The decisions you make today will impact your kids and grandkids. It is important to make the right decisions today so that the next generation will have a good, stable foundation to build upon. The same goes for our breeding decisions – the sires you AI to this year will affect the future of your program and the future of your dairy for many years to come.
Every Calf Crop Counts More Than Ever
With cattle prices at an all-time high, it is not feasible to go out and buy truckloads of fresh heifers for most dairymen. Therefore, every calf crop and set of heifers are of even more importance to your dairy than ever before – they are your next generation.
With that being said, we need to make sure we treat every calf crop like our livelihood is depending on them, because let’s face it – they are.
The First Few Months Are the Most Crucial
From the day they are born, the race is on. The first few months of a heifer calf’s life are the most crucial. Just like bad feet or weak udders can easily creep into the milking parlor from poor breeding decisions, so can scours and sickness.
According to a recent study done by Swedish researchers, heifer calves that get scours in the first month of their life give up about 760 lbs of milk in their first lactation. That means the milk check in the mail 20 months from now depends on how well this set of calves currently in your calf barn are taken care of.
It Starts With Housing and Environment
Yes, that starts by making sure they have the proper amount of colostrum and care from their dam – but it leads right into their housing and environment that they will spend the next couple months in.
It has been proven that calf scours bacteria will stay in the ground for months to years at a time, which is often why people are so worried about buying bottle calves from sale barns. So if you put your next generation of calves into a facility where another calf has been sick, you’re just asking for trouble.
Why ADA Enterprises Plastisol Coated Calf Flooring Makes a Difference
This is why for more than 50 years, ADA Enterprises’ plastisol coated flooring has been such a tremendous asset for farmers worldwide. Let’s break that down – our antimicrobial calf flooring and calf stalls are fully coated in plastisol that contains an antimicrobial agent which inhibits the growth of 99.9% of bacteria found on your farm.
While it won’t cure scours, it will prevent the spread of bacteria amongst your calves, making it a whole lot healthier option than the ground or wood flooring.
The Solution for Your Calf Barn
We sell flooring for the bottom of your calf hutches as well as flooring for your concrete-slabbed barns and individual stalls – so that you can sleep at night knowing you’re leaving a legacy for the next generation.
Contact us to figure out more about how our product can help you.
Jake Couch – (641) 390-3387
