User:Lexi Ettinger/sandbox

= Dairy Calf Housing Systems = Calf Housing Systems are an important factor while raising a dairy calf. The type of housing and the bedding used is critical during the preweaning stage of a calf’s life. To provide optimal comfort and reduce the amount of stress on the animal is the objective. The biggest role that will determine the outcome of the calves is how well they are managed.

Picking the ideal housing system for dairy calves it is important to take into consideration diseases transmission during a very vulnerable period of their life. As well from an animal welfare standpoint it is important for calves to exhibit natural behaviour along with social interactions. Throughout the industry there are a variety of calf housing options and it will depend on the individual farmers’ preference and how they want to raise their animals. A few examples of calf housing systems which are common in Canada are calf hutches, single housed pens, pair housed pens and group housed pens indoors.

Calf Hutches
A calf hutch is typically a three-sided white plastic shelter used for calves to get out of the climate. They are then placed outside around the farmyard. Biosecurity in a hutch is the best, as they are isolated. Along with the shelter of the hutch itself the calf is allotted with a small fenced off area outside in the climate. There are some group calf hutches available but normally one hutch would house one single calf. Hutches are used year-round and there is a point at which it is too hot and too cold within the hutch for the calf. Farmers should take that into consideration during the extreme climates and use different bedding for the climates. In order to keep the biosecurity level high before placing another calf into the same hutch it should be cleaned and disinfected.

Indoor Housing Systems
There are multiple advantages for using a warm indoor housing system while raising dairy calves. Which include its more comfortable for the operator, it is easier to treat sick calves and each calf requires less space. Plus in the winter months there is less possibility of water freezing. But there are also disadvantages like the cost of building and maintaining a building. As well there is more risk of spreading diseases due to the high concentration of animals within that small space. Respiratory problems are very common within a indoor housing system if there is not proper ventilation.

Single Housed Pens
Single housed calves that are kept isolated are at lower risk to contract a disease or pathogen. This reduces the risk or mortality at a young age. But this also restricts the amount of calf movement and social interaction between other calves. Along with there is more labour required when calves are individually housed.There is less risk of cross suckling another calf when a calf is individually housed due to it being the only one within the pen. But they may cross suckle on inanimate items which could cause health concerns if the pens were not properly cleaned and disinfected from the prior calf.

Pair Housed Pens
Often two calves share a pen or a single hutch. When two calves are housed together it promotes social learning behaviours. Which results in better calf performance and growth for both calves. If one calf is drinking milk or eating calf starter that will stimulate the other calf in the same pen to drink and eat. This will be beneficial in the long run when a cows diet has to be changed they will be more willing to try new things. When being pair housed it has a social learning aspect without an abundance of other calves to pass a variety of diseases between.

Group Housed Pens
Group size has a huge impact on performance and calf health. Sometimes calves are originally individually housed then moved into a group pen after their immune system is stronger and healthier. With herd increases within the industry it is more cost effective to group house. There will be more calves around the same age needing the same amount of care that can be provided within a group setting. There is less labour needed with more calves within the same pen compared to if they were all housed individually. As well there is more technology being produced for the industry involving automated feeders. Which automated milk feeders would only be cost effective within a group setting. These are beneficial for each animal to receive the amount of milk they require on a daily basis at the adequate temperature as well in multiple feedings which they naturally would do. Once the new calf is moved up throughout the farm the social interactions developed when they were young is very beneficial for both the producer and animal.

= Types of bedding = When determining the type of bedding to use within a calf housing system factors to consider the material that will keep the calves clean, dry, comfortable and healthy Mainly straw bedding is used for calves and other options are sawdust and shavings etc. Straw bedding that is placed over top of a wood shavings base is the best combination for optimal absorbency.

Calves lay down for 70-80% of their day. Dry bedding will promote lying down which reduces heat loss especially in a cooler environment. As well the depth of bedding may affect the lying down behaviour due to the calves can get nestled into the deep bedding and reduce their heat loss.

= See Also =


 * Dairy Cattle
 * Veal

= References =