure venƟlated calf barn. The groups are fed with mob-feeders from 2 weeks of age unƟl weaning.

situation feel frustrating and difcult. That is what Pam SelzPralle was experiencing several years ago.

At the time, the calves at Selz-Pralle Dairy were housed in a naturally ventilated calf barn, in individual pens. They were growing, but Selz-Pralle said she just did not feel like they

IS IT TIME TO EXPAND OR UPGRADE YOUR DAIRY OPERATION? Let our experienced team assist you with your permitting, compliance and engineering needs • Manure Management Plans (MMP) • Federal, State & County Permitting • Environmental Assessment Worksheets (EAW) • NRCS TSP Services • Construction Engineering Services • Crop Consulting • Construction SWPPP • Design & Inspection • Wetland Services • Concept Planning & Site Suitability

1700 Technology Drive NE Suite 130, Willmar, MN 56201

www.anezinc.com

320.235.1970

were performing up to their full genetic potential on twice-a-day feedings.

In an attempt to improve results, a third feeding was added. Daily gain increased, but other management issues reared their head. With the increased milk consumption, Selz-Pralle noted that the calves were

consuming less calf starter. The additional volume of liquid being consumed resulted in increased urine output, causing more wet bedding and more ammonia in the calves’ environment. The result was a drastic increase in Turn to SELZ-PRALLE | Page 11

Ask about the new “smart“ features!

GEA Automated Calf Feeders Healthy feeding of calves with less labor Customized, individual feeding is the key to success in modern calf management. With the rugged, programmable DairyFeed J-V600Smart or J-V640Smart automated calf feeding station, you can automate individual calf feeding, and record and monitor every calf from the very day it is born…helping you raise healthier calves with less labor. Spend your valuable time managing your calves, not simply feeding them. Ask about the new CalfApp and CalfCLoud tools today!

“One of the biggest benefits to us of having the automatic calf feeder has been being able to eliminate a person bottle feeding 90-100 calves twice a day. We are also able to wean the calves earlier and still produce larger calves at weaning since switching to the automatic calf feeder. Additionally, we have received great support from Fuller’s Milker Center.”

Hardscrabble Farms LLC Jerry Volenec Owner • Mike Spink Herdsman Montfort, WI • Calf Feeder installed April 2017

1-800-887-4634 (608) 723-4634

Dairy Star Special Edition • Saturday, October 23, 2021 • Page 11

ConƟnued from SELZ-PRALLE | Page 10

DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR

An old Ɵestall barn is used as a maternity area at Selz-Pralle Dairy near Humbird, Wisconsin. Prior to the new calf barn being built, this Ɵestall barn served as calf housing. pneumonia cases.

By nature, Selz-Pralle is a problemsolver, so she added fans to help increase air ow in the naturally ventilated barn.

She continued to nd that there simply was no way to move enough air at bedding level in the individual pens.

“We increased the intensity of our management practices to try to compensate for the limitations of the facility,” Selz-Pralle said.

Selz-Pralle said protocol became to treat any calf with indication of heavy breathing or a temperature in the range of 102.5 to 103°F. Calves presenting high temperatures were often a daily occurrence, and Selz-Pralle estimated that nearly three-quarters of her preweaned calves were being treated. Her frustration level continued to sky-rocket, and she decided that the only remedy would come from drastic change.

That change came in the form a

positive-pressure ventilation barn which was built in 2018. The Pralles made the decision to switch from raising their calves individually to utilizing group pens and mob-feeders.

The new barn was designed with 20 gated-pipe pens measuring 13.5 x 13.5 feet, 45 square feet each, to hold four calves. The base of the pens consists of draining rock, covered by a landscape barrier and topped with a layer of limestone gravel. The pens are bedded with straw, which the Pralles say they prefer over sawdust, as they feel sawdust holds more ammonia.

The barn is ventilated by positivepressure fans bringing air into the building; circulating fans placed above the pens push air downwards, bringing

insulation Single insulation 150 grams Double insulation 300 grams 3 sizes available Quick release buckles Machine wash & dry

uddertechinc.com 888.438.8683 *3M and Thinsulate are trademarks of 3M

qC+}vXm}

qC9T} vXm}

Turn to SELZ-PRALLE | Page 12

|$e} $}

WAR

lves Keep Your Ca

ROWING G & Y H T L A E H , M

fC%j a}

unrise Ag!

ith S this Winter w

CALF LF HUT HUTS TS & WARMERS

WATERERS

Many models d l available, il bl plus l a complete line of parts on hand including heat cables, thermostats, heaters, etc.

