FlexiTunnel
has been developed over years of research and trials to
satisfy the increasing demand of farmers and commercial
growers for a truly moveable crop and livestock protection
system.
A
FlexiTunnel
was first used in New Zealand to rear calves in early
2000 on a South Island Westcoast dairy farm. In the years
since, FlexiTunnes have been chosen by farmers up and
down the country, from Invercargill in the South to Kaikohe
in the far North, to successfully protect their livestock.
FlexiTunnels
are not only incredibly versatile and simple, but also
the most cost effective way to help the livestock producer
to better provide your stock with a moveable and disease
free shelter.
FlexiTunnel
provides the livestock farmer with the greatest flexibility
and young calves with a fresh and disease free environment
at all times.
FlexiTunnels
are
best used in conjunction with a temporary "yard" or a
total "free range system" whereby the tunnel is erected
right in the paddock used for grazing young stock. It's
"low" total height of 2.2m ensures that the body heat
released by the animals stays inside and is not lost due
to high stud heights or to draughty conditions. Recommended
for calves up to 5 weeks of age.
For
Calf rearers, there are no more important considerations
than the survival and growth of their young calves.
One
of the biggest challenges in preventing infections, low
growth rates and even death are the threats of disease
build up and adverse weather conditions. The danger of
disease build up effecting young calves starts within
days after introducing your first animals into your housing
facility. It has been well documented and proven that
later calves never do as well as earlier arrivals which
had the privilege of a clean and fresh calving shed.
Cleaning
and disinfecting sheds between two batches of young animals
is also a challenge not always solved entirely successfully.
This
is where a FlexiTunnel Calf Rearing Shelter can make a
huge difference. Erected on a fresh piece of ground, preferably
on top of some “deep litter” (shavings, saw
dust, bark chip, etc), one always starts with a perfectly
clean environment. Sunshine and heat reaching into every
corner of the FlexiTunnel will help sterilize and keep
the litter dry and clean.
Calves
enjoy the unique and draught free environment, where due
to the low profile of the tunnels, their trapped body
heat will keep them warm and dry even on wet days and
cold nights.
The
recommended layout with one side of the FlexiTunnel opening
up into a temporary yard or out to a paddock allows the
calves to decide where they are most comfortable - inside
the shelter or in the yard / paddock area. Many farmers
however, have been surprised to notice how often the calves
seem to seek and enjoy the heat provided by the tunnels
even during warm sunny days.
Once the calves have been moved out of the tunnel, the
greenhouse film and galvanized steel structure is easily
cleaned. The calf rearing facility usually remains in
the same place year after year.
However,
being a truly movable livestock protection system, if
desired, the FlexiTunnel can then be either shifted for
another batch of calves, used as a greenhouse for vegetable
or flower crop, used as a temporary shed, or simply be
stacked away ready for the next season.
Over
the years, since FlexiTunnels have been used as calf shelters,
many farmers have used it with great success and feedback
is consistently positive. Reports of improved
weight gains of more than 10% over conventional housing
systems are common place.
What
Farmers and Calf rearers say about FlexiTunnels:
"
Five years on, the heifers are now a much better
size - as a result of rearing them in the FlexiTunnel
... easy to work with and the calves seem to be
very comfortable in them ... putting their energy
into growth and development, not just trying to
stay warm ... no disease during the past five years
... appreciate how easy the tunnels make the job.
I would not go back to the old way - this
is so easy and they do so much better."
(Iain McGillivray, Reporoa) Read the full interview of the "Dairy
Exporter' in our ARCHIVE
"the
weight gain and general condition of the calves in
the plastic house were way ahead of the ones we reared
in the converted sheds. It got ot the point where
we were taking calves out of the drafty sheds and
putting them in the plastic house for their last two
weeks of milk feeding."
(23.12.04 - W+K.C Feilding)
“The
calves could come and go as they needed. Most calves
were out during the day and came in at night. All
stayed in at night. I was very surprised at how
warm it remained inside the tunnel… great -
they really flourished, no problems at all…
money well invested!"
