Healthy Calf Conference returns with ideas for healthier, more profitable calves

Popular biennial event brings research from the lab to the farm

By Lilian Schaer for Veal Farmers of Ontario

With calf prices remaining historically strong, the cost of losing a calf — or failing to maximize its performance — is higher than ever.

Getting colostrum management right, fine-tuning nutrition or catching health problems earlier can improve calf performance while reducing treatment costs. That’s why this year’s Healthy Calf Conference is focused on delivering practical research and proven on-farm solutions producers can start using immediately.

The conference, hosted by Veal Farmers of Ontario (VFO), will take place November 18 in Stratford with a livestream option for those who can’t attend in person. This year’s event also marks VFO’s third decade of bringing together researchers, veterinarians, and producers to share the latest advances in calf health, nutrition, and welfare.

“We’ve always believed that getting research results out to farmers is as important as the research itself,” says VFO Executive Director Patrick MacCarthy. “The Healthy Calf Conference is about taking the latest science and turning it into practical management ideas that producers can use right away, whether they’re raising veal cattle, dairy replacements or starting calves for the dairy-beef sector.”

Research that tackles today’s challenges

The morning opens with a series of University of Guelph research presentations exploring topics ranging from colostrum management and calf immunity to dairy-beef cross calves and sickness behaviour. Sessions will look at new discoveries about colostrum beyond antibodies, what current research says about delivering the right amount of immunoglobulin (IgG) in a calf’s first feeding, maternal antibodies related to bovine leukemia virus (BLV), sickness behaviour in calves, and management strategies for the rapidly growing population of dairy-beef cross calves.

From research to the farm

The conference also emphasizes practical management.

Veterinarian Dr. Rachel Budd will present a practical “DIY Vet Work (Calf Edition)” session built around real-world health scenarios. Using case studies, she’ll help producers recognize common calf health problems, decide what can safely be managed on the farm, know when veterinary support is needed, and discuss practical prevention and treatment options that can improve outcomes.

The afternoon continues with updates on Ontario cattle health trends from Dr. Cynthia Miltenburg of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Agribusiness (OMAFA), followed by new research on optimizing fibre in calf starter diets from Dr. Hanne Goetz.

The keynote presentation by Dr. Kristen Edwards focuses on helping producers use calf health records to identify recurring problems before they become costly.

MacCarthy says every session has been planned with one question in mind: What can producers take home and use?

“We’re proud to invest in research that supports the future of our industry and gives farmers practical outcomes they can put to use in their operations right away,” he says. “If they leave the conference with one or two changes they can make that improve calf health or reduce losses, we’ve done our job.”

Learning beyond conference day

The conference also reflects VFO’s ongoing investment in calf research and knowledge transfer, including the release of an updated Cost of Production tool earlier this year together with OMAFA.

Every registered participant will receive access to an online portal containing presentation recordings and calf care resources. VFO has also expanded its on-demand learning with additional webinars and a new podcast mini-series that complements the conference program. One featured webinar, presented by Alberta livestock handling specialist Jennifer Woods, focuses on humane and effective handling of young calves.

More than a conference

Early registrants will receive a complimentary calf pail, while all in-person participants will receive a calf weigh tape sponsored in part by Farmers Depot. The event also includes a trade show, a hot lunch, and time to network with researchers, veterinarians, and industry representatives.

“One of the biggest strengths of the Healthy Calf Conference is bringing everyone together,” says MacCarthy. “Producers get the chance to talk directly with researchers, veterinarians, and fellow farmers who are all working toward the same goal: raising healthier calves. Those conversations during breaks and over lunch are often just as valuable as the presentations themselves.”

An opportunity to learn and connect

As calf values remain high, the conference offers producers a chance to compare ideas, hear the latest research, and return home with management practices they can put to work immediately.

The Healthy Calf Conference will be held Wednesday, Nov. 18 from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Arden Park Hotel in Stratford, with a livestream available for online participants. Registration details are available at calfcare.ca.