Comfortable calves can utilize the nutrients in their feed for growing rather than fighting environmental stress. T here are four basic requirements to maintaining calf comfort. K eeping calves dry means providing adequate drainage and clean bedding. Adequate drainage can be achieved in hutches by raising them up off the ground, utilizing a large-gravel base or grading the calf area. The bottom line is to keep excess rain and urine moisture away from calves.
Wet calves are difficult to keep warm especially during the cold winter months.
M any sources of bedding can be used successfully including straw, almond shell and shavings. The amount of bedding needed to maintain calf comfort will be determined by the age of the calf, the environment and the amount of food and water the calf is ingesting. Cleaning bedding frequently will keep bedding dry and reduce the fly population in the calf area. Large fly populations can cause stress on young calves and reduce growth rates. A calf's thermal comfort zone is between 50 to 85 F in still air.