Young stock health
Grouping calves earlier improves herd productivity in the long term, leading to a decrease in carbon footprint.
Last updated on March 24th, 2023
In collaboration with MSD Animal Health
Why does it matter?
Grouping calves at an early stage is not a widely adopted practice, due to the potential risk of calves developing health issues. However, this can be avoided through adopting correct practices and can then lead to an improvement in herd productivity in the long term.
How did we solve this?
By progressively grouping calves earlier (seven days after birth), potential future health risks may be mitigated. To group calves, four specific pens were installed on the farm and five calves were grouped within each pen. The calves were fed with 900-1000g of powdered milk per day and had free access to water. The calves were then weighed every two weeks to track and monitor their weight gain.
As a result of correct early grouping calves, the animal welfare score increased from 56 to 58. The growth rate per day is expected to be higher for the calves that are grouped, in comparison to the control group. This project is ongoing and more information will be shared soon.
Opportunities for other farms?
Ensuring a high level of animal welfare is a daily focus on farms. Grouping calves earlier can be adopted on farms, depending on the national regulations in force.
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