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The milk-feeding period is a front and center welfare concern, as well as a huge economic opportunity for producers and veterinarians alike. Calf nutrition has progressed from a simple, one-size-fits-all approach to a more sophisticated understanding of the role that early nutrition has in health and future productivity. Still, calves are the only age group where it is not routine to have a nutritionist who formulates the diet, provides feedback and evaluation of animal performance, and is responsible for outcomes of the program. Veterinarians could step in to provide this service. In this presentation, I discuss what incorporating calf nutrition into a dairy practice might look like, as well as some tools available to help accomplish it. Topics discussed include the role and economic value of improving early feed efficiency; research on the value of early nutrition for health and future productivity; and tips and strategies to implement increased milk feeding programs, including starter and weaning management.
J.K. Drackley (Fri,) studied this question.