Advantages and disadvantages with outdoor hutches as housing system for calves and their future effect on the replacement heifer
This study has investigated how outdoor hutches for housing dairy heifer calves will have negative and positive effects on calf development. Many studies have shown that an optimal rearing of the young calf is of great importance to up bring a profitable dairy cow. The dairy calf and growing heif...
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| Formato: | M2 |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés sueco |
| Publicado: |
SLU/Dept. of Animal Nutrition and Management (until 231231)
2015
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| Materias: |
| Sumario: | This study has investigated how outdoor hutches for housing dairy heifer calves will have
negative and positive effects on calf development. Many studies have shown that an optimal
rearing of the young calf is of great importance to up bring a profitable dairy cow. The dairy calf
and growing heifer is subject for a great scientific interest. Within its first days the young animal
will be separated from the dam. Then during a few months it will be kept individually or
collectively with other calves and drink milk from buckets or suckle from artificial teats. Housing
calves in hutches during this period can have many advantages. Later she will be impregnated
and carry her own calf. When her pregnancy comes to its end she will in only a day go through
her first calving and get milked or suckled her first produced milk. Thereafter she will enter the
most important income bringing part of the dairy farm. To get the optimal prerequisites for the
lactation period, the rearing is of great importance. A healthy calf will have a higher average
daily gain, and grow to a higher weight and stature. The heifer is more likely to have a higher
milk yield at first and future lactations if she was not ill as a calf. Many dairy producers in
Sweden keep calves in pens inside a stable. Housing outside in hutches, where ventilation and
humidity is natural, can be a healthier alternative for calves. Some disadvantages from housing
calves outside in hutches do exist and is also discussed. |
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