Starter & Grower Feed:

Heims, Purina, Hubbard, Vita Plus & Sunrise custom mixes

CALF JACKETS EAR TAGS BOTTLES PAILS BUNKS BALE FEEDERS GATES · MORE!

VACCINES: Calf Guard Inforce 3 Once PMH Triangle 10 Ultra Bac Bovi-Shield Gold DEWORMER: Safe-guard Ivermectin Eprinex Pour On Valbazen

0&UYN&}Q:&N} 0Y^U}@Nng:U}=::5} 0Y^U}5FbgFNN:^b}@^&FUb} 0Y^U bg&^0D} NFUb::5}Q:&N} =N&u}b::5} 4&g}DnNNb} ^F0:}DnNNb} bYw-:&U}Q:&N}

bYw}-:bg} bYw-:&U}DnNNb} bYw}=NYn^} bYw}\Nnb} &QFUY}\Nnb} bYw}FbYN'k:} rD:&gQF55b} rD:&g}@:^Q}Q:&N}

-::g}\nN\} 0&b:FU,:b} 0D::b:}b0^&\b} b&r 5nbg} =YY5}-w \^Y5n0gb} N&0gYb:} UYU?}5^w}QFNM} bn@&^ 5:ug^Yb:} rD:w}\^Yg:FU}\Yr5:^}

Minerals: Purina Wind & Rain, Hubbard, Heims, Crystalyx tubs

MILK REPLACER! We have

www.sunriseagcoop.com

LITTLE ROCK, MN 320-584-5147

PIERZ, MN 320-468-2168

LASTRUP, MN 320-468-2543

BUCKMAN, MN 320-468-6433

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK!

SV }V6 }c6 }sG }G) }V< } O$a1CHTA9_} 2} } 3ZiiZWd;;7} }B`(IW}.x ]`Z7o3id} /}dP(d3EIWB;`} #(R;`I3(}W(B}3Z 3ZR}

Sy }sG Gz{} KXCT}KXCTaXT} 2} } 3ZiiZWd;;7} }B`(IW}.x ]`Z7o3id} /}LLZEWdZW} #(R;`I3(W}(B3Z 3ZR}

V)hG[VsG6< } 8 KXCTaXT 2} 7(J`x}]Zt7;`d }>ZZ7}.x ]`Z7o3id} /}7L#(R;`I3(W(B3Z 3ZR}

! }! bg^::g bYngD }0Ygl*@:}@^Yp: }QU} } FAX: 651-268-2121 rrr &Q:^F0&U&@04 04Q}}

Page 12 • Dairy Star Special Edition • Saturday, October 23, 2021

ConƟnued from SELZ-PRALLE | Page 11 fresh air to the bedding level.

“This system was designed to provide an exchange of air at nose level every six to eight minutes,” Selz-Pralle said.

rst colostrum, followed by transition milk for the next two or three days. For the rst two weeks, newborn calves are housed individually before being moved into their group. Once introduced to the group, they are mob-fed, twice daily, receiving up to 8.5 liters of milk per day.

Tracking daily gain is one way the Pralles quantify how their calves are performing.

They look to reach a rate of gain of 1.8 to 2 pounds a day for the PAM SELZǧPRALLE, DAIRY FARMER rst two months. In months two through four, the goal is to reach The Pralles believe that colostrum 2.5 pounds per day.

Since building their new barn, the management is a priority in setting their calves up for success and Brix score all Pralles have enjoyed healthier calves, colostrum. At birth, the Pralles ensure that with fewer issues and less strenuous calves are fed one gallon of true colostrum management. Since moving in to the new within the rst 15 minutes of life. The barn, Selz-Pralle said her calf mortality second feeding consists of two quarts of rate has dropped to less than half a percent

“I like to get down to nose level, where the calves are laying, and make sure the air is truly fresh ...”

DANIELLE NAUMAN/DAIRY STAR

The recently built calf barn at Selz-Pralle Dairy features posiƟve-pressure venƟlaƟon, with ceiling fans pushing air downward to the bedding level. Calves are bedded with straw to prevent a buildup of ammonia.

