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The calf
facility was started in 1999 with the 2 coveralls and has been expanded
regularly as the rest of the farm demanded.
Many different barn designs can be seen in these barns. |
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1
= Transition Barn
2 = New Borns - coverall
3 = New Borns - coverall
4 = New Borns - pole barn
5 = New Borns - pole barn
6 = Finishing Barn
7 = Growing Barn
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A Good Nature, flash
pasteurizer is used to pasteurize milk from the treated group at Farm
1. Milk is heated to 165 degrees and held there for 60 seconds which
kills any bacteria that may be harmful to the calves.
When there isn't enough milk from the treated group to feed all the
calves, milk replacer is mixed in to extend it.
Pasteurized milk is then transported to the calf facility using the
bulk trailer seen here.
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Calves from both farms
come to the calf facility and are enter either barn #2, 3, 4 or 5.
Barns 2 & 3 are the coveralls shown to the left.
Calves are weaned off milk when they are about 6 weeks old.
After weaning, their diet will consist of hay, grain and water. |
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Barns #4 & 5 (shown
to the right) are also receiving barns for new born calves. |
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Barn #1 (shown to the
left) is the transition barn. Calves are moved here from one of the
newborn barns.
It is here that calves are first introduced to hay in their diet.
Calves stay in this barn for about one month before they are moved
to barn #7. |
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The barn in the top picture (also in the bottom picture on the left)
is barn #7.
After being moved to this barn from the transition barn calves will
stay here for another 2 months before moving to barn # 6 (bottom picture,
right).
Calves finish their stay at this facility in this barn.
The bulk feed bin between these two barns is set up on an automatic
timer the uses a flex auger to continually distribute grain to the
calves. This setup saves labor and allows the calf people to effectively
use their time on other things. |
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In barn #6, calves will
end up on completely grain free diet and be eating a complete TMR
(Total Mixed Ration) made up of haylage and corn silage.
At approximately 7-8 months old calves are moved to the heifer facility
5 miles away in Alabama, NY. |
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