Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Anyone rear dairy calves outside?

  • 27-02-2013 8:33pm
    #1
    delaval
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,949 ✭✭✭


    We did it in the pst with varying results usually very successful. Stopped last few years as numbers increased and find indoors handier.
    If anyone doing it I would be interested in how you are organised and at what stage do you do it?
    On the other hand if you 'know a guy who did' don't bother


Comments

  • #2
    maxxuumman
    Closed Accounts Posts: 592 ✭✭✭maxxuumman


    I get 40 heifers out by 4 weeks of age. I have the milkbar quad tank. They are fed on yogurt 3 litres twice a day. Ration ad lib as well. No hutches, just a 5 acre field with shelter E,W&N. I did try with hutches, but that was a failure. Good shelter is all you need. would highly recommend it. Anyone that hasn't tried it doesn't know what they are missing. Never had a sick calf with this system.


  • #3
    bbam
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,410 ✭✭✭bbam


    I'm interested to hear more.
    Are you in a particularly warm or sheltered area? For example have you them out over the last week of frosts?

    We're at near 700ft above sea level and a hasky cold wind is the norm here.

    We reared some outside in the back end of last summer but they had access to an open fronted shed for nights and free access to the field, they spent most nights indoors.


  • #4
    Tipp Man
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,025 ✭✭✭Tipp Man


    maxxuumman wrote: »
    I get 40 heifers out by 4 weeks of age. I have the milkbar quad tank. They are fed on yogurt 3 litres twice a day. Ration ad lib as well. No hutches, just a 5 acre field with shelter E,W&N. I did try with hutches, but that was a failure. Good shelter is all you need. would highly recommend it. Anyone that hasn't tried it doesn't know what they are missing. Never had a sick calf with this system.

    What was the problem with the hutches??

    No doubt calves are much healthier outside


  • #5
    PatQfarmer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 597 ✭✭✭PatQfarmer


    Tipp Man wrote: »
    What was the problem with the hutches??

    No doubt calves are much healthier outside

    Not sure of that, Tipp Man. The shelter outside needs to be excellent. They also use more energy staying warm.
    A good(!) calf shed is equally as good as outdoors, imo, and less hassle with crows robbing meal etc. For part-timers like me, it's the only way, as we need lighting early and late:rolleyes:
    That said, it has to be bedded and cleaned out! I have no Spring calves this year, but our Spring calves last year had shed and paddock access from end Feb onwards (3 weeks old) and while out in the day, slept in every night until I locked them out in May:)


Advertisement