Calf rearing methods compared

Rearing the pre-weaned calf can be extremely labour intensive.

Outdoor rearing and once-a-day feeding can minimise the labour without compromising calf health and welfare.

Emer Kennedy, Moorepark, has looked at outdoor rearing methods and compared them to indoor rearing. Three systems were compared — indoors; outdoors with low-cost roofed shelters; and outdoors with straw-bale shelters in a cross or ‘X’ shape.