Letting weaned bucket calves outside

Anymulewilldo

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Cheshire
Make sure they are vaccinated for blackleg. Only pence/calf. If weather is right let them out. I put mine in back field so they can run back into shed for nuts and shelter
 

Dr. Alkathene

Member
Livestock Farmer
How far is the shed from the field? I let them come out from the shed into a bit of a yard / gates chained together next to the field for a fortnight first. So they learn to come inside when it rains and they know there is always a water trough, hay and a bit of cake for them in the shed.

They all tend to come in at night on their own unless there has been a prolonged warm and dry spell.
 
Don’t some of the spring grazing dairy boys pretty much rear their calves outside, with those milk bar trailers you tow out to the field.
Cattle’s natural habitat is outside so it shouldn’t be a major problem, the worst thing I would think you could do would be to turf them out on inclement weather when they’re used to being in but that would be in early spring, I wouldn’t have thought the showery weather we’re having at the moment should cause any problems, it is after all relatively mild.
 

Dairyfarmerswife

Member
Livestock Farmer
Location
Shropshire
Yes my heifers are out from early / mid April on the trailer when they are about a month old and I chucked some beef calves out and fed them milk in the paddock nearest the house at about a week old in May. Much better health outside. They love a run around in the evening, it's quite something to see.
 

gatepost

Member
Location
Cotswolds
We always let them run into the yard for a day or two before letting them on out, they get used to a bird flying over or other things that spook them a bit , after that they are out really but have a hay rack out and troughs by gate so can be got back in if necessary, some times if they are a bit light footed we let them back into the yard every day to the trough, gets them used to coming when called. we don't have a problem with blackleg, but some farms do, just make sure you have a worming plan, most calves will need 3 in their first summer plus one at housing.
 

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Red Tractor drops launch of green farming scheme amid anger from farmers

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As reported in Independent


quote: “Red Tractor has confirmed it is dropping plans to launch its green farming assurance standard in April“

read the TFF thread here: https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/gfc-was-to-go-ahead-now-not-going-ahead.405234/
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