Fresh air through barn ventilation

Avoid poor air quality in the barn

Did you know that calves do not yet have fully developed lungs at birth? It takes up to a year before they are fully developed!

Poor air quality can quickly cause respiratory disease in calves. The lungs are often permanently damaged by diseases in calves. Ammonia in the calves’ lying area in particular can lead to irritation of the mucous membranes and chemical burns to the respiratory tract.

What can we do for the health of our calves? Regular manure removal and re-littering: The older the manure mattress, the easier it is for ammonia-producing microorganisms to spread. Ensure constant air movement to reduce the concentration of ammonia and germs by ventilating the barn.

CAT3000® barn ventilation system offers the perfect solution here. Fresh air is conveyed into the calf barn under targeted control, allowing the harmful gases to flow out of the barn. We use the room size, number of animals, animal age and many other factors to calculate the required output of the fan for barn ventilation, which supplies the hose ventilation system with fresh air.

An early foundation for healthy development

Effect of heat stress on pregnant cows and calf growth

Did you know that the influence of heat stress on both pregnancy and calf growth is often underestimated?

High temperatures have a negative effect on the course of pregnancy, especially in the first few months there is a greater sensitivity to external stress factors. It is assumed that heat stress in particular can disrupt the development of the embryo and promote early embryonic death (EFT). This has an impact on animal welfare and also on the economic profitability of a farm.

According to studies, heat stress leads to an increased early abortion rate. As a result, the birth rate is also lower. This results in empty calving periods and lower herd productivity.

Calves whose dams experienced heat stress during the gestation period are often less heavy; in one case study, birth weights were found to be up to 5 kg lower. This often results in long-term growth and development losses, so that the weaning weight can be up to 30 kg lower than that of calves from unstressed dams.

The economic consequences should not be underestimated. Abortions and lost calves often have to be monitored and supported with additional measures, slower-growing calves take longer to reach market maturity and generate higher feed and husbandry costs in the meantime.

Early preventive measures can mitigate the negative effects of heat stress and ensure the productivity of the herd in the long term.