Rearing calves outside

Milkingforfun

Member

• Mar 14, 2019

• #1

We are milking 120 Holstein x Friesians, calving AYR. Calves are loose housed and fed through a Lely branded Forster technik automatic machine. Calf health is reasonable however I believe there is room for improvement.

Due to calving AYR we find it impossible to rest the shed and I think this is a limiting factor for calf health. I am thinking of reading calves born in early summer outside with a milk bar system, strip grazed grass and ad lib concentrate. In theory this should give the shed approximately 2 months rest before resuming rearing inside. Does anybody do this/something similar and if so, what is your experience with it?

Will try and post some pictures of our calf unit tomorrow so you can see what we are currently doing. Any input regarding improving calf health within the system we currently operate would also be welcome[emoji106]

 

multi power

Member

Location

pembrokeshire

• Mar 14, 2019

• #2

Rearing calves outside is no problems

 

Dr. Alkathene

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

North West England

• Mar 14, 2019

• #3

Do you have a separate dry cow shed that is empty all summer?

 

L

liammogs

Member

• Mar 14, 2019

• #4

They used to do it with calves in gelli aur college!! Didn't look very nice but the calves did well to be fair

 

Milkingforfun

Member

• Mar 14, 2019

• #5

Dr. Alkathene said:

Do you have a separate dry cow shed that is empty all summer?

Click to expand...

Dry cow shed is used all year round however we do have a lean to we use for weened calves that is empty during the summer. My thinking was to use this to house the calves for 10 days ish to train them on an artificial teat before moving them outside. Could take them through to weening in that building i suppose?

 

Milkingforfun

Member

• Mar 15, 2019

• #6

A couple of photos of our calf unit.

 

Holsteinfriesian90

Member

Location

Cornwall

• Mar 15, 2019

• #7

Milkingforfun said:

A couple of photos of our calf unit.View attachment 776800View attachment 776802

Click to expand...

Can’t see much wrong with that nice set up for calves.

 

S

som farmer

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

somerset

• Apr 5, 2020

• #8

we have never taken the plunge, although spring block calving, we ought to ! Do intend to put outside a lot earlier this year, 2 months for the youngest.

 

Milkingforfun

Member

• Apr 5, 2020

• #9

Throughout the summer we turn out about a week post weening.

 

Cmoran

Member

Livestock Farmer

Location

Galway Ireland

• Apr 5, 2020

• #10

I bought Calfs of a guy feed weeks ago he had a very simple outdoor system I’m considering doing the same. It consists of about 50m by 40 m outside pad at back of calving shed divided into four pens and a central pen for the milk bar about a third of each pen has a simple shelter made from heavy posts and sheeted to the ground on 3 sides all of the pens are bedded using about a foot of rough wood chip. At feeding time you just let each pen of Calfs to the milk bar individually. Very simple and cheap I thought. I think about 40 Calfs were in each pen and I have to say they were very healthy