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YOUNGSTOCK
New born calves are tube
fed 3 quarts of colostrum within the first two hours of birth.
A second quart of colostrum feeding is given 12 hours after
birth with a bottle. New born calves are kept in a warming pen
1-2 days until they are drinking well then they are moved to a
hutch. All Fairmont Dairy calves are brought in once a week to
be raised at the farm. All calves are fed with 3 qt. bottles,
and have continual access to water and grain in their buckets.
Hutch calves receive 3 quarts of milk replacer for the first 14
days. An additional 2 quarts is added during the nighttime from
14-28 days. Week 5 we start decreasing milk feeding to
stimulate appetite for grain and calves are weaned at 7 weeks. We are constantly
working with our feeding program to achieve high rates of grain.
All of the young stock from both Fairmont Farm & Fairmont Dairy
herds are raised in East Montpelier on three facilities.
We are focusing more on top genetics to improve herd quality,
longevity and profitability. All calves are raised in
hutches outdoors and heifer calves are raised as replacements.
After weaning calves remain in hutches for 1 week and they are
moved to small group pens in the barn. Their calf starter is
formulated to be a starter and grower so there is no early
transition to another feed. TMR is introduced to them at
10 weeks.
Heifers leave the calf barn at approximately 5 months of age and
are moved to one of our 2 heifer facilities. Heat
detection begins at 13 months of age and the heifers are bred by
artificial insemination.
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