Episode 303 - Improving Calf Health: What Total Serum Protein Levels Are Telling Us - UMN Extension's The Moos Room

Abstract

In this episode, Brad shares insights from recent dairy science meetings and dives deep into total serum protein (TSP) levels in calves—a key indicator of successful colostrum management and passive transfer of immunity. He reviews data from multiple studies, including work by Dave Casper in Illinois and a Midwest study on beef-on-dairy cross calves. The results show improvements in TSP levels over time, but highlight that a significant number of calves—especially male and crossbred calves—still arrive at calf ranches with low TSP and signs of poor health. Brad also shares findings from University of Minnesota research, including a 20-year dataset from Waseca involving nearly 6,000 Holstein calves, showing correlations between TSP, growth rates, and calf survival. He questions the rigid cutoffs for TSP and emphasizes a more nuanced view based on outcomes like average daily gain and long-term milk production.The episode wraps with details on two upcoming calf care workshops in Minnesota this summer (July 29 in Rochester and August 5 in Eden Valley) where farmers, consultants, and educators can learn about colostrum management, TSP testing, pain mitigation, and more. Calf Care Workshop - Tuesday, July 29, 2025, Rochester, MN (https://extension.umn.edu/event/calf-care-workshop-rochester); Calf Care Workshop - Tuesday, August 5, 2025, Eden Valley, MN (https://extension.umn.edu/event/calf-care-workshop-eden-valley).