CUSTOM-MADE HUTCHES

By Elrosa Lumber Company

CONTACT ELROSA LUMBER CO. FOR ALL YOUR BUILDING NEEDS...

• Calf Hutches • Dairy Barns Standard • Pole Barns 5-stall size • Hog Barns or call for • Remodeling custom • Houses • Decks sizes • Garages

320-697-5591

P.O. Box 140, Elrosa, MN

and her treatment rate has dropped to only 1%, as opposed to the nearly 75% rate she was dealing with in the older facility.

A somewhat unexpected benet that Selz-Pralle has witnessed is how well the calves do in the social grouping.

“They really learn from each other,” Selz-Pralle said. “They are typically eating 8 pounds of calf starter a day by weaning.”

Selz-Pralle says in her mind, the attention paid to both ventilation and sanitation is the key to the successes she has witnessed in the new calf facility.

“We are a little persnickety about sanitation,” Selz-Pralle said. “I like to

get down to nose level, where the calves are laying, and make sure the air is truly fresh; we clean the mob-feeders and nipples thoroughly after each feeding.”

Besides the results they see walking through the calf and heifer barns, the Pralles are also seeing results in the milking parlor, as the earliest group of calves raised in the new barn are nishing up their rst lactations.

“On average, the 2-year-olds who were raised in the new barn are outperforming our previous 2-year-old groups with increased production of about 12 pounds a day,” Selz-Pralle said.

Polydome is the Industry Leader in Animal Shelters MILK MASTERS

Designed to make mixing fast and easy

POLY SQUARE Multiple feeder options

All Polydome shelters are made from high-impact UV stabilized polyethylene making them light enough to move easily, yet sturdy enough to withstand the elements.

CALF WARMER

• Made from durable,medium density polyethylene • 24” Wide x 50” long x 45” tall; lower section 16” deep • Removable top section • Easy cleaning • Raised, slotted floor • Stainless steel support system • Ribbed bottom • Vent/Peep hole • Deluxe, high-performance, 110 volt, 2-speed heater

1-800-328-7659

• AG VENTURE FEED & SEED Watkins, MN • 320-764-9910 • FREUDENTHAL MFG. Medford, WI • 715-748-4132 • HWY FEEDS Platteville, WI • 608-744-2444 • GALEN FLICK Boyden, IA • 712-439-1359 • SHELDON POWER & EQUIP. Sheldon, IA • 712-324-4455 • INWOOD HATCHERY Inwood, IA • 712-753-4736

• ROBERT FAUST Strawberry Point, IA • 563-933-6561 • DAIRYLAND SUPPLY Sauk Centre MN • 320-352-3987 • LINDELL SALES & SERVICE Cannon Falls, MN • 651-258-4311 • LEEDSTONE Melrose, MN • 800-996-3303 • TESKE FARM SERVICE Avon, MN • 320-356-7211

• High-Impact Polyethylene • Easy to Clean • Heavy-Duty Drain Hose for Easy Dispensing • Large Filler Opening • 3-Blade, Plastic Mixing Propeller on 15 and 32-Gallon Models • Polyethylene Stand • Ground Fault Protected Cord • Conical Bottom for Complete Draining

PORTABLE MILK MASTERS The easy way to deliver milk replacer

• High-Impact Polyethylene Tank • Easy to Clean and Sanitize • Large Filler Opening • Heavy-Duty, Reinforced, Drain Hose for Easy Dispensing • Three-Way Valve for Mixing and Circulation of Milk • Welded Steel Frame Trailer

www.polydome.com • SIOUX NATION VET SUPPLY Marshall, MN • 507-532-3716 • PIERZ CO-OP Pierz, MN • 320-468-6655 • SE MN SILO EQUIPMENT St. Charles, MN • 507-932-4560 • RON MILLER Waconia, MN • 952-442-4808 • FLOODWOOD FARM & FEED Floodwood, MN • 218-476-2233

• BJERGA FEED Motley, MN • 218-352-6383 • FEDERATED CO-OPS Princeton, MN • 763-389-1567 • GORTER’S CLAY & DAIRY EQUIPMENT, INC. Pipestone, MN • 507-825-3271 • ADKINS EQUIPMENT Detroit Lakes, MN • 218-847-2079 • GERTKEN’S SALES Richmond, MN • 320-597-2207

