Parkinson’s Law states that “work expands to fill the time available for its completion”. One wonders if Parkinson spent a few years rearing calves before he became a notable historian and economist in 20th century Britain.

Such is the variation in time and effort needed to rear calves, that this quote often springs to mind. It’s a fact that some farmers can rear many calves with minimal fuss, losses, cost or disease, while for most others, spring can be a struggle.

A whole industry has built up around calf rearing, from supplying inputs, infrastructure and facilities, as well as offering solutions when things go wrong.

So why do some farmers cope well and others less so? The following is a list of practices undertaken by efficient calf rearers, which are applicable to both dairy and beef farmers.

1 Adequate housing

Expensive calf housing does not guarantee successful calf rearing. There have been many incidences where new and often quite expensive calf sheds have been home to lots of sick calves.

For me, an adequate calf house is one with good airflow, pen size is suitable to the size of the herd and calves can be fed quickly and easily.

There is no point in a farmer rearing 50 calves and having them all in one pen

In regards to pen size, there is no point in a farmer rearing hundreds of calves with a maximum of 10 calves per pen. In this case, 50 calves per pen would be more suitable.

Similarly, there is no point in a farmer rearing 50 calves and having them all in one pen.

This is because the calves will be different ages and weights and may have come from different farms, or were bought at different times.

Another key consideration is to design the calf sheds in such a way that they are easy to clean out. Sheds that are difficult to clean out will be cleaned out less often - that’s human nature.

2 Reduce movements

Traditionally, calves on dairy farms stayed with their dams for three or four days before moving to a calf shed. There, the calf was usually housed in individual pens for another few days before moving to a larger pen, often in a different house.

The calf may need to be in a smaller pen for a few days before moving to a large pen

All of these movements take time and effort and are of no benefit to the calf. It’s far better to move the calf to its final destination straight away after calving.

The calf may need to be in a smaller pen for a few days before moving to a large pen.

However, individual pens are very time consuming. If small calves can be grouped in pens of six to ten, it would be much more efficient.

3 Feed system

The system of feeding calves has a massive bearing on labour input. Obviously, beef farmers have no real alternative to using calf milk replacer.

It’s debateable which system is more labour efficient. It all depends on the system used to mix the milk replacer.

When it comes to mixers, there are lots of options available

If using buckets and manually mixing the milk replacer, then labour input will be higher than using a mixer. When it comes to mixers, there are lots of options available.

Adding water and powder to a large bucket/barrel and mixing with an electric plaster mixer (as used by plasterers) works well.

Alternatively, fitting a pump at the base of a barrel, with the outlet going into the top of the barrel is also very effective at mixing milk replacer.

Getting the milk from the barrel to the calf feeders is another area where a pump can reduce the workload

Farmers also add water and milk replacer to a mobile calf feeder (the type pulled behind a quad) and the movement of the feeder during transport will mix the milk replacer as good as any other mixer. Getting the milk from the barrel to the calf feeders is another area where a pump can reduce the workload.

Over the course of a season, a farmer rearing 100 calves to weaning could end up lifting 40t of milk if using buckets.

Of course, computerised calf feeders also help to reduce the workload, with much less lifting of buckets

That’s presuming each bucket is lifted once. If the buckets are lifted more than once, then the amount of weight lifted multiplies.

Of course, computerised calf feeders also help to reduce the workload, with much less lifting of buckets.

The time spent calf rearing can be done when it suits the farmers, and not governed by morning or evening times.

4 Feeding frequency

Calves from four weeks of age can be fed milk once a day.

Calves should be offered fresh water from birth, along with fresh meal and hay or straw.

Access to these solid feeds is even more important when calves are on once-a-day feeding.

Once-a day feeding of calves greatly reduces the workload associated with calf rearing, and when practiced correctly, has no knock on effects on calf health or welfare.