Although individual calf hutches are the industry’s preferred housing for pre-weaned calves, dairy operators continue to build calf barns to address the discomfort and inconvenience of cold weather, snow and rain for the calf raiser. Regardless of the type of housing provided, the facility must meet certain criteria to provide a healthy environment and optimize calf growth:
- Minimize calf stress
- Provide fresh air, which limits drafts
- Provide clean, dry and comfortable resting places
- Provide adequate feed and water
- Manage effects of extreme weather
One of the key components in providing a health environments for calves is providing fresh air, which limits draft. Positive pressure ventilation is a method that can provide fresh air to calf barns while minimizing draft. In Improving Calf Barn Ventilation with a Bit of Fresh Air, retired extension farmstead planning specialist Brian Holmes shares what are positive pressure ventilation ducts, limitations of the system, and design concepts for the system.
Source:uwex.edu