• FARMER’S CO-OP Lafayette, MN • 507-228-8224 • NEW ULM FEED STORE New Ulm, MN •507-359-7500 • STEVE’S FEED Sleepy Eye, MN • 507-794-3831 • AGRI-TECH Watertown, SD • 605-882-7015 Brookings, SD • 605-692-0955 • GILMAN CO-OP CREAMERY Gilman, MN • 320-387-2770

Dairy Star Special Edition • Saturday, October 23, 2021 • Page 13

Attention

Dairy/Poultry Farmers: We have Corn Cobs for Premium Bedding & Feed Fiber

Calf Powder

• Ground sized to your needs • Cobs dried & clean

ATTENTION DAIRYMEN AND CALF RAISERS

Exremely Absorbant!

Other protein and fiber sources available!

GIVE RANDY A CALL TODAY

320-523-5120

www.beavercreektransport.com

FARM RAISED

SINCE 1965

0%

FOR 48 MONTHS* on select Mustang by Manitou skid steer loader models

PUSHING NG THE LIMITS OF AGRIBUSINESS AGRIB PERFORMANCE

Ready to work, Mustang by Manitou Compact Equipment comes standard with the right power PGGFGF VQ VCEMNG VJG DKIIGUV VCUMU $WKNFKPI KVU ſTUV UMKF UVGGT KP /WUVCPI D[ /CPKVQW loaders have pushed the limits of durability, setting new industry standards.

Calf raising can be fun times and also frustrating times and is one of the most important parts of a successful dairy operation. Those heifer calves are YOUR FUTURE!!!

And those bull calves are someone else’s future. So protect them with RECAL CALF POWDER!!!

RECAL CALF POWDER is a probiotic focused toward putting huge numbers of good bacteria into the digestive tract of that calf to overwhelm the bad bacteria. To produce high levels of vitamin B-12 naturally in the calf which in return boosts appetite, immune system, aids in reducing stress levels and boosts energy levels for a more energetic, healthier calf that wants to eat and perform. This leads to more fun times raising calves with less drug costs. Now RECAL Calf Powder is no magic powder – good management and protocols still have to be in place.

Advantages to feeding RECAL Calf Powder to Calves: • • • • • • • •

More aggressive calves Calves that want to eat Less scours and use of drugs Healthier calves Calves go to eating grain and drinking water sooner Earlier weaning Calves transition better at weaning Better growth

CHOOSE G E N U I N E

™

P A R T S

FOR YOUR MUSTANG EQUIPMENT

CALL YOUR AREA MUSTANG BY MANITOU DEALER TODAY! For more information contact:

RECAL Microbials, LLC *Limited time offer. Available at participating and eligible dealers only. Offer may vary by product type, series, model and select units in dealer inventory. Offers available on new equipment in US and Canada only. Some restrictions apply. Length of contract may vary. Prior purchases not eligible. See dealer for details. Financing provided on approval of credit by Manitou Finance (US/CDN) for well-qualified buyers. Administrative fees may apply. Offer not available to government accounts, national accounts and municipal/ utility bid customers. Non-commercial customers may not be eligible for low rate financing. Manitou Americas and Mustang by Manitou reserve the right to extend or discontinue any of these programs at any time without prior notice.

w w w . m u s t a ng -b y -m a ni t o u . co m

Jamie Troxel 330-601-2142 www.RECALmicrobials.com

Page 14 • Dairy Star Special Edition • Saturday, October 23, 2021

Quality heifers leads to quality cows Fetzers bring youngstock home

By Abby Wiedmeyer abby.w@dairystar.com

ELMWOOD, Wis. – Paul Fetzer, of Fetzer Farms, manages the family’s 1,400-cow dairy along with his two brothers, Steve and Joe. The brothers are the fourth generation to operate Fetzer Farms, and for the last six years they have focused on raising their own youngstock.

The decision to raise their own calves came after years of having their youngstock custom raised at several different heifer growers.

Somewhere between the year 2000 and 2005, Tuberculosis broke out in Minnesota, impacting the location of one of their heifer growers. The Fetzers had to test every animal before it came back to Wisconsin, and then quarantine them once they were home. Before taking the animals Paul Fetzer Elmwood, Wisconsin out of quarantine they had to be tested again. The whole process became very costly.

