By
in
on October 14, 2024 Are calf hutches still the “gold” standard ?
When making decisions every dairy business must consider all costs, potential benefits and the likelihood of a positive return on the investment. All resources and immediate and long-term impacts for a particular dairy business must be considered. For many years, the calf hutch has been considered as the “gold” standard? Is it time to re-evaluate this standard? Let’s consider the benefits and challenges of the calf hutch system compared to other alternatives.
Calf hutches are utilized by approximately 40% of the dairies in the US. The simplicity of the system and its adaptability to nearly any herd size has made this a popular decision. From a health perspective, eliminating nose to nose contact of calves and the ability to observe individual calves closely have been significant advantages of calf hutch systems. However, let’s consider additional factors associated with hutches.
- Recently research has demonstrated the negative impact of heat stress on calves. Appetites are depressed, while energy expenditures by the calf increase which reduces nutrients available for growth. The challenge with hutches is there are limited strategies for reducing heat stress. Raising the rear of the hutch is of limited value. Likewise installing shade cloths is not recommended in areas with risks of significant wind.
- Environmental awareness has increased with an increasing number of state regulatory agencies requiring collection of all nutrient runoff from the calf rearing site and incorporating animal wastes into nutrient management systems. This can be challenging to achieve on many dairy facility sites.
- Hutch systems are labor intensive, considering feeding, bedding, waste removal, cleaning hutches …. Additionally, worker exposure to the extremes of weather – rain, snow, wind, cold and hot temperatures is not conducive to retaining quality employees.
- Data for calf management. Considerable advances have been made in data collection for preweaned calves to enable improved decision making. Activity monitors and use of tablets or cell phones for data entry are available but used on a very small proportion of calf operations.
If a dairy business is to be sustainable, decisions should have immediate and long-term benefits for the dairy business. What changes can be expected in the future, that will have an impact on how we rear preweaned calves? Should the business consider alternatives to calf hutch systems? As herd sizes continue to increase in the US and globally how do we prepare for the future? Let’s consider those factors which will impact calf management.
- Animal welfare. When a consumer observes long rows of calf hutches or confinement of calves into small areas that frequently have excessive manure, what is their impression? The “factory” farm? Research by University of British Columbia researchers indicate that the consumer is quick to identify with the welfare of the preweaned calf.
- Animal behavior – Research at multiple universities and the experiences of progressive dairy operations have demonstrated that calves reared in pairs (in large hutches) or groups are more socially advanced. They are more adaptable to new environments, feeds and group changes than calves housed individually during the preweaned phase of life. Part of the decline in calf growth associated with weaning in hutch system can be attributed to the stress of adapting to group housing.
- Data for dairy calf management – The autofeeder has the capability to collect daily consumption of milk and calf starter and the drinking speed which are two measures proven to benefit in detecting disease earlier than by human observation. Additionally, calf activity and body weights have also been incorporated into more sophisticated systems.
- Well designed autofeeder systems provide multiple benefits.
- The environment is more desirable for calf care personnel by reducing exposure to extremes of weather.
- Labor efficiency is dramatically improved by automating feeding and enabling mechanization of cleaning.
- “Repurposing” of labor. Menial tasks are reduced enabling personnel to focus on calf care rather than routine cleaning of feeding equipment and calf hutches. Many adopters note that employee turnover is reduced as there is higher job satisfaction.
- With proper drainage, waste management is improved and allows capturing of nutrients from animal waste.
- Autofeeder facilities must be designed to enable improved ventilation, improving air quality and reducing the impact of heat stress.
- It should be noted that autofeeders are not required for success in group housing systems. Use of acidified milk and “mob feeders” have been successfully implemented on some farms. However, success with this system requires personnel with a skill set that can focus on subtle changes in calf behavior.
The dairy business must accept the fact that the autofeeder system or any confined calf housing system (individual pens) requires an investment. First, consider the “cost” of the hutch system – hutches, land area, nutrient management, and affiliated calf feeding and calf care equipment. If an autofeeder or other group housing facility is considered does one use an existing structure or build “new”. One is often tempted to utilize existing facilities. The question must be asked, will this facility meet the needs of the preweaned calf and those providing calf care. Ventilation, drainage, manure handling and labor efficiency and effectiveness are important. When designing a “new” facility, focus on these key items that will enable success for the system. Seek the assistance of professionals with experience in calf housing systems. This initial investment can yield significant long-term benefits.
Finally, what is the future of your calf program? Increasingly we are determining that low mortality and morbidity in preweaned calves yields significant immediate and long-term benefits! Where do you want your dairy business to be 5 years or more from now?
