Some of the most
common questions I hear regarding the dairy industry are about why calves are
managed the way they are. Mainly, why are they taken from the mothers so soon
and why are they housed alone? Calf management is a critical component of a
dairy, because that's the future of the dairy right there! The heifer calves
will one day become milk cows and produce for the farm.
Calves are removed
from their mothers within a day of being born. Depending on the dairy, they may
be allowed to nurse and receive the cow's colostrum or they may receive
colostrum from a bottle. Colostrum is the first milk a cow produces and it is
full of antibodies - the good things that help prevent diseases in cows! It is
very important for calves to get this first milk so their immune system can
develop properly. Once they receive colostrum, they are fed a milk replacer or
milk that is pulled out of the bulk tank until they are weaned.
Most dairies in the
US house calves in individual hutches. There has been a movement towards using
group housing for calves, but individual housing is still the most common
method. There are many reasons for keeping calves by themselves until after
they are weaned. Respiratory infections are the number one killer of calves. Do
you know how respiratory infections are spread? Through contact with sick
calves! By keeping them by themselves, we are protecting them from getting
sick. By keeping them by themselves, farm managers are also better able to
monitor how much each calf is drinking and eating to ensure they are getting
proper nutritional intake. Additionally, health monitoring is much easier when
calves are kept individually. Calves aren't completely isolated, however. They
are kept near one another, just not close enough to touch.
The hutches are
positioned so calves are protected from the elements and they are bedded with
lots of material so the calves can cuddle up during colder weather. They
typically have runs where they can walk around and stretch their legs.
There are many
benefits to housing calves in hutches that people don't necessarily see from
the outside. Biosecurity and health of the cows are the number one priority on
any farm, and keeping calves separated is one of the many way to combat
infectious diseases and protect herd health.