The Fetzers then worked with a local heifer grower to avoid all the Tuberculosis testing, but they ran into poor luck with some automatic

ABBY WIEDMEYER/DAIRY STAR

Heifers 100 days old up to 7 months of age are housed in a tunnel-venƟlated barn with direct drive fans at Fetzer Farms in Pierce County near Elmwood, Wisconsin. For the last six years, the Fetzers have raised all of their youngstock.

feeders.

The string of unfortunate events led the Fetzers to start experimenting with raising some calves at home.

They realized that the calves they raised were bigger at weaning age than the calves at the grower.

At rst, they only kept calves until they were weaned before sending them to a grower, but when a farm came

for sale only 12 miles from the home farm, the Fetzers decided it was time to raise the older heifers themselves too.

Currently, calves begin in calf huts at the home farm. They are fed pasteurized milk in bottles and stay in huts for about 100 days. The calves lay on a deep bed of chopped straw, with additional bedding added every week. Once weaned, calves move to

their rst barn.

The rst barn holds around 300 animals at a time. The group sizes grow as the animals get older. They start off in groups of eight to 12 and end up in groups of about 26 to 30.

The calves are brought in weaned, around 10 weeks, and stay until they Turn to FETZER | Page 15

We’ve Got Your Calf Care Covered!

Calf Hutches hes & Pens

Manure Spreaders

Tube Fans Ventilation Curtains

Manure Scrapers

Waterers

Oldest & Most Experienced Dealer In Central MN!

Headlocks & Feed-thru Panels

Call Us

320-836-2697

SESSIONS INCLUDE: Wet calf track/tour Reproduction track/tour Dairy x Beef track/tour General sessions to encourage and grow your business

TRADE SHOW INCLUDES: 80 exhibitors Specializing in dairy calf & heifer specific products

After Hours: 320-267-8568 310 Industrial Dr. Freeport, MN

www.calfandheifer.org

info@calfandheifer.org

Dairy Star Special Edition • Saturday, October 23, 2021 • Page 15

ConƟnued from FETZER | Page 14

are six or seven months old.

Four fans on the side of the barn and two on the end pull air in. Fans hang in between to keep air moving in one direction, and three fans on the end draw the air out. All fans are direct-drive and can be monitored from Chippewa Falls. Engineers and veterinarians work together to help manage the fans.

“What we found with the cornstalks is we use a lot less bedding since it’s so absorbant.”

PAUL FETZER, FETZER FARMS

“They’ve done a really fantastic job of helping us out and making sure things work up here,” Steve said.

Everything used to be bedded with corn stalks in the rst barn, but the

Fetzers found the younger calves were eating a lot of the stalks and getting upset stomachs. Now the younger calves are bedded with chopped straw, and the older ones are bedded with corn stalks. This has helped reduce exposure to clostridium and has kept the heifers feeling better and growing faster.

“What we found with the corn stalks is we use a lot less bedding since it’s so absorbent,” Paul said.

Calves are fed grower grain when they rst come to the barn and are transitioned to a TMR by the time they leave for the second barn.

The second heifer barn was built with slatted oors and manure storage underneath. By having the manure storage under the barn, they avoid rainwater getting added to the manure and land is not wasted by building a separate manure pit. They also save on equipment since they never have to go in and clean the barn. This results in less interruption to the animals, which

ABBY WIEDMEYER/DAIRY STAR

Heifers are housed in group pens aŌer weaning at Fetzer Farms near Elmwood, Wisconsin. The setup makes cleaning, bedding and feeding easy.

Turn to FETZER | Page 18

FIBERGLASS FENCING • GATES • FREESTALLS • FEED RAIL • FEED LOTS PATENT PENDING

New additive in our paint now prevents & protects against the growth of mold & mildew.

LOYAL FARM EQUIPMENT “I feel our calf program has been highlighted as one of the best in the country BECAUSE of our Agri-Plastics hutches! We raise a healthier calf that thrives in both individual and group hutches.”

.HOOL &XOO %XGMRQ )DUPV

Fiberglass freestalls offer a heightened level of comfort which can lead to an increase in milk production!

