Meet the Experts

Ann Mesman, Calf and Heifer Specialist

California

"I am a former Cargill customer and I saw a huge improvement in my own animals. I am excited to be a part of this team, because I believe our company is doing great things in our industry. Now, I get to help producers raise a better quality animal and reach their calf and heifer goals!"

Jennifer Wiley, Calf and Heifer Specialist

Wisconsin & Central U.S.

"HerdFirst™ will benefit each of my customers differently depending on their goals.  Some may experience better palatability, performance, consistency or economic savings. There are so many unique ways to successfully raise calves and heifers, and I love brainstorming with farmers to formulate what works best for their business."

Nicole Colgren, Calf and Heifer Specialist

Michigan & Central U.S.

"I have a passion for helping producers build their future herd. Our team is helping producers design a program that is easy to follow, consistent in quality and backed by technical support." 

Ashley Audet, Calf and Heifer Specialist

Vermont & New England

"I’m excited to have the HerdFirst™ line of products to offer to dairy producers. We’re aligning the nutritional needs of the animal with the current and future needs of the operation."

Jess Arnott, Calf and Heifer Specialist

New York

"HerdFirst™ is a whole systems approach that doesn’t just focus on one stage of life.  We want to see well performing calves continue that high performance as heifers, that then successfully transition into the lactating stage. For me, the reward is looking back at where a dairy was compared to where they are now, and knowing that we had a part in helping their business!"

Gary Moore, Calf and Heifer Specialist

New York and New England

"I enjoy the immediate results we get when we find a solution to an issue on farm, and making products that fit your needs. But my favorite parts of this job are the people I get to work with and seeing good calves grow into great cows!"

Alyssa Dietrich, Calf and Heifer Specialist

Pennsylvania & Mid-Atlantic U.S.

"With HerdFirst™, we are considering the whole picture. It’s not just about the pre-weaned calves, saving the most money, etc. We’re listening to you and your unique goals and abilities, and showing you how you can use our program to get to those goals most effectively."

Jillian Green, Calf and Heifer Specialist

Michigan, Indiana and Ohio

"Calves are the cornerstone of the dairy farm’s future and I enjoy helping mold that future alongside our nutritionists. Our products have always spoken for themselves scientifically, and our nutrient focused technologies give your calf and heifer program an edge."

Mitigating Heat Stress in Calves

By Alyssa Dietrich, Calf and Heifer Specialist

When summer rolls around thoughts of the beach, family barbeques, and fireworks usually do too, but something else that should be top-of-mind is the increased risk of heat stress in calves. Rising temperatures can propose significant consequences on growth and health, as calves undergoing heat stress are expending their energy to stay cool.

While in the heat of summer, it is important to be aware of what you can do as a caregiver to help mitigate heat stress in your calves. Providing your calves with a cool, dry environment, and ensuring they are hydrated will go a long way in preventing heat stress. 

Read more. 

3 risks of heifer overcrowding and how to fix them

Kate Cowles for Progressive Dairyman (originally published on December 29, 2017)

Being aware of some of the major risks that can result from overcrowding heifers is essential to managing them effectively. Implementing mitigation strategies early on can help prevent the situation from taking a negative toll that will ripple into future lactations.

Read more. 

Save money by managing scours.

By Alyssa Dietrich, Calf and Heifer Specialist (originally published on April 12, 2018)

For decades, scours has been on record as the most common cause of death for preweaned dairy calves. Beyond the economic loss from death, scours increases treatment and labor costs, and reduces growth rates, thus affecting future production. It has been determined that for each day a calf is sick in the first four months of life, it costs her an estimated 278 pounds of milk in the first lactation, and each pound of preweaning average daily gain is worth an estimated 850 pounds in the first lactation.

Read more.