Producers who raise preweaned dairy calves frequently use calf hutches. For all their advantages, their lack of climate control makes heat stress monitoring and prevention important. Jud Heinrichs and Colleen Jones write about how high temperatures, excessive humidity and the sun take a toll on calves. Air movement, moisture, hair coat, bedding and rumination activity are important factors to help keep calves cool.
Source: Dairy Herd Management, May 10, 2020. Link. Heinrichs and Jones offer research-based suggestions for managing hutches for heat abatement:
- Provide shade
- Allow calves to move around
- Face hutches east
- Elevate hutches
- Provide free-choice water
- Offer fresh starter grain