Creep

choochter

Member

Location

aberdeenshire

• Feb 21, 2017

• #1

This winter got a creep area that the cows cant get into at all. Didn't realise how much the calves would take to it. The older ones in here were weaned yesterday. Bottom pic is today with just the younger calves.

 

S J H

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

Bedfordshire

• Feb 21, 2017

• #2

Very good for keeping them out the way of bulling cows aswell.

 

choochter

Member

Location

aberdeenshire

• Feb 21, 2017

• #3

S J H said:

Very good for keeping them out the way of bulling cows aswell.

Click to expand...

any other advantages? improved weight gain?

 

harperfarmer

Member

• Feb 21, 2017

• #4

Could you utilise it to actually shut the calves away from the cows and limit suckling to twice a day!? Thus reducing the anestrus period and getting cows cycling quicker!? Handy if you are utilising AI !?

 

Northeastfarmer

Member

Location

Cleveland

• Feb 21, 2017

• #5

I've had a pen like that for years now, have a ring feeder in with seed silage and the calf creep...calves love it

 

choochter

Member

Location

aberdeenshire

• Feb 21, 2017

• #6

harperfarmer said:

Could you utilise it to actually shut the calves away from the cows and limit suckling to twice a day!? Thus reducing the anestrus period and getting cows cycling quicker!? Handy if you are utilising AI !?

Click to expand...

Saw that done in France. The calves stayed inside and the cows grazed but came back in twice a day to feed their calves.

 

Henarar

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

Somerset

• Feb 21, 2017

• #7

what do you feed your cows on @choochter

 

choochter

Member

Location

aberdeenshire

• Feb 21, 2017

• #8

Henarar said:

what do you feed your cows on @choochter

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not particularly good dry silage & they always have a mineral bucket of some sort

what do you feed yours on?

 

Northeastfarmer

Member

Location

Cleveland

• Feb 21, 2017

• #9

choochter said:

Saw that done in France. The calves stayed inside and the cows grazed but came back in twice a day to feed their calves.View attachment 475256
View attachment 475258

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Why would you want your calves stuck indoors in the summer?

 

choochter

Member

Location

aberdeenshire

• Feb 21, 2017

• #10

Northeastfarmer said:

Why would you want your calves stuck indoors in the summer?

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I'm trying to remember but it may be that they were destined to be finished by 8 minths, ie veal.
Or maybe flies, but I dont really know. They had hay as well.

 

Henarar

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

Somerset

• Feb 21, 2017

• #11

I was just going to say I would put some hay in the creep for the calves, especially when its just the little ones, it does them good IMHO to have something that is not pickled
having said that there may not be so much hay made up there ?

 

Northeastfarmer

Member

Location

Cleveland

• Feb 21, 2017

• #12

choochter said:

I'm trying to remember but it may be that they were destined to be finished by 8 minths, ie veal.
Or maybe flies, but I dont really know. They had hay as well.
View attachment 475260

Click to expand...

Poor buggers...not my idea of farming that

 

choochter

Member

Location

aberdeenshire

• Feb 21, 2017

• #13

Northeastfarmer said:

Poor buggers...not my idea of farming that

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It was a beautiful shed, huge, light and airy - and cool. It was 27 deg outside, hot sun and the cows were covered in flies.

 

Henarar

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

Somerset

• Feb 21, 2017

• #14

We try to have a creep for the calves very often see a heap of them in there, I like to keep it well bedded so its nice and dry and it gives them somewhere to get away from bulling cows

 

Northeastfarmer

Member

Location

Cleveland

• Feb 21, 2017

• #15

choochter said:

It was a beautiful shed, huge, light and airy - and cool. It was 27 deg outside, hot sun and the cows were covered in flies.

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I know but I love seeing my calves out playing over the summer not couped up indoors

 

Henarar

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

Somerset

• Feb 21, 2017

• #16

Northeastfarmer said:

I know but I love seeing my calves out playing over the summer not couped up indoors

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do better with the sun on there back

 

Northeastfarmer

Member

Location

Cleveland

• Feb 21, 2017

• #17

Henarar said:

do better with the sun on there back

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Doesn't everyone

 

S J H

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

Bedfordshire

• Feb 21, 2017

• #18

choochter said:

any other advantages? improved weight gain?

Click to expand...

I don't creep them until coming up to weaning. I haven't set a creep pen up in the new shed yet, but when I had one elsewhere, the calves went in to get out of the way, there was no creep in there, also easier to keep that area clean.