Consistency Creates Champions: Building High-Performing Calf Programs
Turning Early-Life Decisions into Lifetime Performance
Peggy Coffeen sat down with Dairy Calf & Heifer Association board members Jim Van Patter and Rodolfo Nava to discuss what truly determines long-term success in calf and beef-on-dairy programs. From colostrum management to team execution, the conversation centers on consistency, nutrition and leadership that drives measurable results.
The First 24 Hours Set the Trajectory
Van Patter makes it clear that everything begins with colostrum.
“If you don’t get that right, you’re already behind.”
Quality, quantity and timing are non-negotiable. Both he and Nava emphasize that calves must receive proper colostrum within the first hours of life to protect health and maximize genetic potential.
Beyond colostrum, early transition nutrition plays a growing role. Van Patter shared how implementing transition milk supplementation improved average daily gain and reduced scours and lung challenges.
Investing more in the first 75 to 90 days, he explains, creates stronger, more productive animals down the road.
Nutrition Must Match Genetic Potential
Both leaders stress the importance of a high plane of nutrition.
Van Patter advocates for whole milk and three-times-per-day feeding when systems allow. That added consistency in feeding frequency has helped move daily gains from 1.8 pounds to over 2.3 pounds in his program.
“You can buy the oil filter or you can buy the engine,” he says, referencing the importance of investing early.
Nava agrees, noting that feeding programs must be precise and repeatable. From water temperature to solids concentration, small inconsistencies can create setbacks in young calves.
Consistency in execution, not just intention, determines outcomes.
Housing and Environment Still Matter
Over decades in the industry, Van Patter has seen housing evolve dramatically.
“We used to lose 25 percent of our calves. Now we’re under one percent.”
Proper ventilation, dry bedding and attentive care have transformed survival rates. While regulations and facility costs continue to challenge producers, the fundamentals remain the same: clean, comfortable environments support healthier calves.
Teams Make or Break the System
Both guests point to people as the ultimate performance driver.
Nava explains that labor consistency and clear communication are critical, especially in challenging climates and demanding environments.
“Chasing excellence in execution,” he says, requires motivated teams who understand expectations.
Clear roles, consistent feedback and honoring commitments build trust. When turnover rises, execution slips. When teams stay stable and engaged, performance improves.
Van Patter echoes that sentiment.
“Consistency in staff creates consistency in results.”
When employees take pride in the calf program and understand how their work impacts long-term performance, the entire system strengthens.
Data Connects the Dots
Tracking growth rates, lung scores and reproductive performance later in life reveals the payoff of early-life management.
Van Patter describes seeing the correlation between strong early growth and heifers that conceive on first service months later.
The data reinforces what both leaders believe: what happens in the first 90 days echoes throughout the animal’s productive life.
Learning from Others Accelerates Progress
Both Van Patter and Nava credit the Dairy Calf & Heifer Association for providing access to research, networking and peer learning that accelerates improvement.
From implementing transition milk strategies learned at a conference to refining electrolyte protocols through conversations with other producers, collaboration drives better outcomes.
Strong calf programs are not built in isolation.
They are built through disciplined systems, committed teams and a willingness to keep improving.
For producers focused on long-term herd performance, the message is clear. Get the basics right. Stay consistent. Develop your people. The results will follow.
To hear the complete discussion with Jim and Rodolfo, stream now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or watch the full conversation on YouTube.
Make sure to save the date for the annual DCHA Conference, April 7–9 in Tucson, Arizona.
