SHARING OPTIONS:
Calves are penned in groups of six or seven on arrival to the Thrive demo farm. \ Philip Doyle
When it comes to calf rearing, it really comes down to attention to detail and getting the basics right. Ensuring a good start to life for the calf will set them up for the rest of the production system. Here we take a look at some of the main points to consider when starting out with a dairy-beef system.
1 Sourcing calves
One thing that has really become apparent throughout the Thrive programme is knowing about where your calves come from and how well they have been looked after in terms of colostrum and housing hygiene is priceless. Building good relationships between dairy farmer and beef farmer is a critical piece in the puzzle.