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Diet key at ‘daycare’ center

Lynn Grooms For Agri-View
Dec 4, 2023
Dec 4, 2023

1 of 4

J. Hall fills prepares bottles to feed calves. Dr. Kendra Wells, veterinarian, says Hall switched to bottles from feeding pails of milk. Bottle nipples provide slow release of milk, mimicking the natural release of milk from a cow's teats. That results in slower absorption and digestion of milk, which benefits calves, she says.

Lynn Grooms/For Agri-View

A truck is available to transport calves to and from customer farms to Hall's Calf Ranch. The ranch has a capacity to house as many as 8,600 calves.

Lynn Grooms/For Agri-View

Hutches provide calves access to fresh air and help prevent the spread of diseases, which is especially important when they’re coming from several different farms. At 10 weeks the calves have built immune systems and can be grouped into pens, J. Hall says.

Lynn Grooms/For Agri-View

J. Hall bottle-feeds one of the calves he's raising at Hall's Calf Ranch near Luxemburg, Wisconsin. Hall custom-raises calves for about 30 different clients.

Lynn Grooms/For Agri-View

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Lynn Grooms For Agri-View

LUXEMBURG, Wis. – A large daycare center is how J. Hall describes Hall’s Calf Ranch, the custom heifer-raising operation he owns near Luxemburg. He credits his mother, Sally Hall, with teaching him how to raise calves; he’s since shared those lessons with his calf-care team. At full capacity they provide care for as many as 8,600 calves.

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Lynn Grooms of Grooms Communications is an independent writer residing in Mount Horeb, Wisconsin. She enjoys writing about farmers, farming practices, and other subjects related to food and agriculture.