How long do I need to house calves for?

By housing your calves in a quality shelter with sufficient space, you’ll ensure that they grow as healthy as possible as quickly as possible. Calves should be housed for a minimum of 2-3 weeks for dairy heifer replacements, and 4-5 weeks for beef rearers, although it is more common to house them for eight weeks or more. Ideally a calf will be housed for much of the weaning process, which generally lasts seven or eight months. This early stage of life is when the calf is at its most vulnerable, so by offering it comfortable conditions and easy access to food you’ll also be ensuring its health and future productivity.

How many square metres per calf?

While it’s important that you don’t overcrowd your calves in housing, there’s also no need to make calf sheds too big. 1.5m² per calf is more than enough. You should hold a maximum of 10 calves per calf shelter.

What is the best calf shelter layout?

There is no single calf rearing shed layout that’s better than the rest. The best shed design will be one that suits the needs of you and your animal; one that facilitates easy management, and gives you the best chance of raising healthy and happy calves. SmartShelters’ calf-rearing shelters are available in a range of layouts both standard and custom, which feature a variety of different spans, pen plans and capacities. At SmartShelters our expert team can design and construct a calf rearing shelter with a pen layout that works for you.

How do you control disease in calf barns?

While outbreaks are somewhat inevitable, disease in your calf rearing shelter is a relatively easy thing to mitigate and manage if you have firm processes in place. The following strategies will help to minimise the likelihood of disease, and manage an outbreak if one should ever occur. Ensure all feeding equipment, including feeders, teats, buckets and mixing utensils, is scrubbed with detergent/sanitiser and hot water Spray pens on a regular basis with a broad spectrum disinfectant, while being careful not to apply it to feed and water troughs or the animals themselves Utilise a separate pen to quarantine any sick calves, and keep them away from the healthy animals Disinfect any areas used for treating sick calves Wear appropriate clothing when in contact with calves, and clean it after every use Contact a member of our experienced team today to discuss a truly smart shelter solution for your property.

Calf Rearing Shelters, Sheds & Housing

START ON THE RIGHT FOOT

A clean, well-lit, well-ventilated shelter gives your calves a head-start in life.. A unique hooped design encourages gentle air movement, keeping the shelter environment fresh and clean. This keeps calves cooler in summer, while reducing the risk of airborne and respiratory disease.

HOW IT WORKS

SmartShelters’ ultra-heavy-duty fabric offers excellent light penetration without the fatiguing effect of direct sunlight, meaning your calves enjoy more even temperatures while still getting a taste of sun. The wealth of natural light means a reduction in your electricity bills too! SmartShelters’ calf-rearing shelters are available in a range of clever layouts, giving you the flexibility to choose different spans, pen layouts and capacities.

Farming

BENEFITS

Calves gain weight quickly as they are not metabolising feed simply to retain body temperature

The SmartShelters design maintains even internal temperatures

Excellent ventilation and airflow reduces the incidence of disease and illness

Clear span design and high light transmission provides a pleasant environment

Centralising your young herd, facilitating easier management.

Enabling you to put firm processes in place for vaccinations, disease management and disease treatment.

EXPLORE OUR GALLERY

WHY SMARTSHELTERS ARE THE SMART CHOICE

100+ YEARS OF EXPERTISE

As New Zealand’s first shelter manufacturer, we bring over a century of experience. Our in-depth industry knowledge ensures you receive the best advice and the right shelter tailored to your needs.

PROUDLY NEW ZEALAND MADE

Manufactured in Auckland, our shelters are built for New Zealand’s toughest weather conditions. Local production means fast and easy repairs, replacements, and maintenance.

INDUSTRY-LEADING 12-YEAR WARRANTY

Our 12-year warranty is the longest in the market and covers both the frame and the cover against product faults. We use only premium materials to ensure durability in any condition, giving you peace of mind.

ENGINEERED TO AUS/NZ 1170:2:2021

SmartShelters meet the latest engineering standards, ensuring compliance with building codes and Health & Safety requirements. Designed for your exact location, whether in the Far North or the Deep South.

DURASTEEL - HIGH STRENGTH STEEL FRAMEWORK

We use C350-grade Australian-manufactured structural steel, featuring a 4mm thick rectangular profile in our main portals for maximum strength.

SMARTSHIELD® – THE WORLD’S BEST STRUCTURAL FABRIC

Our premium-grade ripstop fabric is the highest-performing structure fabric globally and is exclusively available in New Zealand through SmartShelters products, delivering unmatched longevity and weather resistance.

SMART RANGE – FLEXIBLE SIZES & CUSTOMISATION

Our span ranges from 6m to 45m wide, with multiple height options and in any length. Choose from a range of customisable options and add-ons to suit your needs.