How housing affects a calf’s growth
A thriving dairy herd is founded on a strong foundation. This involves proper rearing of dairy calves. Apart from proper nutrition (colostrum, milk, water, starter feeds & concentrates), GOOD HOUSING is a critical area in calf rearing. You need to invest in proper calf pen;- Positioned along the direction of wind, well ventilated, well slated floor, a trough and watering point.
Please note;~ Poorly ventilated house will expose your calf to heat stress and diseases like pneumonia. The house should always be clean and all equipments therein hygienic. This will help you avoid losses through diseases like calf scours(diarrhoea).
How does a proper calf pen look like?
- Raised atleast 2 feet above the ground
- The floor has spaces wide enough to allow droppings to pass through but no injuries to the calf
- It shouldn’t be slippery at all
- Has a properly constructed trough
- Has a provisional for watering and placing buckets used to feed them on milk
- Has a provision for mineral block that is accessible to the calf ad libitum (on free choice)
- Properly roofed to shield the youngling from harsh environmental conditions
- Well positioned to prevent excessive flow of air that can cause draughts
You can use locally available materials to build an economical calf pen that is of high quality. Comfort fosters animal welfare and proper growth.