NEW PRODUCTS:

• All Solid Rail Fencing has a 20 year UV coating to prevent slivers, Colors available • Show Fencing & Pasture fencing • Cattle Panels & Continuous Fencing • 1’’ & 1-1/4 Electric Fence Post UV Protected •13% Chrome Post for Head Locks & Feed Rail • Guard Rail and Fiberglass posts.

• Lifetime warranty on our fiberglass products from rusting and rotting

“We built our new ABS Global Calf Facility in the summer of 2016. This was the first time we utilized anything except steel at one of our facilities and it was a hard sell to the staff. However, after meeting with Travis at TJ’s Fencing in Harpers Ferry, and having him bring a gate home to show the staff, we were sold. We utilize more than 200 different sizes of gates, all purchased from TJ’s Fencing and installed by Cliff’s Incorporated from Friesland, Wis. The gating is holding up very well. We intend to expand our calf facility this summer and will definitely continue utilizing TJ’s Fencing for the gating.”

- Jim Meronek, Health Assurance, Production and Supply Chain Director ABS Global, Inc., DeForest, WI

Ventilation for Calves

“These gates are very simple to take apart, like calf huts, only bigger.

We put 1-3 calves in a pen, which gets them accustomed to group housing. Ventilation is better for the calves having an open pen.We are very happy with our investment in the gates.”

- Top Deck Holsteins-Westgate, IA - Jason, Derek, Justin Decker “The stalls are very good, I’ve had the stalls 8 weeks and the cows adjusted to them right away. I see a big savings on bedding since installing the stalls.

I recommend anyone who is thinking about building a new freestall to take a look at these stalls.” - Don Buhr, Sumner, IA

“I feel good my investment will last a long time. I particularly like the bedding doors on the back of the group hutches.”

DUAL XL Raise healthier calves in heavier, better ventilated calf NEW! hutches! HUTCH • Designed for raising two calves • Promotes Call or visit us companionship and onlinecompetitiveness, today which research has proven to help achieve to learn more! optimal growth

Hwy. 76 • Harpers Ferry, IA

563-586-2023

www.tjsfencingcompany.com Email: tjfence@acegroup.cc

FAMILY OWNED FOR OVER 30 YEARS!

P.O. Box 40 Loyal, WI 54446

FREE 9 -Page Printed Catalog

1-800-472-2341

E-mail: info@loyal-roth.com Website: www.loyal-roth.com

Rugged Equipment ... Priced Right ... Since 1956!

Rug

Page 16 • Dairy Star Special Edition • Saturday, October 23, 2021

& YOUR NEW

DEALERS!

Contact us to learn more about MB Nutritional Sciences products! www.Leedstone.com

www.deluxeanimalhealth.com

109 North C Street | PO Box 303 | Sheldon, IA 51201 712.324.7000

Order/Customer Care:| 877.608.3877 Melrose, MN 56352 222 County Road 173 SE 800.996.3303

Glencoe, MN 55336 2580 9th Street E 877.864.5575

Plainview, MN 55964 24260 County Road 27 800.548.2540

Family & veterinarian owned since 1994.

Menomonie, WI 54751 1720 Freitag Drive 866.467.4717

Leo knew best

Leo had about 20 Holstein cows, and they were housed in a typical, circa 1940’s-style stanchion barn.

There was a pen in the corner where he raised baby calves. The time was 1981. A young, newly minted veterinarian often visited the dairy, sometimes to vaccinate the calves for Veterinary Wisdom brucellosis.

Leo’s calves were hardly ever sick. The pen was always well bedded with clean, dry, bright yellow straw. One day the young veterinarian asked Leo why his calves never got sick. “There is no secret, Doc; just make sure there is always lots of clean straw.”

All work, in any system, is done in a process.

By Jim Bennett A process is just a series of Columnist steps, that when completed, produce a result. Consistency, or compliance to the process, is important in producing the desired result. Leo may not have known anything about the science of process management, but he understood two things very well: The process needs to be correct, and the process needs to be performed consistently.

Raising baby calves is difcult because not having correct processes or not performing the processes consistently can result in disaster. So how do we dene correct calf raising processes and how do we ensure compliance to keep calves healthy and growing well?

First, understand that if we do not dene a process for any specic job, the person doing the job will develop their own. That is what Leo did. He likely developed and rened his processes over many years as he learned what worked for him.

