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Every dairy producer knows healthy calves require a healthy environment. This includes sound biosecurity measures and standard operating procedures (SOPs) that focus on sanitation and the elimination of disease transfer.
In 1980, it felt like a leap of faith to follow the advice of the researchers who said, “Move your calves outside. They won’t freeze, and they won’t die.”
Developing or improving your farm’s guidelines for cleaning and sanitizing calf housing might seem like a daunting task. Try looking at it from a different angle. As a dairy farmer, you are more than likely familiar with the careful, well-thought-out routine of cleaning and sanitizing equipment in your parlor or milk house.
There are hundreds of considerations when it comes to planning for calf housing, from what type of calf pail to purchase, to hutches versus calf barn, to ventilation type and beyond. In many cases, decision makers are basing their choices on what’s best for the calves, and that’s certainly a good thing. But what about what’s best for your employees?
