Are you feeding your calves enough to unlock their full potential?

In this episode, you’ll hear what the latest research says about early calf nutrition, and why feeding more milk before weaning can help your heifers hit growth targets sooner and produce more milk later. 

You’ll also hear from Canterbury farmer Cam Henderson, who’s made the shift to ad-lib feeding. He shares what’s changed, what surprised him, and how the costs stacked up. 

But this isn’t just about ad-lib systems. DairyNZ’s senior animal care specialist Penny Timmer-Arends shares other feeding approaches that achieve similar results. She discusses the principles behind calf growth, and how to weigh up the trade-offs and choose what fits your farm. You’ll also hear about the risks and how to manage them.

Download the Calf Rearing guide

Feeding milk to calves | DairyNZ

Read more:

‘Feeding more often feels natural and important to me’ | DairyNZ

Good as gold: the calves who feed themselves | DairyNZ

Laying the right foundation | DairyNZ

Inside Dairy - More milk, healthier calves, stronger heifers | DairyNZ 

Have feedback or ideas for future episodes? Email us at talkingdairy@dairynz.co.nz

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