(A.P. and I.S. Hamilton)
“It
never got wet / damp inside due to it heating up with
the sun shining through the plastic film … they
enjoy it, always happy and run inside if it is raining
… gain weight well and are always healthy …
had no losses … probably due to minimal 'bad
bug' build up due to the sun on the floor … are
funny to watch when it is raining and you come to
feed them: They stay inside the FlexiTunnel watching
until the milk is in the drum and then come out of
the shelter. It was a good investment, the calves
do well and we grow good vegetables when the calves
are not using it.”
( M. and C. H. Westland)
"…
warm, wind free and low stress … as good as a
well constructed permanent calf rearing system/facility
…worthwhile for us as sharemilkers, due to portability.”
(B. and J. M. Tirau)
"…calves
liked the tunnels very much - was their place of choice
especially when young … weight gain was very
good, did not loose birth weight, minimal scour trouble…
made a huge difference to ease of raising our calves
and the quality of them … consider our investment
worthwhile."
(C.and A. P. Puhoi)
"Litter
in the Tunnel stayed dry all the time ... had some
very strong easterly and southerly winds. Surprised
that it stayed in place! ... good investment ... will
be using it every year from now on"
(A&P Kumara, Westland)
"Purchasing
a FlexiTunnel was cheaper than enlarging my existing
shed - and it is "flexible". I can now shift
the shelter where ever I want to .... I appreciate
the care you put in your product, but also the aftercare...
good product, great business!"
(M&W, Cambridge)
Features
Only
the FlexiTunnel
CALF REARING CONCEPT has all these features:
Integrated
yards with individual pens The FlexiTunnel
Calf Rearing Concept is a fully integrated system that
guarantees an easy and pleasant work environment for the
calf rearer. The yard is divided into pens to hold between
10 and twenty calves and can be assembled and changed
into individual sizes. The rails between the pens are
high enough to deter calves jumping them but at the same
time low enough for a person to step across. Every rail
(yard unit) can swing around either end in order to open
up a pen in every desired direction, for calves to be
shifted in and out. Practical
Depending on the owners preference,
one of two different FlexiTunnel
models is generally used for calf rearing purposes. Head
clearance of 1.85m allows for good access trough the whole
tunnel. Either side of the tunnel can be partly or fully
lifted to give any amount of required ventilation or easy
access along both sides along its full lengths.
Portable
Once erected a FlexiTunnel
can simply be shifted to a new site within hours and avoids
all the trappings of a permanent structure. It can be
used for multiple purposes (Greenhouse or storage area)
or just be packed away for the season. The ease of relocating
assures you of a high resale value, should the need occur.
Flexible
FlexiTunnels
modular and patented design (NZ PATENT No. 329514)
allows it to be easily extended in 4m modules. They do
not need level ground conditions and can even be used
on sloping ground.
Long
Life All metal parts are either hot dip galvanised, zinc
plated or made of stainless steel. The tunnels are covered
with a minimum 200micron greenhouse film with a manufactures
guarantee of three years and an expected live span of
5 - 7 years plus. The doors are clad with twin wall polycarbonate
sheets.
Strong,
lightweight FlexiTunnel's
are designed for ease of shifting and at the same time
to withstand New Zealand's strong wind conditions. The
patented design ensures that it is virtually impossible
for the film to come off the tunnels frame, while the
structure itself is securely held to the ground with the
help of screw anchors.
Economical
The low all-inclusive price
(under $50 per m2) can protect your calves for as little
as $5 per calf/season (Calculated on a 10 year depreciation)
and it's versatility of use, make FlexiTunnel
the most cost effective live stock protection system available.
FlexiTunnels
are delivered on site in kitset form ready to erect No foundations, no on-site welding or cutting is
required as all the components arrive ready for assembly.
Any size FlexiTunnel
up to 500sqm can easily be erected by "unskilled labour"
in less than a day. We keep our warehouses fully stocked
and can usually dispatch any size FlexiTunnel
within 7 working days to anywhere in New Zealand. You
can order your FlexiTunnel
today and start making it work for you next week!
