2023 December Board Book

2024 – 2025 Evaluation of Protocols for Acidifying Milk Fed to Calves in California Researcher: Dr. Richard Periera, UC Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine 2024 Budget: $30,710; CMAB REQUEST $23,033 2025 Budget Request: $4,290 Background: Many critical differences exist in management between group/paired and individually housed calves, which can have direct impacts on animal health, well-being, and productivity if not properly considered with evidence-based data. Acidification of milk has been used on some farms to address challenges with feeding calves in group-housed systems, by giving them 24-hour access to milk in an automated feeding system.

The overarching objective of this project is to evaluate protocols for acidifying milk to be fed to calves (e.g., saleable, or unsaleable waste milk) to increase the ability to offer sufficient feed to calves in a group system in CA conditions. Industry Benefit: This project will generate laboratory-tested data for various simulated scenarios and serve as a foundation for acidifying milk for con ducting live animal field trials evaluating using free-access acidified milk under farm conditions in CA. Such a feeding system could address major challenges to maintaining animal health and feed availability under group/pair housing systems. This is based on a previous study showing improved health, and greater body weight gain and structural growth during the pre-weaning period for calves fed free-access acidified milk replacer. The results could generate practical data for dairy farmers to feed calves in a group or pair housing facility at reduced cost/losses.

INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH

2024 California Dairy Quality Assurance Program (CDQAP) Researcher: Dr. Michael Payne, UC Davis Western Institute for Food Safety and Security (WIFSS) 2024 Budget: $313,679; CMAB REQUEST $235,259 (Budgeted in Environmental Management)

Background: Now in its 25th year, CDQAP has long established itself as a leader – working with the California dairy industry, subject-matter experts, and regulatory partners to deliver up-to-date, scientifically based infor mation and tools that support producer efforts in addressing environmental stewardship, dairy food safety, animal care, and farm security. The resulting on-farm practice improvements enhance dairy industry sustain ability efforts and support consumer confidence.