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A N I M A L H E A L T H
By being ultra hygienic and cleaning the
machine twice a day, intakes have been
increased by a further 10 per cent. While
the time spent filling and cleaning the
machine is similar to the old bucket rearing
method, it can more easily fit in with other
work on the farm throughout the day.
Calves are gradually and automatically
weaned off the machine within 60 days.
Also new to the calf management is
maintaining the same animals in groups
of up to 10, even after weaning, to help
reduce stressful social changes.
A new extension has been built onto the
existing calf shed at a cost of £12,000
to house the weaned calves for up to two
months prior to turning out. Previously after
weaning they were turned into the same
building as older youngstock.
Further investments of £6,000 were made,
with grant aid, in improving ventilation to the
original and new building extension with an
Arntjen curtain system, replacing Yorkshire
boarding. It is operated with separate
weather stations on either side of the building
to control air flow above the calves.
‘With the help of our vets we are continually
trying to improve all areas of performance
within the herd,’ said Peter.
‘It costs well over £1,000 to get a heifer to
calving which we are currently averaging at
25 months. As a result of the changes made,
we are spending less; our antibiotic usage
alone has reduced by half, and we are
getting a healthier animal which we may be
able to calve even earlier and also should
have a more productive lifetime,’ he added.
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Do not mix groups of animals with
varying levels of immunity - mixing
also increases stress
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Minimise pathogen challenge by
improving housing and ventilation
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Maximise colostrum quality and
quantity to ensure antibodies get from
mother to calf
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Watch out for other diseases which
compromise the immune system
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Poor nutrition, from inadequate milk
intake to vitamin deficiencies, can
have an effect
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Avoid multiple procedures at the same
time (weaning, disbudding etc) to
reduce risk
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Monitor environmental temperature
changes - damp to cold and dry -
which increases risk
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Do not overstock, preventing air
circulating and increasing infection
pressure from bugs
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Groups above 20 animals significantly
increase risk
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Keep bedding fresh and dry to help
with air quality
ADVICE!
AVOIDING
CALF PNEUMONIA
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Peter and Alison Holliday and sons
Ian and Alistair
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410 acres, mostly rented from the
Church Commissioners
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100 acres of winter and spring barley
and winter wheat, whole-cropped
and crimped
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Holdale closed pedigree Holstein herd
of 220 milkers, calving year-round,
plus 200 youngstock
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Milk sold to Meadow Foods averages
9,600 litres a cow
FARM FACTS
AT DOBCROSS HALL FARM
AUTUMN 2010 ISSUE
LIVESTOCK MATTERS
12
Jemma Reed, Ian Holliday and David Black
The new two-station
calf feeding machine