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Angus Productions Inc.

January 20, 2011

Calf Warming Boxes

A hot tub in the house, a hot box or a warm corner in the barn … When a little added warmth means the difference in life or death to a newborn, just about any place you can get the calf into to add a little warmth seems a help. But there are cautions one should take so as not to foster problems down the road.

One advantage of using warm air rather than warm water to warm a calf is that you don't have to dry the calf again afterward. Also, breathing warm air helps raise the calf's core temperature — since blood circulates through the lungs.

There are many options and designs for building your own warming box, and there are some very nice boxes available commercially.

"They may be more expensive, but producers should consider looking at some of these that are factory-made," says Russ Daly, extension veterinarian at South Dakota State University. "Often these are made from a poly type of plastic, which is very easy to clean. We can build adequate warming boxes out of wood, and they work very well to insulate calves, but they're a lot harder to completely clean."

Boxes should be cleaned and disinfected between calves, and wood is more difficult to sanitize.

"When you think about how we grow bacteria in the lab, it's in a nice warm place with humidity," Daly shares. "We've seen several situations in which I've suspected that [lack of] warming box sanitation led to an increase in calf scours. Pay attention to materials and design, making sure the box can be cleaned up easily."

Ventilation in the box is also important to remove humidity, Daly says. "If it's too humid, you have more problems with respiratory diseases, as well as buildup of pathogens."

That goes for calf shelters, as well, he says. Make sure they have adequate ventilation when a lot of calves are inside during cold weather.

"There needs to be some airflow, even though you don't want them drafty," Daly says. "If the shelters are too sealed up, there may be too much humidity and this can make calves more susceptible to pneumonia."

Editor's Note: I did a quick Google Search for "calf warming boxes" and came up with a few interesting links to help make you aware of what is available. We have no basis for recommending any of these products. These links are provided to assist you in your research if you are interested; please do not take them as recommendations of the individual products.

Design for calf warming box

Calf warming box for sale by Cammack Ranch Supply

Calf warming box available from Smucker Manufacturing


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