Calf pens

[JPB]

Hi, what is everyone using for making calf pens? Ideally want something so I can keep 2/3 calves in whilst on milk before weaning. Currently just tieing gates together but would like something like either metal sheep hurdles or maybe something like stock board that is easy to slot together. Think sheep hurdles are 3ft high so probably not really tall or strong enough. Any pictures of calf sheds would be great. Thanks

 

[som farmer]

sheep hurdles, all we use till weaning, and not much different to 3/4 months.

 

[JPB]

sheep hurdles, all we use till weaning, and not much different to 3/4 months.

Just the 6ft x3ft galv ones?

 

[HarryB97]

Here is a photo of our pens they are all made of cattle hurdles with sheep hurdles between the pens so we can easily move from pen to pen, attached a photo with some calves penned up for scale that are 4-5 weeks old. I wouldn’t use all sheep hurdles myself as they are weak and easy to escape from but they are cheaper and easier to move. Always handy to have plenty of cow hurdles about to!

 

[JPB]

Here is a photo of our pens they are all made of cattle hurdles with sheep hurdles between the pens so we can easily move from pen to pen, attached a photo with some calves penned up for scale. I wouldn’t use all sheep hurdles myself as they are weak and easy to escape from but they are cheaper and easier to move

Thanks, look some nice calves aswell!

 

[Mouser]

These are from teemore, I'm sure others make them. Never seen calves doing as well. Plastic slats keep them dry, use next to no straw other than what they eat, reasonably easy to clean out. Not cheap at £170ish but well worth considering a few

 

[HarryB97]

Thanks, look some nice calves aswell!

Thanks they are the best bunch we have ever reared 9 AAx and 27 Her x. After 2 years, nearly 7 batches and loads of adjustments to housing and management etc finally feals like we are getting rewarded for all the effort!

 

[Norfolk Hill Farmer]

Avoid sheep hurdles if you can. Occasionally you'll get one that attempts to jump them and ends up with its back legs hooked up in the top rail.

 

[som farmer]

Just the 6ft x3ft galv ones?

yes, have bought some proper fronts, with bucket holders, they are about 2ins higher. At times we have had up to 100 calves in single pens, all sheep hurdles. If you start buying 'proper' calf pens, they cost a fortune.
solid sided single pens, fall foul of Tesco + others rules, have to be able to 'interact'. This will be on red tractor, if not already.
calves jumping over sheep hurdles, a few will, usually when feeding, or moving calves around, but have never lost a calf through it, in 30 years, and I couldn't even guess how many calves, at one stage, we were rearing 700 per year!