Calf husbandry in the USA: A look behind the scenes of innovation!

Calf husbandry in the USA: A look behind the scenes of innovation!

Calf husbandry in the United States is a focus of interest, particularly in light of the innovative husbandry systems offered by companies such as Hampel's Calf-Tel. Operating in Germantown, Wisconsin, since 1981, the company produces a variety of calf housing systems, including igloos and modular stalls. These extruded polyethylene products are characterized by their robustness and the fact that they are hardly deformable. An impressive 432 calf hutches are produced daily, which equates to a production of 18 hutches per hour. A UV-blocking pigment also protects the boxes from porosity and makes them opaque and non-porous. It is manufactured by heating a 35kg plastic sheet to 165°C, followed by thermoforming using a metal body that shapes the material into the desired shape, reports top agricultural.

In addition to these husbandry innovations, there are efforts in Germany to modernize training in animal husbandry. The beef training workshops in the VBZL Haus Düsse focus on sustainable and timely milk production. The focus here is on the integration of both classic and innovative husbandry and feeding systems. The aim is to sensitize trainees to social issues regarding sustainability, resource conservation, digitalization and automation, such as Chamber of Agriculture reported.

Modern stable concepts for the future

As part of a comprehensive construction project, the training workshops will be modernized in two sections. The first phase involves the construction of a multi-zone stable that is focused on animal welfare and sustainability. These include, among other things, a feed center with vertical feed stores and automated ruminant feeding as well as the integration of exercise yards and open spaces. In the second phase, a robot stable will be built that promotes the use of digitalization and automation in calf rearing. Around 80 dairy cows will be supplied with modern, automatic milking and feeding systems.

An important topic in this discussion is the appreciation of male calves and the comparison with classic stable systems, which are increasingly being questioned. The project is also funded by the Federal Institute for Vocational Training, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and includes several partners, including the North Rhine-Westphalia Chamber of Agriculture and the Niedersächsische Landgesellschaft mbH.