Why individual calf houses

A calf house is a device for individual or group keeping of young animals. Using a covered stall for keeping young animals from the first days of life is a common practice in Europe, the USA and other developed countries. The technology is based on a lower ambient temperature, which leads to strengthening the immune system, increasing the body’s resistance to cold and infectious diseases.

Individual keeping involves providing adequate nutrition and care for each individual. No contact between animals in the first weeks of life is protection against the spread of infections. Kraft offers certified plastic products that will help reduce production losses and increase the profitability of the farm.

Calf house: advantages of use

Experienced livestock breeders do not have to ask why calf houses are needed. Practice shows that the use of special boxes for animals helps reduce mortality in the first weeks of life. Newborn calves do not have a formed immune system. Young animals are susceptible to infectious diseases, which often lead to death. To reduce the loss of young animals, especially in the first days of life, you need to buy calf houses that will provide protection from all adverse factors:

• Weather phenomena – wind, precipitation, drafts.
• Mechanical impacts, injuries resulting from contact with adult animals.
• Pathogenic microflora, which cannot be avoided in a common barn.

Keeping calves in individual and group houses in the fresh air on deep bedding reduces the incidence of disease and promotes accelerated weight gain in young animals. At the same time, the cost of live weight gain is reduced.

Plastic is a universal material that helps maintain a comfortable microclimate in winter and summer. A box made using a modern rotational molding method has a smooth surface without roughness and protrusions that can injure the thin skin of a young animal. Reasons to install a plastic calf house:

• creation of a favorable microclimate;
• the ability to individually adjust the conditions of keeping for each individual;
• increasing comfort for young animals;
• simplification of care and monitoring of the animal’s condition.

Each calf in an individual house receives the necessary nutrition. The farmer can individually calculate the amount of feed taking into account the current needs of the calf. The animal does not have to compete with its fellows for food. If access to the feeder is common, weakened individuals are often deprived of the opportunity to eat properly and are subject to stress. The houses are installed outdoors – the animal is provided with a constant supply of oxygen. High-quality, balanced feed and ventilation contribute to the strengthening of health and accelerated growth of young animals. An additional advantage of the solution is the economic benefit. The farmer does not have to spend budget funds on the construction of a capital calf house.

Calf houses: results of use

The benefits of calf houses are a significant improvement in the qualitative and quantitative indicators of animals. Thanks to optimal conditions of keeping, calves grow healthy and quickly gain weight. In the future, young animals raised using the technology of keeping in individual boxes are distinguished by high milk and meat productivity. Results of using boxes in comparison with conventional methods of keeping:

• Increase in average daily weight gain by 4.5-8%.
• Increase in growth energy by 2.9-4%.
• Reduction in the cost of weight gain by 7.6-9%.

Thanks to the use of calf houses, animal mortality decreases by more than 10-15%, and the number of healthy livestock increases. The total share of losses of young animals does not exceed 1% or is absent.

Group houses: purpose and characteristics

Once you have figured out the question of why an individual house for calves is needed, it remains to find out the advantages of using boxes for group keeping of animals. Covered stalls with an area of ​​about 15 m2 are designed for a group of 10-15 individuals aged 2-8 weeks. Calves are kept in group boxes until they are 5 months old. The design includes a ventilation system that provides a constant flow of fresh air. Air circulation prevents the accumulation of bacteria, which is the best protection for the health of young animals. Benefits of keeping calves in a small group:

• Satisfaction of natural needs for communication and activity.
• Acquisition of communication skills with other animals.
• Formation of resistance to stress.
• Development of a normal rumen due to rapid consumption of feed in a competitive environment.

Improved social adaptability contributes to an increase in weight gain of up to 125 kg during the first 3 months of life. Group houses for calves are an effective and profitable solution for business development. The service life exceeds 10 years. The farmer pays once to raise healthy, productive animals for 10 years.

Calf house by Kraft: features

Order a plastic calf house from Kraft to be sure of the quality of the product. Plastic boxes have the following advantages:

• Low weight (about 30-35 kg), which allows easy installation without the use of heavy equipment and reinstallation to a new location if necessary. An additional advantage is reduced delivery costs.
• Easy cleaning. Any dirt can be easily removed from the smooth surface. Cleaning is carried out with ordinary water with the addition of detergent.
• Possibility of repeated disinfection treatment. Plastic is a chemically inert material that does not deteriorate upon contact with detergents and disinfectants.

The boxes are made of food-grade polyethylene, which is safe for animals, and allows sunlight to pass through, which is necessary for the production of vitamin D. Special components of the composition prevent the house and the air space underneath from overheating on hot days.

Installation rules

The calf house is installed on a flat area with a solid foundation, such as a concrete surface. Basic requirements:

• Distance between boxes — not less than 40 cm.
• Deep bedding of straw or sawdust with regular topping up.
• Arrangement of canopies for additional protection from the scorching sun in summer and drafts in winter.

Reasons to buy calf houses from Kraft

One of the largest manufacturers of polymer products in Ukraine — Kraft — offers to buy calf houses that will help to effectively develop agribusiness. We sell high-quality plastic products that are characterized by increased strength, ergonomics and a long service life. Advantages for buyers:

• Different options of sizes and configurations.
• Engineer consultations.
• Warranty up to 5 years.
• Possibility of custom manufacturing according to the buyer’s sketch.

Our clients are provided with comprehensive after-sales service — maintenance, repair. The products are manufactured in accordance with ISO 9001:2008 standards, which confirms quality control at each production stage.