FLEXITUNNEL REPORT:
PURPOSE DESIGNED CALF HOUSING FOR JUST 1% OF THE COST OF A REPLACEMENT HEIFER?
THE PROBLEM WITH CONVENTIONAL PRACTICE
How many forward thinking New Zealand dairy farmers would not be prepared to invest 1% of the replacement cost of their cows on purpose designed and built calf housing? Housing that provides the ultimate environment to successfully rear “the future of their business”.
Unfortunately, the reality is, that calf housing often is a low priority on farms or on new conversions being built. Neglecting this important part of a dairy farm business often leads to a range of pressures on the calves, as well as on the person in charge of raising them.
Proper calf housing or barns that provide a warm and draft free environment with adequate ventilation and plenty of sunlight, are one of the cornerstones of successful calf rearing. But even today, it is estimated that between 75 and 90% of NZ farmers still use non-dedicated and woefully inadequate housing like converted wool sheds, hay barns or implement sheds and therefore risking not reaching the potential of their future herds.
The real cost of not reaching target weights.
In comparison to conventional methods, live-weight gains in calves reared in a FlexiTunnel can be up to 10kg higher at 6 weeks compared to animals reared in “conventional” sheds with the same fed inputs and under the same management.
Additional life weight gains in the first most important few weeks of an animal’s life certainly go some way in reaching target weights at the two crucial points further down a heifer’s life, namely at mating (60%) and at calving (90%).
Evidence suggests that the majority of the country’s replacement heifers fall short of reaching expected live-weight targets. The financial implications are rather far reaching: Heifers that don’t reach the target produce less milk. A heifer that falls 20% below the target weight is expected to produce 10% less milk fat in her first lactation. This can equate to an average loss of around 35 kg of milk solids or about $250 at a $7 pay-out. And this represents the loss for just her first productive year!
On the other hand, heifers that reach the target weights not only produce more milk, they also have a better reproductive performance (fewer empties), a better calving pattern and remain
THE FLEXITUNNEL ADVANTAGE
Rearing heifers from birth through to their first lactation is a large financial cost in a dairy farm business. Current figures put that cost at close to $1500 for the average heifer raised in New
The capital expense of a FlexiTunnel Calf Rearing Package (including the purpose designed yards with pens) averages between $120 and $180 per calf space, depending on individual “stocking rates” and the size of the tunnel. Assuming a conservative depreciation time of the facilities of 10 years, this would indicate that the additional cost of providing a dedicated calf rearing facility to a calf rearing operation adds as little as $15 per calf or 1% to the overall cost of rearing a heifer through to calving.
Optimal environment with gentle hardening-off
The layout with one side of the FlexiTunnel opening up into the outside pens allows the calves to decide where they are most comfortable - inside the shelter or out in the outside area. Wherever they may be they enjoy the benefit of plenty of fresh air and all the available sunlight. Many farmers however, have been surprised to notice how often the calves seem to seek and enjoy the heat and shelter provided by the tunnels, even during hot sunny days.
Part of the reason for this is the ability of the greenhouse film to break and disperse the rays of the sun and therefore reducing its harshness. Being fed milk outside the tunnel “forces” the calves into the outdoors, getting them accustomed to short periods of adverse weather at an early age without compromising their wellbeing. Over the years, since FlexiTunnels have been used as calf shelters, hundreds of farmers all over New Zealand and in Australia have used it with great success and feedback is consistently positive. Improved weight gains of up to 10% higher than in conventional housing systems are common place.
Sunshine, warmth and heat retention.
All the natural sunlight is harnessed to synthesize adequate amounts of vitamin D in order to keep the calf’s bones growing strong and healthy, as well as support their immune system.
The construction materials of steel and greenhouse film guarantees that every available ray of sunshine is captured all day long and utilized in warming and drying the calf shelter. And the "low" total height of 2.3m and the semi-circle shape of the tunnel, ensures that the heat captured from the sun or released by the animals and the deep-litter, stays inside the tunnel and is not lost due to high stud heights or to draughty conditions.
Ample ventilation with absence of draft.
One of the secrets of the FlexiTunnel’s success is its simple, but absolutely fail proof ventilation system. Lack of fresh air circulation can quickly proof detrimental. Therefore any barn or calf shed that is deeper than say 6 to 7 meters needs to have cross-ventilation which in turn introduces draft that is a certain “no-no” for any young stock. In a FlexiTunnel, no animal is ever more than 4 to 5 meters away from the nearest point of natural ventilation, thus providing plenty of natural air circulation with a total draft-free environment. This is no different whether it is a 50 calf unit or a tunnel that holds 400 to 500 calves.
Shed hygiene and the UV light difference.
Sunshine reaching into every corner of the bedding area of a FlexiTunnel is constantly sterilizing the deep-litter. It is successfully utilizing the sun’s UV rays to kill possible harmful bacteria that could exist in the litter, thereby preventing disease build-up and keeping the litter
CONSISTENTLY POSITIVE FEEDBACK
Over the 12 years, since FlexiTunnels have been used as calf shelters, hundreds of farmers all over New Zealand and in Australia have used it with great success and feedback is consistently positive. Improved weight gains of up to 10% than in conventional housing systems are commonly reported.
