Calf Pens: Sturdy Housing Systems for Individual and Group Rearing
Choosing the right housing system is one of the key factors for successful calf rearing, alongside feeding and hygiene. Modular calf pens made from hot-dip galvanised steel let you set up your shed flexibly, from single pens to larger group housing for several animals.
What to look for in calf pen equipment
Depending on your farm and herd size, requirements for calf pens differ:
- Flooring: GRP slatted floors keep the lying area dry, while a tilting floor makes daily cleaning even easier.
- Build quality: Hot-dip galvanised steel withstands moisture and frequent disinfection without rusting.
- Mounting type: Wall-mounted pens make efficient use of shed wall space, while free-standing models can be positioned anywhere in the building.
- Practical accessories: Feed gates control access to feed, while catch gates safely restrain the calf during veterinary treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Up to what age can calves be housed individually?
Under the EU calf welfare directive (2008/119/EC), individual housing without a veterinary reason is only permitted up to the end of the eighth week of life. After that, group housing with sufficient space per animal is required.
What is a transport device for calf pens used for?
A transport device makes it easier to move the pen within the shed, for example when mucking out or rearranging the housing layout. This allows the pen to be relocated without significant physical effort.
A Modular System for Every Herd Size
Modular calf pens can be combined into single, double, or larger group housing units as needed, and expanded at any time as the herd grows. The hot-dip galvanised steel construction with GRP slatted floors provides a slip-resistant, easy-to-clean surface, while wall-mounted and free-standing versions adapt to the available space in the shed.
Additional accessories make daily work easier: feed gates regulate access to feed, catch gates secure the calf during veterinary procedures, and a transport device allows the pen to be repositioned within the shed with ease.