Area- Calves need approximately 1.5 - 2 sq meters of floor area, so if your existing pen size is 20sq meters then you can comfortably rear 10 - 12 calves.

Water- Pens need a fresh water supply. Calves need access to water from day one. Not only is it essential for their development but calves that have water will eat more grain leading to better rumen development. There are many types of water troughs available, choose one that has an enclosed water valve so there is less chance of a calf playing with it and flooding the pen. A trough with a relatively small bowl (like the Snack Water Trough) is desirable as it will be constantly refilling with clean water. A fully enclosed water trough (Milk Bar Pen Waterer) improves efficiency and calf health as it stays clean from calf and bird droppings.
Never feed calves water from teats- water must be directed into the rumen through the drinking action from a trough. If calves drink water with a suckling action from a teat the water will be directed to the abomasums.

Grain/ Meal- Getting calves to consume dry feed early is the key in reducing rearing costs. Trials have shown that a calf's rumen develops much earlier if the calf is feed solid feeds as early as possible. Early rumen development leads to less scours, healthier calves and better average daily weights. There are two types of meal feeders, Open Trough and Bird Proof Meal Bars. The one you choose depends on the amount of calves you are rearing and your budget. Feel free to call us on 0800 104 119 for advice on which would suit you.

A well set up calf shed fitted out with a Milk Bar Pen Waterer at the front and Munch Trough's at the rear. During feeding times a Milk Bar Feeder is placed on the front gate. Note the solid partitions between pens to reduce drafts. The covered area allows light in to dry bedding.

Ventilation- Make sure that your pens are draft free. Calves need good ventilation, in a draft free environment. You should be able to sit in a pen and light a match without the flame blowing out. Calves have no problem coping with the cold, but are unable to thrive in a wet drafty environment. Solid partitions between the pens stops the wind blowing through the pens and give the calves a barrier to lie behind, and a gate at the front allows ample ventilation. Securing wind break material around the base of the pens can also help.

Building your calf shed- The most effective and cheapest calf sheds are built like this. The length depends on the number of calves to be housed at any one time.
For optimum care, pens are designed for 10 - 12 calves only. A Milk Bar 10 or 12 teat feeder is hung on the front gate at feeding times only. 3 Braden Start Bottles and/ or a Bird Proof Meal Bar should be in each pen from day one for grain feeding. Fresh water must be available at all times.

Roof- The roof should be clear, either greenhouse film or clear corrugated. Hang shade cloth underneath in warmer weather so calves don't overheat. Sunlight keeps the bedding dry and is an excellent disinfectant.

Back Wall- The back wall should be 2.4m high with a removable curtain above the solid partition to allow a breeze through in warm weather.

Front- The front should be about 3.5m high depending on tractor height for removal of bedding. Open to the North or North East with a 3m gate on each pen. It is best to have a removable flap on each pen that will hang down 1 - 1.5m to stop rain blowing too far back, windbreak cloth would suffice.
An awning out the front will make feeding more comfortable in the rain.

Pens- 6m deep x 3m wide. This allows you to use 3m gates at the front of the pens which make getting into the pens with a tractor for cleaning simple and easy. Make sure you have solid partitions between your pens. This eliminates drafts for happier, healthier calves.

Bedding- Make sure your facility is clean, dry and has been disinfected before you lay down your new bedding.
There are many bedding options available. Sawdust, shavings or bark are good, calves will then remain dry and clean. Do not remove the sawdust, just add another layer as necessary.

If you are using a wool shed with slats, cover the slats with a wind break material and then layer your bedding on top. Slats have a constant draft coming up and your calves will struggle to stay warm and won't thrive.

River stones are another bedding option proving to be very successful and work well as calf bedding if they are installed correctly and the stones are the correct size of 20 - 40mm.
The stones rotate as the calves walk over them and the excrement is pushed to the bottom leaving the top layer clean.
For riverstones the floor area must be greater that 1.5 square metres per calf, and preferably 2 square metres per calf. If you intend to have less than 1.5 square metres of floor space per calf, we recommend that you don't use Riverstone bedding.
The Riverstone Bedding must be at least 15cm deep, and preferably 20cm deep, with the ideal stone size being between 20 to 40mm.
Fit a rail 25cm high across the front of the pen, with 2cm gap below for drainage. As the calves run to the front of the pen to get fed, they are liable to kick some stones forward, the extra height of the rail will help to keep the stones in the pen.
If you have a high volume wash down hose and good drainage under the stones, (a sloping concrete base is ideal), the stones can be washed regularly with the calves in the pen. This will extend the life of the bedding. If high volume water is not available, the Riverstone bedding will have to be replaced after about 3 seasons use.

Do not feed hay in the pens as any spillage will form a mat on top of the stones.
Spray weekly with disinfectant.
The stones can be removed at the end of each season, spread over a cowshed yard, and washed with a washdown hose before being replaced. Handle the stones with care when moving them, as broken stones could have sharp edges that could damage calves feet.

Using riverstone bedding gives you the ability to wash out your Milk Bar Feeders in the pens. The water passes through the stones and drains out.

A well built calf shed. Note the Milk Bar feeders hanging upside down for draining. Milk Bar Feeders fitted with Ezi Lock Hooks are the only feeders available that allow you to do this!	A good shed that would be perfect with solid partitions between the pens.

If you would like further advice or to book a Free On Farm consultation please ring us on 0800 104 119.