Ask the Expert Virtual Speaker Series

The 2022 Ask the Expert Virtual Speaker Series was designed to connect busy producers with leading experts on young calf, veal cattle, and business management.

Session 1

Feedlot disorders: Acidosis, bloat, founder, etc.

Dr. Drew Vermeire, Ph.D., PAS, Dipl. ACAN
Nouriche Nutrition LLC

Ruminal acidosis is a common metabolic disorder that has significant economic implications in the grain-fed veal industry. Learn more about what causes acidosis, recognizing the signs, and how to reduce instances of bloat, founder, and liver abscesses in this talk with Dr. Drew Vermeire, as he shares the real key to prevention and why viewing management practices through the lens of maintaining rumen pH can help avoid feedlot disorders, improve cattle performance and lower cost-of-gain.

Session 2

Welcome to DairyTrace

Melissa Hurst, DairyTrace Program Manager
Lactanet Canada

DairyTrace is an important program that can be used as part of an effective livestock traceability system. This presentation will be an introduction to the DairyTrace program, and the many benefits you as a veal farmer can receive. Melissa will share how to use the DairyTrace portal, and the additional projects being worked on within the program.

Re’veal’ing your cost of production

John Molenhuis, Business Analysis and Cost of Production Specialist
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

2022 looks to be another year of unpredictable market and input prices. This session will work through the process of calculating your cost of production and how using it can be an important tool to help farms manage through these times.

Session 3

Considering alternative milk replacer options to save on feed costs

Amanda Kerr, MSc., Senior Nutritionist & QA Lead
Grober Nutrition Inc.

The gold standard of a milk replacer has long since believed to be an all dairy protein base, with no added plant components, either protein or carbohydrate. However, plant protein sources are generally less expensive than dairy protein ingredients. When first introduced for use in milk replacers, alternative proteins, namely soy flours, had very poor results, and thus, the use of plant proteins in milk replacers tainted. Consider a set of scales – on one end of the balance is calf performance, and on the other end, feed cost. With good science and proper formulation, plant proteins can be included into a milk replacer to strike that perfect balance of calf performance and feed cost savings.

Calf insights: How to collect, analyze, and take action on calf data to maximize gains, reduce morbidity, and optimize lifetime output

Dr. Kristen Edwards, B.Sc.H, D.V.M
Tavistock Veterinarians

Dr. Kristen Edwards developed a calf-focused herd health program, which has now had over 1900 calves enrolled. This presentation aims to provide a review of what the program entails, discuss data trends, and provide key takeaways for making data-driven decisions to improve calf health, growth, and lifetime production on your farm.