How many forward thinking New Zealand dairy farmers would not be prepared to invest 1% of the replacement cost of their cows on purpose designed and built calf housing? Housing that provides the ultimate environment to successfully rear “the future of their business”.
Unfortunately, the reality is, that calf housing often is a low priority on farms or on new conversions being built. Neglecting this important part of a dairy farm business often leads to a range of pressures on the calves, as well as on the person in charge of raising them.
Proper calf housing or barns that provide a warm and draft free environment with adequate ventilation and plenty of sunlight, are one of the cornerstones of successful calf rearing. But even today, it is estimated that between 75 and 90% of NZ farmers still use non-dedicated and woefully inadequate housing like converted wool sheds, hay barns or implement sheds and therefore risking not reaching the potential of their future herds.
The real cost of not reaching target weights.
In comparison to conventional methods, live-weight gains in calves reared in a FlexiTunnel can be up to 10kg higher at 6 weeks compared to animals reared in “conventional” sheds with the same fed inputs and under the same management.
Additional life weight gains in the first most important few weeks of an animal’s life certainly go some way in reaching target weights at the two crucial points further down a heifer’s life, namely at mating (60%) and at calving (90%).
Evidence suggests that the majority of the country’s replacement heifers fall short of reaching expected live-weight targets. The financial implications are rather far reaching: Heifers that don’t reach the target produce less milk. A heifer that falls 20% below the target weight is expected to produce 10% less milk fat in her first lactation. This can equate to an average loss of around 35 kg of milk solids or about $250 at a $7 pay-out. And this represents the loss for just her first productive year!
On the other hand, heifers that reach the target weights not only produce more milk, they also have a better reproductive performance (fewer empties), a better calving pattern and remain
THE FLEXITUNNEL ADVANTAGE
Rearing heifers from birth through to their first lactation is a large financial cost in a dairy farm business. Current figures put that cost at close to $1500 for the average heifer raised in New
The capital expense of a FlexiTunnel Calf Rearing Package (including the purpose designed yards with pens) averages between $120 and $180 per calf space, depending on individual “stocking rates” and the size of the tunnel. Assuming a conservative depreciation time of the facilities of 10 years, this would indicate that the additional cost of providing a dedicated calf rearing facility to a calf rearing operation adds as little as $15 per calf or 1% to the overall cost of rearing a heifer through to calving.
Optimal environment with gentle hardening-off
The layout with one side of the FlexiTunnel opening up into the outside pens allows the calves to decide where they are most comfortable - inside the shelter or out in the outside area. Wherever they may be they enjoy the benefit of plenty of fresh air and all the available sunlight. Many farmers however, have been surprised to notice how often the calves seem to seek and enjoy the heat and shelter provided by the tunnels, even during hot sunny days.
Part of the reason for this is the ability of the greenhouse film to break and disperse the rays of the sun and therefore reducing its harshness. Being fed milk outside the tunnel “forces” the calves into the outdoors, getting them accustomed to short periods of adverse weather at an early age without compromising their wellbeing. Over the years, since FlexiTunnels have been used as calf shelters, hundreds of farmers all over New Zealand and in Australia have used it with great success and feedback is consistently positive. Improved weight gains of up to 10% higher than in conventional housing systems are common place.
Sunshine, warmth and heat retention.
All the natural sunlight is harnessed to synthesize adequate amounts of vitamin D in order to keep the calf’s bones growing strong and healthy, as well as support their immune system.
The construction materials of steel and greenhouse film guarantees that every available ray of sunshine is captured all day long and utilized in warming and drying the calf shelter. And the "low" total height of 2.3m and the semi-circle shape of the tunnel, ensures that the heat captured from the sun or released by the animals and the deep-litter, stays inside the tunnel and is not lost due to high stud heights or to draughty conditions.
Ample ventilation with absence of draft.
One of the secrets of the FlexiTunnel’s success is its simple, but absolutely fail proof ventilation system. Lack of fresh air circulation can quickly proof detrimental. Therefore any barn or calf shed that is deeper than say 6 to 7 meters needs to have cross-ventilation which in turn introduces draft that is a certain “no-no” for any young stock. In a FlexiTunnel, no animal is ever more than 4 to 5 meters away from the nearest point of natural ventilation, thus providing plenty of natural air circulation with a total draft-free environment. This is no different whether it is a 50 calf unit or a tunnel that holds 400 to 500 calves.
Shed hygiene and the UV light difference.
Sunshine reaching into every corner of the bedding area of a FlexiTunnel is constantly sterilizing the deep-litter. It is successfully utilizing the sun’s UV rays to kill possible harmful bacteria that could exist in the litter, thereby preventing disease build-up and keeping the litter
CONSISTENTLY POSITIVE FEEDBACK
Over the 12 years, since FlexiTunnels have been used as calf shelters, hundreds of farmers all over New Zealand and in Australia have used it with great success and feedback is consistently positive. Improved weight gains of up to 10% than in conventional housing systems are commonly reported.
