Author Archives: Brooke Vanderloop

Knowing what to do in the maternity pen is one thing, but actually doing it, and convincing others to do it is another. To follow up on our last post about what a clean maternity pen environment should look like, in this post we are going to talk about how to get it there andContinue reading “Get your Maternity Pen People on Board”

There are many things to keep in mind when the heat and humidity ramp up and settle in. The cool nights of early summer are gone and now it’s just HOT. The heat can be a positive thing, after all, a calf’s thermal neutral zone is between 50F-80F, making it less stressful on young calvesContinue reading “Beat the Heat & the Bacteria”

How often are you calibrating your equipment? When is the last time you checked your milk distribution system to be sure you are feeding the proper amount? When is the last time you calibrated you auto feeder to be positive the amount of water and replacer is correct? Have you checked to make sure yourContinue reading “Consistency is in the Calibration”

Positive pressure tubes can be a great addition to any indoor calf barn, but there are many things you need to know before you add them to your facility. They are not and install and never touch again product. PPTs need to be properly designed, installed, and managed to be used to their full potential.Continue reading “Positive Pressure Tubes – It’s Not Install and Ignore.”

Pasteurizers can be a great tool in any calf program, but they still require spot on management to be successful. There are many things to look at when deciding if a colostrum pasteurizer is the right tool for your farm. Today we are going to discuss a common issue I see with water bath pasteurizers.Continue reading “How Clean is Your Colostrum Pasteurizer?”

Year Plan – Complete Calf Program (~Best Value~) Program spread over one-year time frame Initial Visit Questionnaire Monthly Farm Visits Sanitation Audit Taking blood samples Spot checking colostrum management Recapping last month’s goals and creating next month’s goals Maternity Pen All protocols Written Printed Laminated Posted Employee training Videos One on One Quarterly meetings ColostrumContinue reading “Calf Barn Consulting Services”

Everyone preaches about this concept. You see it in every newsletter, every post, on every company’s website about calf raising, they might as well write it right on your forehead if you raise calves, am I right? That’s nice and all, but what does that ACTUALLY mean? Because when people just keep saying something toContinue reading “Say “Sanitation” One More Time”

You just built an absolutely beautiful new calf barn. Everything is spotless and pristine. You are so excited for this upgrade! Finally, no more feeding calves in the harsh elements. Just as you and your calves get settled in and start to get into a routine, things start to slip. You’ve never had problems likeContinue reading “When the New Wears Off – Transitioning Calves Indoors”

Navel infections are tricky. They can go undetected for long periods of time and wreak havoc on your calf raising goals and plans. Like Greta Halahan of Singing Brook Dairy said, “navel infections are creepers, they sneak up when you least expect them to and cause trouble.” We agree! We had it happen to us justContinue reading “Navel Issues Unraveled”

Many dairies will cool their colostrum outdoors in the winter. It makes perfect sense, you don’t have to warm up the freezer, you don’t have to take up space, the bags can dry out from being in the pasteurizer, it cools it quickly (depending on the outside temperature, of course), and it uses less energy.Continue reading “Cooling Colostrum as the Weather Heats Up”