Whether your calves are waiting to be collected or part of your herd growth plans, it's crucial that you look after them while they are with you.
Calves that are not with their mother are vulnerable. They must have warm, dry shelter, access to good feed and water and have plenty of room to move. Calves are most at risk during the breeding months as cold weather affects them more due to their small size and lack of established bodily fat. Even when the weather is good, providing shelter from the sun and a cool place to rest is important. Having good shelter is important as even strong and healthy calves can die if exposed to adverse weather.
Cold weather can have significant real-world impacts on developing calves. Cold stress has been proven to decrease the rate of absorption of colostrum in newborn calves, therefore compromising their immune system and contributing, potentially, to morbidity and mortality. Sheds used for rearing calves should include a draught-free covered area to protect calves from the elements, and any paddocks used as they develop should have shelter accessible to all calves.
There are a number of things to consider when planning for providing adequate shelter for calves.
The young calf regulations, issued in 2016, remain in effect but are now incorporated in the Animal Welfare (Care and Procedures) Regulations 2018. According to the MPI's Further Information on Animal Welfare the definition of young calf in the Regulations may capture some beef animals."There is no clear animal welfare reason to differentiate between calves based on their eventual purpose. For this reason the definition of a young calf was written with the intention of capturing any calf which has been separated from its mother and is up to 14 days of age."
The regulations outline the requirements for sheltering young calves under Regulation 9, which requires that shelter must be provided that:
This regulation applies to an owner or person in charge where young calved are being held:
You may already have an existing structure (holding pen, vehicle) which meets all of these requirements, or it may be that you need to make some minor changes to ensure you are compliant with every component of the regulation. Stocking densities need to be considered to ensure calves are able to both stand up and lie down in a natural posture. Shelters might need to be flexible to provide greater protection on a cold windy day and more ventilation on a hot day. If you do think you need to make some more major changes, industry guidance is available from HERE.
Whether looking after calves for a short period or for many years, appropriate shelter is important to remain compliant with the regulations.