Getting the results you want from dairy calves relies on how you feed them. According to Minnie Ward, Feedworks USA technical calf specialist, some producers feed a bag of milk replacer and hope for the best. Ward, who consults on calf care across the country and has her own custom calf-raising operation, notices considerable variation in the way calves are fed. When she sees a program that relies on guesswork instead of strategy, she knows the calves pay the price — and ultimately, the farm does, too. 

To help producers give their calves a healthier start, Ward says it doesn’t have to be complicated. In a recent Progressive Dairy article, she addresses the math behind calf nutrition, how producers can influence calf health and average daily gain, and why calf hydration matters.