Improving calf housing with polycarbonate calf pen sections

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It is standard practice to thoroughly clean calf housing and pens between batches. This can be time consuming and the material that the pens are made of has an impact on how effective the cleaning and disinfection process will be. It is also important to have similar sized calves in each batch to reduce competition for food and the spread of infection from older to younger calves.  

This dairy farmer from the UK has designed and installed a novel calf pen consisting of a metal framework with a Jourdain locking yoke front and tailor-made side slots, which allow the insertion of polycarbonate side partitions. The polycarbonate side partitions can be removed and inserted quickly and easily, allowing flexibility in pen size and therefore number of calves per pen. The farmer groups 2-4 calves per pen, noting that this helps to encourage the calves to feed, reduces stress and avoids the negative effects of dominant bigger calves. Managing groups of calves of similar sizes/ages would otherwise be problematic in an all–year–round calving herd. Additionally, the polycarbonate partition is very easy for the farmer to stream clean, saving time and improving the effectivity of the cleaning and disinfection process.  

The calf shed includes a ventilation tube to improve airflow as well as sloping floors to aid drainage, keeping the calf beds dry. Improving ventilation and reducing moisture from damp beds helps lower the incidence of lung disease. This updated calf accommodation has made management much easier for staff and reduced calf mortality rates significantly (from 8% to 0%), with a corresponding reduction in antimicrobial treatments. This has led to reduced costs through better use of staff time and fewer calves needing treatment. 

Automatic spray system of Animal Life Plus

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Between rounds, pollution accumulates in stables, with lots of dust, odor and ammonia. Something that is bad for animals, people and the environment. Animal Life Plus delivers an innovative automated barn cleaning system to improve the barn climate.

The automatic spray system is an easy to install system that works from an installation unit containing the spray. This spray is a biological cleaning agent that consists of a wide range of selected micro-organisms. These micro-organisms attach themselves to the core of the contamination, which can be seen as a layer of bonded dust on surfaces. The air remains and is considerably fresh.

The spraying system can be applied in all kinds of sectors, including piglets, sows, laying hens, broilers, calves and dairy goats. The system can be built into new and existing houses.

Prior to spraying, the starter is used to speed up microbiological cleaning, and the cleaner is used to clean between rounds with biological softener. By using these coordinated cleaners, the effect of the spray is optimally highlighted.

The automated microbiological cleaning concept of Animal Life Plus offers many advantages. For this pig farmer, the system has led to better animal health, less use of antibiotics, increased job satisfaction and an improved technical result. This means that the system pays for itself in a short period of time.

 

Webinar DISARM (ZLTO), Animal Life Plus and Gezondheidsdienst voor Dieren:

On farm hatching of broiler chicks to improve broiler welfare, health and performance and lower the need for antibiotics in broiler production. 

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Conventional broiler chicks that are transported to the broiler farm shortly after birth can suffer from the stress of handling in the hatchery, feed and water deprivation, and during the transport. This stress is detrimental for the birds’ immunological and physiological development resulting in less resilient birds.

On-farm hatching is an innovative concept preventing the burden of this stress because eggs which have been incubated for 18 days are being hatched directly on the broiler farm. The hatched chicks have instant access to water and feed, allowing for better development of their intestines and organs. This concept results in healthier and more robust animals that are more resilient to disease pressure. The concept is available through different suppliers offering specific systems (Nestborn®, One2Born® and X-treck (Vencomatic)), varying in labour requirements, ease of use and investment.

Depending on the farm-specific availability of labour, capital and desired production scheme different solutions can be interesting. On-farm hatching needs to fit in the production schedule since you need extra time to prepare your shed for the next cycle which can create a peak in labour requirements. Additionally, some extra costs for heating the shed three days earlier will be incurred. Still, savings on medicine use are possible as well as improvements to the technical performance of the birds which may help to offset additional costs. Field trials in Flanders on two farms transitioning from conventionally hatched broilers to the NestBorn concept have shown a reduction in their antibiotic usage for the NestBorn chicks compared to conventional broiler chicks. Antibiotic use measured as mg active substance per stocked chicken decreased by 62.76% on average and on 18 out of 27 production cycles no antibiotics were used in the NestBorn system.

Innovative farrowing box Balance Floor to decrease piglet mortality

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The farrowing pen with Balance Floor is an innovative design that has been on the market for several years. The idea behind this concept is a movable floor, which to a large extent prevents piglets from being crushed by the mother.

As soon as the sow stands up, she hits three sensors and the movable floor, on which the sow stands, is raised approximately 20 cm (using cylinders). The piglets cannot climb on this plateau during the first week of life, which is the most critical phase. As soon as the sow lies down the floor gradually descends. In the moment the sow lies down, the risk of crushing injuring/killing the piglets is reduced.

Animal welfare is significantly increased, because the number of piglets that are lost due to crushing is reduced by 80%. The risk of piglets partially trapped or crushed by the mother is also lower. For example, piglets’ claws remain better intact. Any pathogens present do not have a ‘porte d’entrée’ via a wound. This results in better animal health and less need for antibiotics.

As more piglets survive, production data, such as the weaned piglets per sow per year, also rise.

There are also advantages for the farmer. Because there is less risk of crushing, the farmer can keep the piglets with the sow with a more comfortable feeling. There is also time savings, because fewer, if any, inured piglets have to be monitored continuously.

Environmental control in the farrowing unit

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The piglet phase is one of the most critical for two reasons: the piglet’s immune system is developing and it is starting to be exposed to pathogens. Because of this, it is necessary to establish correct environmental control to reduce the presence of diseases and produce a stronger and more robust piglet at weaning.

