[PatQfarmer]

Originally Posted by vanderbadger

does anyone use calf slats
i see the slat mat companies are getting into them
http://www.easyfix.ie/calf-slat.html
they dont really look too comfy but sure beats cleaning out straw bedding every day

I priced them, but they're FIERCE expensive

I used to use timber fertiliser pallets under straw to raise the calves off the ground, but it was a nightmare to clean out. Now I give them a good bed of straw, take out all the bedding under the calves every week and top up with clean straw as required during week. Try to use more straw and less antibiotics

An old man told me re rearing calves: If you smell ammonia, you'll get pneumonia

[Tipp Man]

Originally Posted by PatQfarmer

I priced them, but they're FIERCE expensive

I used to use timber fertiliser pallets under straw to raise the calves off the ground, but it was a nightmare to clean out. Now I give them a good bed of straw, take out all the bedding under the calves every week and top up with clean straw as required during week. Try to use more straw and less antibiotics

An old man told me re rearing calves: If you smell ammonia, you'll get pneumonia

Just a little tip Pat on the fertiliser pallets

If you remove the boards from 1 side and have that side (without boards that is) on the floor then the straw has nothing to get caught up in and you can clean the straw off the top of the pallets. It will be dry straw so you will have it off in seconds

Its a brilliant job and keeps the calves really dry

[PatQfarmer]

Originally Posted by Tipp Man

Just a little tip Pat on the fertiliser pallets

If you remove the boards from 1 side and have that side (without boards that is) on the floor then the straw has nothing to get caught up in and you can clean the straw off the top of the pallets. It will be dry straw so you will have it off in seconds

Its a brilliant job and keeps the calves really dry

Thanks for that. Unfortunately, parts of the calf-shed floor do not have sufficient slope to drain freely, thanks to bloomin' builder laying it too flat
So it is better that I clean it out at least weekly, otherwise I found that the urine pooled under the pallets...not a recipe for healthy calves!
Have considered cutting channels in floor, but that would clog with dirt. Any other suggestions?

[bbam]

Originally Posted by PatQfarmer

Thanks for that. Unfortunately, parts of the calf-shed floor do not have sufficient slope to drain freely, thanks to bloomin' builder laying it too flat
So it is better that I clean it out at least weekly, otherwise I found that the urine pooled under the pallets...not a recipe for healthy calves!
Have considered cutting channels in floor, but that would clog with dirt. Any other suggestions?

I've seen calf stalls raised two ft off the floor to allow wash down pump clean under them. Seemed to work fine but I thought it would leave calves cold.
It had wooden removable slats and when he had a sick calf he would bed with straw for a few days until the calf was better. He didn't say but it looked expensive.

[PatQfarmer]

Originally Posted by bbam

I've seen calf stalls raised two ft off the floor to allow wash down pump clean under them. Seemed to work fine but I thought it would leave calves cold.
It had wooden removable slats and when he had a sick calf he would bed with straw for a few days until the calf was better. He didn't say but it looked expensive.

It'd make the calves look bigger for those donedeal pics when selling
Otherwise, I'd be terrified the whole thing would collapse...unless it was put up properly, at big cost.
Seriously though, I'd agree, it must be cold under them. My straw-forking days are still in front of me, it appears. It's not too bad if cleaned every week. Just push all out into centre passage and in with the front loader. 30 mins. max to do double-sided shed with 4no 12'x24' pens.

[bbam]

Originally Posted by PatQfarmer

It'd make the calves look bigger for those donedeal pics when selling
Otherwise, I'd be terrified the whole thing would collapse...unless it was put up properly, at big cost.
Seriously though, I'd agree, it must be cold under them. My straw-forking days are still in front of me, it appears. It's not too bad if cleaned every week. Just push all out into centre passage and in with the front loader. 30 mins. max to do double-sided shed with 4no 12'x24' pens.

TBH I think it's better too.
Warm, dry and when it's refreshed often they tend to start eating it younger which is good for them.

[jerdee]

last time we reared calves we put down a full load of 3/4 limestone in the back wall of haybarn then put straw ontop urine flowed down and calves were dry and comfortable plus plenty of air
at the finish all we did was mix up straw with stone for a couple of months and straw had disappeared useful stone for gaps .

just my bit

[leg wax]

what we always did when milking for calves they were kept in a big shed with no floor and instead of topping up the floor every year with stone or dust we got lorry loads of ag lime and put that in,it was the best thing ever ,there was never a smell and when you took the straw out with the tractor it mixed up with lime and broke down the straw faster.

[whelan1]

i did have the o donnovan stalls with wooden slats in the floor about 10 inches off the ground, absolutely hated them... took out slats and just bed them with straw, use cubicle lime on the floor and also disenfect with oocide regularly

[Pat the lad]

anyone ever put pre-cast slabs instead of slats over tank??? putting up 4 span slatted shed for suckers, was tinkering with putting pre-cast slabs over one end span for creep area for calves?
would it be too draughty on them
anyone done this or seen it done?

[bob charles]

Originally Posted by Pat the lad

anyone ever put pre-cast slabs instead of slats over tank??? putting up 4 span slatted shed for suckers, was tinkering with putting pre-cast slabs over one end span for creep area for calves?
would it be too designer on them
anyone done this or seen it done?

No problems, just get them specced properly, Are you taking the tractor or feeder over them aswell. I pass over a suspended tank everyday with the feeder which would be 10ton on the feeder axle

[Pat the lad]

[Quote=bob charles

No problems, just get them specced properly, Are you taking the tractor or feeder over them aswell. I pass over a suspended tank everyday with the feeder which would be 10ton on the feeder axle[/Quote]

just the tractor and loader for cleaning out end span that would be creep area For calves Bob.
was afraid the tank might be draughty on the calves laying on the top of the pre cast slabs- that's all

[bob charles]

Originally Posted by Pat the lad

just the tractor and loader for cleaning out end span that would be creep area For calves Bob.
was afraid the tank might be draughty on the calves laying on the top of the pre cast slabs- that's all

nah, you would be pouring concrete ontop of the slabs aswell

[keep going]

use wood chips under the calves with a few years and will never use anything else.excellent drainage and no cleaning out unless you overstock and then a dig up with the pike will get you another week or two.have calves on the same chips with nearly 3 months this year and no problems.they stay in the same pen and as the bull calves are sold so the stocking rate go s down.million miles ahead of straw

[just do it]

Originally Posted by jerdee

last time we reared calves we put down a full load of 3/4 limestone in the back wall of haybarn then put straw ontop urine flowed down and calves were dry and comfortable plus plenty of air
at the finish all we did was mix up straw with stone for a couple of months and straw had disappeared useful stone for gaps .

just my bit

Sounds like a great idea, no issue with finding a spot for a load of stone each year! Was it a concrete floor under the stone? And did you change the straw or just replenish it as need be?