Caring for Calves – A Hands-On Learning Opportunity!

SOUTHWEST, NEW YORK (March 12th, 2025) – Caring for transition heifers can be an expensive part of the dairy farm, so it’s important that farm owners and employees have the best tools and most up-to-date information. Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Southwest New York Dairy, Livestock & Field Crops Program (SWNYDLFC) is partnering with Cornell University’s PRO-DAIRY team to offer a Transition Heifer Calf Program on Monday, March 24th from 10am – 3pm. This local event will be held at Telaak Farms in Mansfield and will be a part of a larger statewide series.

Dairy producers are invited to attend this interactive event and bring their farm employees to improve their farm’s transition calf care. The program will be offered in both English and Spanish and will include lunch. Registration is $25/person. Topics will include:

Helping calves transition nutritionally from milk to solid feed

Transition calf health

Managing your heifer inventory

Best practices in housing management

“Dairy replacement heifer inventory is at the lowest it has been since 1978 according to the recent USDA Cattle Inventory report,” says Katie Callero. “With that in mind, we want to make sure farmers in our region are educated on best transition management practices so they can maximize the potential out of their heifers. Our heifer calves can often become low priority with all the other challenges on the farm, but I am hoping this workshop will help our farmers remember that these heifers are the future of their farm.”

For more information, or to register, visit SWNYDLFC’s event page on their website: swnydlfc.cce.cornell.edu or contact CCE SWNYDLFC’s Dairy Management Specialist, Katie Callero by emailing krc85@cornell.edu or by calling 607-422-6788.

SWNYDLFC is a partnership between Cornell University and the CCE Associations of Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, and Steuben counties. Their team includes Katelyn Walley, Farm Business Management (716-640-0522); Amy Barkley, Livestock Management (716-640-0844); Katelyn Miller, Field Crops Specialist (716-640-2047); and Katie Callero, Dairy Management Specialist (607-422-6788). 

For more information about Cornell Cooperative Extension, contact your county’s Association Executive Director. Allegany County – Laura Hunsberger, lkh47@cornell.edu or 585-268-7644. Cattaraugus County – Kelly McDonald, kmm525@cornell.edu or 716-699-2377. Chautauqua County – Emily Reynolds, eck47@cornell.edu or 716-664-9502. Erie County – Diane Held, dbh24@cornell.edu or 716-652-5400. Steuben County – Tess McKinley, tsm223@cornell.edu, or 607-664-2301. 

Last updated April 18, 2025