Strengthening the Foundation of Dairy and Dairy-Beef Systems
Animal Health Ireland (AHI) has launched a new practical blueprint designed to guide farmers through the critical first year of a calf’s life, reinforcing the sector’s focus on animal health, welfare and long-term productivity.
Developed in collaboration with the CalfCare Technical Working Group (TWG) and supported by Volac Milk Replacers – Feed For Growth, the booklet provides clear, evidence-based guidance from birth through to one year of age. Importantly, it is tailored for real farm conditions, supporting both dairy and dairy-beef production systems.
Practical, Farm-Focused Guidance
The guide, titled Healthy Calves: Your Profitable Future, breaks calf rearing into key developmental stages, offering actionable recommendations on nutrition, housing, health management and welfare. By translating research into practical steps, the resource aims to help farmers rear robust calves that develop into productive and valuable animals.
This approach reflects growing recognition across the dairy industry that early-life management directly influences lifetime performance, including growth rates, disease resistance and longevity.
Industry Collaboration Driving Progress
AHI emphasised that the guide builds on the significant progress already achieved by Irish farmers, highlighting strong collaboration between farmers, advisers, veterinarians and industry partners. The initiative demonstrates a shared commitment to continuous improvement, particularly at a time when calf welfare and mortality rates remain under scrutiny.
Dr Michelle McGrath, CalfCare programme manager at AHI, underlined that calves are the cornerstone of farm profitability across both dairy and dairy-beef systems. She stressed that diseases such as scour and pneumonia can affect all calves and that prevention through good management is essential for protecting both welfare and margins.
Focus on Health, Welfare and Longevity
Dr Catherine McAloon, herd health specialist at University College Dublin and chair of the CalfCare TWG, highlighted that calves receiving the best start in life show better health outcomes, stronger performance and longer productive lifespans. According to McAloon, investment in calf health during the first year delivers measurable returns across the animal’s lifetime.
Nutrition at the Core
Volac Milk Replacers described the guide as a timely and practical resource, particularly as producers face tighter margins and rising scrutiny around animal welfare. The company noted that nutrition during early life remains one of the most influential drivers of calf growth, immunity and future productivity.
A Strategic Tool for the Dairy Sector
As the dairy industry continues to align productivity goals with welfare expectations, structured resources such as this blueprint are becoming increasingly important. By standardising best practice and encouraging consistency on farms, the guide supports a more resilient, sustainable and profitable dairy sector.