On dairies today, it is often an employee that has to develop his or her own processes if the manager or owner has not done so. If you, as the employer, are lucky enough to employ a high achiever who

Dairy Star Special Edition • Saturday, October 23, 2021 • Page 17

will develop great processes and stick to them, good for you. However, sooner or later everyone moves on, and the next person that lls that position most likely will not be a superstar. Thus, the right way is to dene the processes before you hire that person.

How do we feed calves on this dairy? What are the exact steps? The answers to these questions should be detailed enough so that any reasonably intelligent human can understand and follow them.

Where do we nd such denitions? Well, most likely you already have them if you have a successful calf raising program. They just may not be written down. If not, ask your veterinarian for help. Many coops now employ calf specialists that can help you too.

Once you have the written processes, monitor the results. If the results are not what you expected, then one of two things is happening. Either the process is wrong or compliance to the process is incorrect.

For example, if your process is to feed a total of two quarts of colostrum, most experts will tell you that the result will be more disease and death, with lower growth rates. The process is not correct. However, if your process is to feed four quarts at the rst feeding and two more at the next feeding, that part of the process is probably correct. If you are still having too much disease and death, then perhaps someone is not actually doing what they are supposed to do.

Sometimes the problem is a combination of wrong processes and wrong compliance. You may have to use your detective hat to gure out the real problem.

Human beings seem to have a bias toward changing the process when results are incorrect. Perhaps you try a different milk replacer, or a new vaccination protocol, for example. While these might be good ideas, do you know if the current milk replacer is being fed according to protocol, or if the current vaccine process is actually being used? If not, changing will only introduce more variability into the system, and while it might improve results for a while, eventually it will produce poor results.

Second, we need to understand that one simply cannot foresee every future event that might affect a

process. What happens when the power goes out, or there is no water, for example? This means that simply writing down a process and trying to enforce compliance is not enough. Sooner or later every employee will need to make a decision that is not described in your process denition. The solution to this problem is in the “why.”

Why do we do it this way? What are we trying to accomplish? If employees understand why we do things a certain way they will hopefully make the right decision when something happens that was not anticipated. Employees make decisions on every dairy, every day, and most of the time, managers and employers have no idea about most of them. That is OK if processes are well dened, and employees understand the “why” of every process.

Finally, processes are not chiseled in stone. They will change. We learn new things. For example, at

R ii b Raising baby b calves l iis diffi difficult. l Some people are just really good at it, like Leo. one time we thought the right process was to gives calves two quarts of colostrum at birth. Now we know differently. We do not want to change a process that is working just to meet someone’s idea of a better process, though. Before changing, ask the question, “Are we getting the results we expect?” If so, then perhaps the results we expect could be better. If that is so, then the process can be modied. Otherwise, the process is best left alone.

Raising baby calves is difcult. Some people are just really good at it, like Leo. The rest of us, though, need dened processes and need to perform those processes correctly to have healthy, fast-growing calves.

Farming is a big job.

They’re built to make it look easy.

SSV75 & New R640 Durable Kubota engines Comfortable cabs

HOT DIPPED GALVANIZED

HEADLOCKS

Stop by for a great deal on Kubota wheel loaders and skid steers today.

• SSV75 skid steer delivers more productivity and comfort • Vertical lift is designed to deliver exceptionally long reach

• New R640 wheel loader offers more comfort, easy operation and power • Cabin designed for high-visibility

• Exceptional corrosion resistant protection • Swing arms can be locked in place, individually released with top flipper or full release with a twist of the handle/top bar

133 Atlantic Ave. NE Pennock, MN

320-599-4466

E Hwy 12 - Willmar

320-235-2717

haugkubota.com

KubotaUSA.com © Kubota Tractor Corporation, 2021. This material is for descriptive purposes only. Kubota disclaims all representations and warranties, express or implied, or any liability from the use of this material. For complete warranty, safety and product information, consult your local Kubota dealer. For the complete disclaimer, go to KubotaUSA.com/disclaimers and see the posted disclaimer.

Page 18 • Dairy Star Special Edition • Saturday, October 23, 2021

ConƟnued from FETZER | Page 15

is especially important in this barn since the heifers are breeding age.

