Group-Housed Dairy Calf Systems
A Symposium for Producers and Advisors
December 1, 2011
Doubletree Hotel
Syracuse, New York
This event received overwhelming interest and was very well received. Proceedings and presentations are available by using the link at the left.
Parts of this topic will be presented at the Winter Dairy Management series (February 2012) and the Northeast Dairy Producers Conference (March 7-8, 2012).
Information will be posted at www.ansci.cornell.edu/prodairy as agendas are finalized.
We thank you for your overwhelming interest!
Newborn calves are infants and a social animal. While we cannot perfectly emulate the beef cow with her calf in a herd on pasture, we can mimic the critical number of feedings and social needs of these young bovines thanks to pioneering dairies that are making group housing work. Newer technologies such as autofeeders (robots), stabilized (acidified) milk self feeders, positive pressure directed ventilation and some promising negative pressure ventilation systems have allowed this advancement to flourish. Investment financial risk is minimized due to substantial labor savings with these systems. A broad range of housing options from retrofits to testing system in an older facility and migrating to a purposed new facility will be represented among the Producer Panel members.
More information on free-choice milk feeding in group housing can be found in the following articles: