New calf shed layout

coomoo

Member
Resurrected a thread in buildings and infrastructure but I’ll start one here to get some thoughts. Going ahead with a 60x45 part lean too shed off collecting area for washing etc. Will be a two station volac feeder going in. For quotes/planning set it up three equal pens. How do you all work individuals then incorporating onto machine after colostrum? Simple drainage ideas directly into existing lagoon? Tia
B325E776-06C7-4E55-9FBF-89CBE4BF6794.jpeg
 

supercow

Member
Location
Dumfriesshire
We have those solway recycling single pens, and get them on those teat feeders so they are used to the teat on the feeder. First 5/6 weeks they are in the baby feeder pen, after that they go to the older pen. When we get full up in the older pen we take the strongest calves out. I don't want to dishearten you or anything but I'd happily sell our volac feeder. Such a pernicaty piece of kit, 200£ every time it stops working to get Dunlugson out to it. Had to get a computer chip replaced cost 2k, freezes in the winter, ice gets into machine and causes havoc. Are the new ones bigger and easier to get into to sort?
 

coomoo

Member
We have those solway recycling single pens, and get them on those teat feeders so they are used to the teat on the feeder. First 5/6 weeks they are in the baby feeder pen, after that they go to the older pen. When we get full up in the older pen we take the strongest calves out. I don't want to dishearten you or anything but I'd happily sell our volac feeder. Such a pernicaty piece of kit, 200£ every time it stops working to get Dunlugson out to it. Had to get a computer chip replaced cost 2k, freezes in the winter, ice gets into machine and causes havoc. Are the new ones bigger and easier to get into to sort?
Not sure if the new ones are physically bigger but the computers new on it. Main thing is to push calves harder but also make it more consistent.
 
I've got 40 BBx on a heatwave and I hadn't really appreciated how much they would drink and therefore how much they would pi$$. They're getting through about 500 litres now and innevetably nearly all that comes back out. Unfortunately mine are on a flat concrete floor which really doesn't drain well enough so I think I'm going to need to move them somewhere that drains better.
 

stablegirl

Member
Location
North
Resurrected a thread in buildings and infrastructure but I’ll start one here to get some thoughts. Going ahead with a 60x45 part lean too shed off collecting area for washing etc. Will be a two station volac feeder going in. For quotes/planning set it up three equal pens. How do you all work individuals then incorporating onto machine after colostrum? Simple drainage ideas directly into existing lagoon? TiaView attachment 657724

I am at a similar stage and would be keen to hear people's experience and idea's.

The baby pen and older pen system sounds great I just worry about them getting a break so was trying to design a more all in all out system.
 

coomoo

Member
I am at a similar stage and would be keen to hear people's experience and idea's.

The baby pen and older pen system sounds great I just worry about them getting a break so was trying to design a more all in all out system.
I thought hard about giving pens a break but know 100% eventually it’d be used for something even a calving cow where mines going. Instead id like to make it easy to wash down/ steam clean.
 

Sparkymark

Member
Do you plan on starting them off in single calf pens coomoo?
I was thinking of 3 auto feeder pens so can have one for younger calves, one for older calves and one always empty. That way rotate them as they need mucking out and washing etc
 

supercow

Member
Location
Dumfriesshire
I am at a similar stage and would be keen to hear people's experience and idea's.

The baby pen and older pen system sounds great I just worry about them getting a break so was trying to design a more all in all out system.
I agree and that was an issue for us not giving the shed a break, a few calves taking scours. muck out regularly keep them well bedded it's right enough. The calves that go from baby pen to larger pen do go slightly back when they move but they catch up
 

Bald Rick

Moderator
Livestock Farmer
Location
Anglesey
@coomoo

Can I ask why you are keen to put your calves so close to the cows? I understand that it is easy to put up a lean-to off an existing building but if you have the space, I would strongly consider a separate house well away from any older animal. The long term benefits of a bespoke shed will outweigh the short term gain of a lean-to now.

I would also look at putting the new borns on to slatted pens. They are ace for keeping them dry for the first week - 10 days until you bulk them up.
 

supercow

Member
Location
Dumfriesshire
@coomoo

Can I ask why you are keen to put your calves so close to the cows? I understand that it is easy to put up a lean-to off an existing building but if you have the space, I would strongly consider a separate house well away from any older animal. The long term benefits of a bespoke shed will outweigh the short term gain of a lean-to now.

I would also look at putting the new borns on to slatted pens. They are ace for keeping them dry for the first week - 10 days until you bulk them up.
Totally agree with both points!
 

SJM

Member
@coomoo

Can I ask why you are keen to put your calves so close to the cows? I understand that it is easy to put up a lean-to off an existing building but if you have the space, I would strongly consider a separate house well away from any older animal. The long term benefits of a bespoke shed will outweigh the short term gain of a lean-to now.

I would also look at putting the new borns on to slatted pens. They are ace for keeping them dry for the first week - 10 days until you bulk them up.

Would the calves get cold on the slats? Or rubber over the top?
 

coomoo

Member
@coomoo

Can I ask why you are keen to put your calves so close to the cows? I understand that it is easy to put up a lean-to off an existing building but if you have the space, I would strongly consider a separate house well away from any older animal. The long term benefits of a bespoke shed will outweigh the short term gain of a lean-to now.

I would also look at putting the new borns on to slatted pens. They are ace for keeping them dry for the first week - 10 days until you bulk them up.
I know exactly what your saying. It’s partly cost with it being a greenfield 4+ years in but want to use collecting area and facilities that are there. Will be putting cleats on for the same again where calves might move over to leaving this for more calving pens as doing a budget for another 70 milkers. Taken on another 300 hilly acres a couple of miles away so it’s all go.
 

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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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