It’s that time of year again; time to start planning for calving season! Spring is fast approaching and you need to make sure you have the necessary calf warmers and livestock supplies to protect your newborns from the elements when they arrive. To give your calves the best start to a healthy life and provide the necessary weight gains in their early days, make sure you provide the secure shelter of a calf warmer so they don’t struggle on the frozen ground or have to battle the wind!

Health Advantages of Calf Warmers

It’s not always possible to be born on a warm, sunny day. It seems more often than not that the weather is at its worst when your first calf arrives. A warmer provides a secure and comfortable enclosure to foster a nurturing environment and create the quickest possible recovery for what can be a very traumatic birthing process. Leaving its comfortable mother and being thrown directly into the often cold, wet, and windy conditions, a newborn is immediately exposed to a dangerous and life-threatening environment while they’re at its weakest.

It can be such a dramatic shock that your animal may experience long-term health problems or even death from extreme exposure to the elements at such an early point in life. Immediately protecting your animals is never more important than when they are born.

Heating Controls in Calf Warmers:

A calf warmer heater with a circulating fan is used to keep the interior warm, and ventilated, and provide protection from the cold. Most heaters have a thermostat or temperature control switch to keep the inside nice and cozy. The heater itself is powered with 110 volts and a multi-speed fan helps distribute the heat, prevents moisture from building up, and will provide proper ventilation for its occupant. Don’t let your little ones freeze in the pasture, keep them warm for the best and fastest recovery possible.

Construction

Newborn warmers are typically made from durable and sturdy polyethylene. They are of such size that your newborn calf can stand up even with the lid closed. The enclosed (but ventilated) environment allows for the natural scent to remain intact so the mother will still identify with, and re-adopt the calf. It’s an important consideration for joining up.

The lid of the shelter is typically removable to allow for easy access to your animal and make of cleaning. The floors are raised and slotted for ventilation and are usually supported throughout the entire length of the box with stainless steel. The bottom is typically ribbed with thicker material so the entire shelter can be drug around the pasture to where it’s needed.

Ventilation

Circulation is achieved by drawing air in the bottom, passing it over the heater where the fan pushes it up and out of the top vents. The eve vents have adjustable holes that can be opened or closed to help control airflow and will help regulate both temperature and humidity.

Providing the best for the growth of your herd and bottom line

Calf Warmers are a simple and effective way to ensure the best possible start for the newest additions to your herd. Make sure yours have access to a warm, safe and enclosed environment this spring so your bottom line and your animals are as strong as possible.

If you have any questions or would like to provide the best start possible for your newborn calves, please visit or call Barn World today.

A cattle guard with a removable box for cleaning underneath

Livestock cattle guards have been in use for decades and with good reason: They allow vehicles to conveniently cross a fence line without allowing a herd to wander off. Cattle guards provide effortless access to your pastures and provide the peace of mind that your animals remain safely contained, no matter who’s accessing the land.

Livestock Gates are inconvenient and less secure than cattle guards

The inconvenience of opening and closing a gate cannot be overstated. Have you ever dreaded approaching a closed gate in a downpour or subzero temperatures knowing that you have to stop, get out and open the gate, get back in and drive through only to do it all over again to close the gate behind you? It’s especially annoying when you’re climbing down from a large piece of equipment or when your cows are present and curious to see what the open gate is all about when you’re driving through. These nerve-racking moments are over as soon as your cattle guard is installed. Simply pass over the cattle guard knowing that your livestock cannot follow and carry on with your day.

It’s not just you that’s inconvenienced with a gate and third parties are not as diligent as owners when it comes to making sure it gets closed behind them. Every someone else needs access through your fence line, there is a risk of your cattle escaping. All it takes is for one person to forget to close or not properly secure a latch and your livestock could easily slip out. This is especially important in remote areas where an open gate can go unnoticed for an extended period. Typically, it’s someone not affiliated with your operation that leaves it open, and with access granted to third parties such as oil and gas companies, cell phone tower operators, or any other organization that needs access to your land, it is difficult to ensure the gate will always be properly closed promptly.

