New Barn for our Young Calves

Calf Manager Bethann Buskey and one of her girls from the hill pose on the construction site for the new calf barn. (May 24.2021)

As the calf manager here at Miner for the past 17 years, I am so pleased to see the new calf barn get started. (Construction officially began in early May). We have had a great success raising our own heifers out of hutches. During that time, we have had some struggles, but this new barn will affect our calves now and project into the future. 
This barn will be a benefit to the calves and to staff. This calf raising facility will be able to maintain a stable environment for such things as: 

• RAIN - No wet conditions for calves or feeders; less wet bedding; no wet grain; and no wet clothes. This will also decrease the need for an abundance of supplies. 
• SNOW - The snow will stay outside allowing feeders and the calves to get around more freely. This will also allow staff more time spent on calves rather than shoveling snow out of the hutches. 
• SUN - The heat has a negative impact on calf health. During the hottest parts of the summer, calves undergo a lot of stress. Their intakes decrease for grain and milk, which affects their average daily gains (A.D.G.).
• WIND - The temperature can range from 5 to 10 degrees colder with a wind chill. With new air systems, benefits like plenty of air exchange, less chances of pneumonia and less need for treatments arise. 
• HANDLING - The new barn will allow us to have an easier method of handling our calves. Administering vaccines can become more difficult as the calf gets older and larger. The barn will provide an ideal way for staff to administer treatment to animals that is much safer for staff and the animals, with far less likelihood that someone gets hurt.  The facility allows us to attempt to use a buddy system, improving our calves' social skills at a younger age. In the future, there will be lower stress levels on a calf when moving it into larger groups. 

Therefore, my hopes are that our calves will be healthier, happier, and increase their A.D.G. Looking into the future, this will improve our overall herd health and the environment for staff. 

THANK YOU to all involved in the barn construction process!
Bethann Buskey
Alexis Seymour
Andrew Guerin

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