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Calf Drying Pen Secret To Early Calving Success
North Dakota rancher Sylvester Salwey, of Orrin, says the low-cost calf drying pen he built is the "secret" to the spectacular success he and his wife Mary Jane have had with early mid-January calving of their 130 cow beef herd.
In the past two years, the Salweys have only lost two calves, despite calving in mid
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Calf Drying Pen Secret to Early Calving Success LIVESTOCK Beef 11-6-8 North Dakota rancher Sylvester Salwey, of Orrin, says the low-cost calf drying pen he built is the "secret" to the spectacular success he and his wife Mary Jane have had with early mid-January calving of their 130 cow beef herd.
In the past two years, the Salweys have only lost two calves, despite calving in mid-winter when outside temperatures on their ranch, located only about 60 miles from the Canadian border, are generally well below zero much of the time.
As soon as calves are born in an inside maternity pen, and after they have nursed, they're moved into the 4 by 4 by 4 ft. drying pen ù if the temperature inside the barn falls be-low about 20?. The "dryer" is made of 1/2 in. plywood and lined on the inside four sides with 2 in. thick styrofoam insulation. Drying heat is provided by an ordinary household 110-V electric heater which cost only $87.
"With the hinged lid partially open, we've had as many as four newborn calves in the small drying pen at one time," says Sylvester. "We generally leave them in the pen for about two hours, depending on how cold it is and what time of the day or night they're born."
After drying, the calves and their mothers are moved to a holding pen with other cows that have have calved. "We've had no trouble whatsoever with cows refusing to accept their calf when they're returned from the drying pen," says Mary Jane.
She notes that the drying pen serves an important role in preventing frozen ears, tails or feet on calves born in mid-winter. "For example, if a buyer spots frozen ears on a feeder steer, he assumes the feet probably have also been damaged and the animal probably won't be able to carry the weight it puts on in the feedlot. Purchase price of the animal will then be discounted accordingly."
The Salweys use five A-frame shelters(11 by 12 ft. and with a 28 by 32 in. opening) in the outside corral to provide free choice shelter for calves. Each hut holds about 20 calves.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Sylvester Salwey, Box 24, Orrin, N. Dak. 58359 (ph701 542-3300).
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