With the installation of a cattle guard, you can be sure that anyone can drive through your property and your animals will not be wandering off. This peace of mind (especially at night when you’re trying to fall asleep!) is a real lifesaver and you can rest assured that your neighbor or ranch-hand has not allowed your investment to roam freely into the dangers of an unconfined area.

Types of cattle guards

Although all may be considered for your operation, each type of design has its own advantages. Take a look at the round and flat top-pipe steel construction as well as the concrete design when planning your installation.

ROUND TOP-PIPE CATTLE GUARDS

The traditional design uses a round top pipe to provide a strong, physical livestock barrier. It’s the most effective because a flat hoof is very difficult to balance on the rounded surface of the pipe. The combination of a large amount of weight balanced on a very small, unstable area creates a very strong negative feedback to the animal trying to cross. This physical deterrent is very effective even when tested by your most daring and curious cows.

The physical discomfort and the resulting avoidance reaction is made more pronounced when coupled with the visual barrier of looking through the gaps of the top pipes. Oftentimes just the confusion created by the visual cues of the perceived varying depth is enough to dissuade even walking across. Some studies have shown that paint schemes on flat pavement designed to create the illusion of varying depths are often enough to prevent walking on, at least temporarily. The animals perceive that there is uneven ground and won’t bother investigating further.

Round top-pipe cattle guards provide the most effective physical barrier needed to keep livestock contained and allow vehicles to cross without the inconvenience or risk of an open gate.

FLAT TOP-PIPE CATTLE GUARDS

To provide a smoother crossing for automobiles, especially at higher speeds, a flat top-pipe cattle guard may be what you’re looking for. These cattle guards are typically for use in high traffic and high-speed vehicle crossings. The top pipe is flat and narrow so that it provides both the physical and visual barriers necessary for hoofed animals. Its physical deterrent is not as aggressive as the round pipe, but is still effective and provides a much smoother crossing for all vehicle types.

These cattle guards are also available in higher load-carrying capacity ratings than the round pipe and are typically seen as more aesthetically pleasing for designers and homeowners.

CONCRETE CATTLE GUARD FORMS

Another great option to the traditional steel guard is the use of concrete forms. These forms allow you to pour your own and make as many as you wish. Concrete cattle guards are used almost exclusively in rural areas that don’t see the high traffic areas of steel guards, but they do have a lot of advantages that steel can’t compete with.

A concrete cattle guard being removed from its mold.

Benefits of concrete cattle guard forms

One of the best features of using forms is that you can make as many of them as you like. With detailed instructions, you can create a 16-ton per axle (HS20- rated) crossing for your heaviest vehicles! Your only cost is that of the concrete and the plastic forms themselves. If you can mix your own concrete, this can be an extremely economical option.

Shipping costs are also substantially less than that of one-piece steel products. The forms usually ship as an oversized package and aren’t required to go on a flatbed truck via the common carriers. The shipping cost savings can be substantial and are often an important consideration for the overall cost of your project.

One word of caution with any concrete product exposed to the elements: Keep an eye out for cracking or crumbling. Concrete doesn’t always do well with high-velocity impact and chipping or cracking can occur. Once started, a small chip can turn into a larger area of decay and cracks can allow water to penetrate the concrete which can then freeze and crack from within. As long as you keep an eye out for external damage and patch it when necessary, concrete will last a very long time.

Whichever route you choose, a cattle guard can provide years of rugged use and the convenience and security of never having to manage the opening and closing of a gate. It also provides peace of mind knowing that your animals are held securely in their pasture! For more information or help with your installation, check out www.BarnWorld.com or give them a call at (720) 238-2190 and they’ll be happy to help.

Monthly Archives: January 2018

Calf Warmers and Calving Season