The key to raising healthy calves on your hobby farm is to develop good habits when they are young. This will help you get into a routine that will make caring for the animals second nature. Here are a few tips that will help you raise calves that are happy and healthy:
- Keep food fresh: Young calves will be drinking a fair amount of milk, so it is important that you don't leave it sitting out for too long, especially in the unforgiving Texas sun. The supplies of food should be checked regularly and replaced if there is an issue, as the calves will only get stronger if they eat from healthy sources of nutrients.
- Reduce calf stress: How much the animals are physically stressed will also have a direct impact on how healthy they are as they age. Things like heat, not enough food and poor housing can cause physical damage, especially at an early age. You will want to take the necessary steps to reduce calf stress as much as possible.
- Ventilate housing: Having a cool place to relax and sleep will be essential to the health of the calves. It is also important that the living quarters are ventilated as much as possible to reduce heat and other harmful environmental factors. Also check on the ventilation systems regularly to ensure they are in good shape and are functioning properly.
