Making the best of available resources has seen old pig buildings

By Shirley Macmillan

Quality food is the focus of Jim Sherrin’s calf rearing. But experience has also taught this Dorset-based producer that well-ventilated housing and treating calves at the first sign of illness are crucial to fast growth rates.

“If we see a calf just one degree under, we know we have to treat it quickly otherwise it won’t get better,” says Mr Sherrin, who runs the unit at Higher Northfield Farm, near Beaminster with partner Trena Dawe.

“Our theory is we have two jobs to do here: Develop the rumen and develop the immune system. We want to produce a calf that really takes off when it leaves here and moves onto a beef farm.”

Growth rates among the 1500 to 2000 calves reared each year average 1kg/day, with some groups achieving 1.2kg/day. The target is to turn stock around in 10 to 12 weeks weighing 125-130kg, by which stage growth is 1.5kg/day. Most calves are Continental crosses from many local dairy herds, via market or a collection centre. And with over 400 calves being reared at any one time, it took some time to find suitable premises.

Three years ago, Mr Sherrin converted a former pig unit on the coast. Apart from the sea view and being away from the main road, he says the attraction was a level, well-concreted site with easily adaptable buildings. “The buildings needed little work to transform them and pig pens were easily converted for calves. We ripped out the low ceilings, a few walls and some bars,” he says.

Plywood sheeting which lowered ceilings to 1.3m (4’) were removed to create housing that is 4m (12’) to the eaves. In the largest shed, for weaned calves, Mr Sherrin removed some of the ridge on every bay to make chimneys and improve air flow. “We also have electronicallyadjusted blinds on the side running the full length of this building,” he adds.

One leftover from the pig days is a series of extractor fans to keep air clean. Unfortunately, they are expensive: Electricity use makes for big fixed costs, says Mr Sherrin. Regular mucking out (weekly in the nursery) prevents a build-up of ammonia in the air.

Calves, aged one to three weeks, are housed in pens of four in the nursery. “When they arrive, they are bedded on barley straw, given clean water and calf pencils and we just leave them to rest till the morning, when we feed them milk. Those arriving between November and May are given a multi-vitamin jab to give them a boost.”

Following the rule that you only get what you pay for, Mr Sherrin is happy to spend an extra for quality milk powder. “Cheaper stuff can be only 60% digestibility. I buy a quality product that has 95-98% digestibility. We feed it warm through New Zealand 10-teat feeders – more than the quantities specified on the bag.”

Weaning happens when Mr Sherrin judges whether calves are the right size and eating enough, not by a set date. Castrating earlier and dehorning later also help avoid stress at weaning. Monthly visits from his vet, Jereme Darke of Kingfisher Veterinary Practice in Somerset, give Mr Sherrin the chance to discuss ideas with a third party. It also suits calves reared under contract for Meadow Quality. They must have a herd health plan and be vaccinated against pneumonia using Bovilis® Bovipast RSP, a vaccine effective against some of the most common causes of viral and bacterial pneumonia.

Mr Darke explains that, even on this unit, vaccination has an important role. “When sourcing calves from several farms, it brings them all up to the same level. Our aim is to protect them as much as possible for when they move onto the next phase of rearing. It minimises the knock-on effects – such as days to slaughter increasing.”

Pneumonia is still the biggest problem on calf rearing units, he says, and milder winters have led to cases as late as January and February. Poor housing is often a cause, whether a building needs cleaning out, or a water trough has leaked, leading to soggy bedding and unhygienic conditions.

“Calves tend to be housed in buildings where you can’t put anything else, such as traditional cows stalls or store rooms. But often these buildings are too closed in. “Apart from a base that drains properly, the priorities are draught-free, yet well ventilated. Air must enter and leave above calf head height – you want to be sure you have air flow, not stagnation.”

CALF REARING AT HIGH NORTHFIELD FARM
1500 to 2000 calves a year
Build immunity
Pro-active vaccination with Bovipast RSP
Develop rumen
Quality milk, cake and straw
Small groups
Good ventilation
Immediate treatment for illness