Successful, healthy calf rearing depends on the housing concept, barn climate and feeding all being properly aligned. Even small mistakes in housing or ventilation quickly show up in the animals' health. PATURA has developed a modular calf pen system and matching calf equipment for this, and Kancler Sistem Pro, as its Slovenian partner, advises on and installs it on Slovenian farms.
Individual housing in the first weeks
One established rearing option is to house calves in fixed, permanently installed pens until around 10 to 12 weeks of age, with a later move into group pens. The advantages of this approach are good visibility, the option to combine it with an automatic feeding system, and easy, fast cleaning, since the pens can be almost fully disassembled. PATURA calf pens sit on two fixed bases that also serve as a sliding edge for mechanical manure removal. The standard pen size is at least 2.3 m², and the side and rear panels can be swapped without tools, which makes both cleaning and converting to a group pen easier.
What the regulations say about pen dimensions
The dimensions of individual pens are not a matter of free choice, they are set by the regulations on calf rearing. For calves under 2 weeks old, the regulations give a pen of roughly 1.20 x 0.80 m (length x width); for calves aged 3 to 8 weeks, roughly 1.60 to 1.80 x 1.00 m. From the 9th week onward, the lying area in the pen has to be larger again, around 1.80 to 2.00 x 1.20 m.
The regulations also require group housing from roughly the 8th week onward; individual housing is only permitted when the group has fewer than 3 calves. For group rearing up to 6 months of age, the regulations set minimum lying areas by animal weight: for calves under 150 kg, at least 1.50 m² (recommended 1.80-2.20 m²); for calves between 150 and 220 kg, at least 1.70 m² (recommended 2.00-2.50 m²); for calves over 220 kg, at least 1.80 m² (recommended 2.30-2.80 m²). All the figures given here are approximate, so always check them against the applicable regulations when planning your barn.
The move to group rearing
Experts confirm that group rearing has a positive effect on calf development, since calves learn from each other, which encourages social interaction. This in turn improves fibre and water intake, leading to more vital calves with higher daily weight gain. A stable barn climate eases the critical transition from individual to group rearing, and calves can be caught using a self-locking feed barrier, which allows calm, controlled feeding and watering of each animal individually.
Ventilation and protection from cold
The design of the calf pen and the construction of the enclosures must ensure optimal air exchange, which can significantly reduce germ exposure and substantially improve calf health. A modular system with interchangeable rear panels fitted with a grille provides exactly this good ventilation, while keeping the pen dry and free of drafts.
For newborn or weakened calves, it makes sense to use a pen cover with a heating plate, which gives the calf faster drying and pleasant warmth in the first hours after birth. As much as 98% of the heat given off reaches the calf, and the system has a built-in safety cutoff. Once the calf is thoroughly dried and stronger, a calf jacket is recommended to help maintain a stable body temperature on cold days. The smaller size is meant for small calves and early births, and the larger size for breeds with bigger calves.
Feeding and watering that mimic nature
Trouble-free digestion and fast growth are only achieved through correct rearing. When feeding milk, the flow rate matters: teats that let through only as much milk as a cow's udder would allow calves to drink milk in a way similar to nursing from their mother. This encourages more intensive salivation, which improves pH balance and digestion and reduces the risk of diarrhoea. Intensive sucking also satisfies the sucking reflex, so calves lick and suck on each other considerably less.
For calves reared outdoors, fibreglass hutches are also available, with a white outer layer that reflects sunlight so the pen does not overheat even in summer. The natural climate regulation in such a hutch keeps the space dry and draft-free, which significantly reduces the risk of illness such as pneumonia.
Checklist for calf rearing
- Pens are individual in the first weeks, with dimensions matching the regulations for the animal's age
- The move to group rearing is planned for roughly the 8th week onward, with area per calf matching its weight
- Rear panels allow good ventilation without drafts
- Newborn and weakened calves have access to a heating plate or a calf jacket
- Milk feeding uses teats that mimic the natural flow of suckling
Need advice?
Our full range of calf pens and rearing equipment is on the calf equipment page.