Air ow is managed with fans and cupolas in the roof. When the pit gets agitated and pumped, every fan is turned on and garage doors are opened up. There was one bad winter when they had water lines freeze, but they were able to get everything thawed by shutting off fans, closing doors, and opening the cupolas.

“Within less than 12 hours we had everything thawed out and we were good to go after that, with no health issues,” Paul said.

One challenge the Fetzers dealt with in the second barn was over-active heifers. The younger animals would race each other and end up taking a corner too fast, thus getting a toe caught in the slat and sometimes losing it. To remedy this, they put up gates on either end of the pen to slow them down.

For a while the heifers were also fed a supplement that helped to calm them. They have since cut the supplement out to save money and have been ne without it. The extra gates remain in place.

“We run into virtually zero issues in this barn, now that we got rid of the racing,” Paul said.

Heifers are kept in the second barn until they are 160 days pregnant, and then they are taken back to the main dairy to calve.

After years of guring out what worked for them, the Fetzers have created a solid heifer raising system, which allows them to milk quality cows.

ABBY WIEDMEYER/DAIRY STAR

Paul Fetzer observes a calf that is housed in an individual pen at Fetzer Farms near Elmwood, Wisconsin.

Calves stay in individual pens unƟl weaned.

Take a break with us...

CALF WARMER

DairySt r Milk Break

SAVING ONE CALF PAYS FOR YOUR INVESTMENT! • Calf warmer comes complete with new MediHeat forced air heater, 10 ft. Tow Rope and 2 grates • 50” long, 26” wide 43” high. 85 lbs

Call for a FREE Catalog

Watertown, SD

Email maria.b@dairystar.com to receive our newsletter

1-800-658-3998

www.koehnmarketing.com

Minnesota’s L

ing Dealer nd l Ha

ar g

ng and Ma eedi nu F t re es

“We know Roll-O-Matic curtains last because we have them on other buildings, so it was an easy decision to choose them again for our calf barn. We like having the motors on the curtains for raising/lowering because it has made it easy to keep the barn at the correct temperature and keep out the draft.

The crew was also good to work with.”

Custom Àt to your new or existing building Motorized or Manual Options Highest UV inhibitor and lock stitch style sewing for longer curtain life Get the full value of air quality control curtains at the touch of a button

h

l

ou

New Vienna, IA

ion .

If y

Calf barn 450 feet

o wwave as m a e b v a a w.d rn, we h y.co airylandsuppl

ut

Brad Putz • Putz Dairy

HYDRA-SPREAD Manufactured by

minutes

Sizes Range From 285-550 Bu.

Most Models In Stock.

Service & Installation Available.

Parts On Hand.

SAUK CENTRE, OFF I-94 ON THE CORNER OF HWY. 28 & 71 SOUTH

Dairy Star Special Edition • Saturday, October 23, 2021 • Page 19

Ritchie® Fountains, Fountain Parts & Lifestock Equipment Available at Your Local Country Store Check your Ritchie® fountains to make sure they are working properly before winter. If you need to make any repairs, see us for fountains and parts. We carry several size fountains and a variety of livestock feeders.

Store: 601 6th Street, Howard Lake, MN 320.543.3517 info@munsonlakes.com 320.543.2561 www.munsonlakes.com

From concrete to install to service work and maintenance

SCHMIDT DOES IT ALL!

“The previous area where we had calves wasn’t user friendly. This has been a dream come true with both design and ease of use.

Day-to-day tasks are simpler and take less time.The calves are clearly happier which makes me happy.”

- Mark Steffes, Hillside Dairy

920.766.4622 8189 County Trunk Hwy D • Kaukauna, WI 54130

www.schmidtbuildings.com

Page 20 • Dairy Star Special Edition • Saturday, October 23, 2021

FRESH AIR Invented by Hampel’s Calf-Tel

WHERE AIRFLOW MEETS INNOVATION Well-ventilated calf housing is critical to the well-being of your herd. Without proper airflow, your calves would be at the mercy of major respiratory issues, heat stroke and long term health problems. How do we know this? We’ve seen it. And it’s the reason we were the first calf housing company to manufacture units with air flow channels built right in. Today, we offer the largest adjustable ventilation opening on the market for maximum airflow, breathability and comfort.

There’s a reason you know our name.

FOR MORE INFORMATION GIVE US A CALL (800) 558-8558, OR VISIT CALF-TEL.COM.