What bottlenecks prevent calves from reaching their genetic potential? How can data help you identify trends and make informed calf health and management decisions? What tools can make it easier? Join Wayne Worden, farm performance consultant with VAS and Dr. Mike Nagorske, director of veterinary technical services and research with SCCL, as they share practical tips and real-world examples of how to level up your calf care using actionable data.

In his role at VAS, Wayne works closely with 300 dairies across the Northeast, from New York to Virginia and other New England states – ranging in size from less than 100 to over 5,000 head. Before joining VAS, he worked as a herd manager on his family’s dairy farm. He still helps on the farm in his free time with embryo and reproductive work. Wayne graduated from Cornell University in 2009 with his bachelor’s degree in dairy science.

Dr. Mike uses evidence-based approaches paired with challenge and influence research to help calf raisers. He enjoys consulting on dairy farms and beef cow/calf businesses across the U.S. and globally. Before becoming the director of research for SCCL, he worked on the veterinary services team at Trans Ova Genetics. He grew up on a grain and cattle farm in southwestern Minnesota. Today, their farm consists of corn, soybeans and registered Angus seedstock cattle. He earned his doctor of veterinary medicine and bachelor’s degree in veterinary science from the University of Minnesota.  

VAS is focused on your dairy’s future with software and information solutions that help collect and connect your farm’s data. Contact your local farm performance consultant or reach out to VAS’ support team to see how herd management solutions can take your calf program to the next level. Visit VAS.com for more.

Here is the episode breakdown:

• 0:43 – Wayne and Dr. Mike introductions
• 3:01 – Common management bottlenecks
• 7:52 – How to analyze data trends to make decisions
• 11:45 – Avoid the data overwhelm
• 15:32 – Tools to make data recording easy
• 20:38 – Working with a heifer grower
• 24:10 – Tips to track success
• 26:30 – One piece of advice

This episode is sponsored by VAS.