The different temperature needs of the piglet (28-33ºC) and the sow (18-22ºC) make it necessary to design systems that allow these 2 “environments” in the same room.

To ensure correct environmental control in the farrowing unit, three factors must be taken into account:

1.Ventilation

The design of the ventilation of a maternity depends on multiple variables (length, and width of the building, etc.). In a practical way, it can be summarized as follows:

Ventilation must be forced and ideally part of automatic environmental control by means of probes, regulators and curves.

Ideally, the air should enter through a false ceiling with the aim of distributing all the new air evenly throughout the room. This ventilation method also allows the air to be preheated before reaching the area where the animals are.

2. Heating

In the case of the piglets, the most highly recommended heating method is a nest with an electric plate and a self-adjusting light source. With this system the optimum temperature for the piglets is achieved without increasing the electrical expenditure. In addition, the sow area will remain at the correct temperature.

3. Type of floor

Plastic is recommended for ease of cleaning and comfort of the animals. It is important that the floor drains correctly, to have a dry and clean floor available for the piglets.

Optimal housing for healthy and less stressed dairy cattle

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Housing conditions influence the health of dairy cows and significantly reduce unexpected expenses. Sometimes minimal changes without too much expense can have a significant effect on the health, welfare and productivity of a dairy herd.

Photoperiod, remote surveillance, regular hygiene, cow comfort, heat stress prevention, and providing enrichment activities are practical actions that a farmer can take into account in providing optimal housing conditions for dairy cows. Also, there should be provided natural ventilation, sloping and non-slip floors, and a drinking front accessible to the entire population. Free stables offer the highest degree of satisfaction with welfare standards compared to tied stables.

Regardless of the accommodation system, the animals must have a comfortable and dry resting area. It is recommended to set up a dedicated accommodation space for different age groups and different operating facilities for veterinary care.

An important role is also played by the quality of the milking system chosen by the farmer. It is already known that automated milking facilities ensure the hygienic quality of milk, but not all small farms are able to invest in modern automated systems.

Last but not least, it must be kept in mind that regular shelter hygiene is essential for maintaining animal health and prevents unforeseen additional costs.

The influence of low temperature on dairy cows

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The low temperature below the thermal neutrality zone influences the comfort, health and production of dairy cows. The thermal comfort in the dairy cow depends on age, breed, feed intake, production, housing conditions, body fat deposits, skin condition and animal behavior. The function of thermoregulation becomes functional after the disappearance of the blood fructose, respectively after 6 days in calves.

The effect of the low temperature on the metabolic and physiological adaptation for dairy cows is identified by: increased consumption of dry matter, increased frequency of rumination, increased motility of the gastrointestinal tract, increases basal metabolic rate and energy requirement for the maintenance of vital functions, consumption of body oxygen, increases heart rate, increases adrenaline, cortisol and growth hormones, lipolysis, glycogenogenesis, glycogenolysis, increases production of liver glycogen. At the level of the body, peripheral vasoconstriction occurs, the reduction of heat loss through sweating and the increase of thermogenesis.

In the Holstein-Frisien breed, milk production remains constant in the range -10 … 12°C, while in Jersey breed the production gradually decreases to below + 5°C (explained by the low body weight).

In order to alleviate cold stress, the following are recommended: measures to prevent the freezing of water and water storage tanks, increasing the amount of feed, especially high-energy feed, preventing the increase of humidity inside the shelter, keeping the udder dry by using dry bedding.

Optimal housing conditions for sheep

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Housing conditions, including ventilation rate, temperature, humidity, bedding and stocking density, are directly correlated with health, welfare and performance of dairy ruminants. Bedding materials contaminated with animals’ excreta (urine, dung, manure) have increased microbial growth, resulting in mastitis problems which increase somatic cell count in milk and umbilical cord infection in lambs.

Bedding conditions (moisture, temperature, pH), combined with limited ventilation rate also affect atmospheric ammonia concentration, which above a critical value (25 ppm) negatively affects animals health and welfare.

Gaseous ammonia is a severe irritant to the respiratory tract, capable of inhibiting the efficiency of the respiratory system at high levels. Slowed breathing, coughing, eye, mouth and nose irritation, poor weight gain, decreased resistance to diseases are some of the main symptoms of high ammonia concentration.

Production indices such as feed intake, feed conversion efficiency and productivity are all adversely affected in sheep and lambs by exposure to ammonia levels above 50 ppm.

Thus, an adequate ventilation rate in the animal house to renew the atmospheric air in it, keeping the moisture levels of bedding to minimum, more frequent replacement of bedding, and lower stocking densities are some of the main good practices to reduce the atmospheric ammonia level in animal houses. This helps to reduce the risk of infections and the use of antibiotics for their treatment.

Coating surfaces in poultry, pig and dairy farms

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When dirt, urine and manure build up in hard to reach places, adequate cleaning and disinfection can be a challenge. Pathogens like bacteria and viruses can remain on surfaces protected by a layer of dirt or within a ‘biofilm’. This can be a source of repeated infection for livestock.

MS Schippers, in cooperation with Mesacoatings, offers a solution by coating floors and walls of livestock housing as part of an integrated HyCare method. A few hours after the coating has been applied, the stable/shed/housing can be put into use.

HyCare Coating creates a seam-less and pore-free environment. Pathogens no longer get a chance to build up in the cracks and holes on surfaces. Good hygiene can thus be guaranteed. The coating is easier and faster to clean than concrete and saves water. No dirt is left behind and it dries very quickly.

HyCare coating of surfaces improves the effectiveness of cleaning by reducing the ability of pathogens to build up over time, this lowers the risk of disease and thereby the use of antibiotics.