The overall aims of this extension research are to determine the prevalence of failure of passive transfer (FPT) in heifer and bull calves, identify the best management practices that result in a reduced FPT in dairy calves on Michigan farms, and determine if a hand-held refractometer is a reliable measure of FPT in healthy calves. Fifty dairy farms in Michigan were included in the study. A blood sample was collected from 12 heifers and 12 bulls between 2 to 7 d of age on larger farms (over 250 milking cows, n = 38) and 6 heifers and 6 bulls on smaller farms (n = 12). Dehydration of calves was scored visually, and selected management practices for the farm were recorded following interview with the calf manager. Serum Total Protein (STP) was determined using a Misco handheld refractometer with STP <5.2 considered to be FPT. Immunoglobulin G (IGG) concentrations were determined on a subset of 343 serum samples by Saskatoon Colostrum Company, with IGG <10.0 recorded as FPT. Only 2 samples failed according to STP but passed IGG, while 13 samples passed STP and failed IGG. All 15 calves with discrepancies showed signs of dehydration, indicating that in healthy calves a refractometer can be a reliable measure of STP. When fit to the block design model, sex was not significant although numerically bulls had higher prevalence of FPT (26%) than heifers (18.5%). There was an interaction of sex and farm size; heifers showed FTP more frequently on small farms than on large farms (P = 0.0001). Five farms had zero cases of FPT, while 6 farms had 50% or greater FPT. Overall 18/50 of study farms met the industry goal of less than 10% FPT. Farms with high priority on colostrum feeding had lower FPT. Farms that had best management practices resulting in lower FPT had a goal of feeding 3 to 4 quarts of colostrum within 1 to 3 h of birth, followed by a second feeding, had colostrum in storage or colostrum replacer on hand, did not allow nursing of the cow, and used a Brix refractometer to test colostrum quality. A benchmarking report was shared with all 50 farms and included customized guidelines for improving management practices. Results were widely shared at extension programming.