Proper production environment for calves

Good welfare and health are the bedrock of the competitiveness and profitability of Finnish dairy production. An important basis for health of dairy and beef cattle is formed already in the calf phase. Despite the recent progress in building cattle barns, the calves are often in the same air space with the adult animals. This often exposes the calves to various diseases that spread further as the animals are transferred from their farm of birth to calf rearing facilities. The aim of our project is to develop a new practice for planning and construction of cattle barns that ensures optimal rearing conditions for the calves and prohibits the spreading of pathogens. We develop and test various solutions on pilot farms that are either renovating old barns or building new barns. The improvement of the conditions can be judged from better welfare indicated by, for example, decreased use of antimicrobial drugs and decrease in calf mortality.