Guidelines for calf holding and loading facilities
Regulation will come into effect from 1 August 2017.
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- Access should be free draining and constructed with a level hard-standing surface.
- Track width should be no less than 4m wide.
- Height clearance of 4.3m for any overhead obstructions e.g. trees, water lines and electric fence wires; and 6m for powerlines. Loading calves directly under powerlines should be avoided.
- Locate the loading facility at or near the bobby calf rearing pen and allow sufficient turnaround for a truck and trailer unit (25m).
- Consider other traffic flow – if you are positioning or accessing the holding facility via the tanker track, design loading so that both trucks can pass or at least travel in the same direction.
- Maintain clear access, avoid holding stock in the access way or having gates across the roadway that require opening and shutting.
- Ensure that all bridges/culverts are safe, fit for purpose and that truck weight loadings are within the structure’s design loading specifications.
- Secure dogs and use a sign on the gateway to alert drivers if there is the possibility of children being in the area.
The Code of Practice for design and operation of farm dairies (NZCP1) has no stipulations about loading facilities and proximity of the farm dairy.
Calves must not be housed within 20m of the farm dairy, however you can temporarily hold calves within 20 m of the farm dairy before pick-up (e.g. on the same day while waiting for collection, with time of holding minimised)
All standards regarding surfaces and drainage apply, as do requirements for shelter If taking this approach, the area where calves are held must be maintained in a suitably hygienic state and be cleaned immediately after the calves have been collected.
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Holding and loading facilities should be designed and constructed so that calves are able to walk directly from the loading facility onto the truck. Health and safety regulations mean that it is no longer acceptable for transporters to repeatedly lift calves from the ground to truck deck height. Raised loading facilities will also help to improve the wellbeing of calves being transported.
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The following design specifications are a guide for farmers. Consider the environment of where your facility is located. The design of the facility will depend on where the platform is situated, wind direction, exposure and rain fall, additional windbreakers may be required to stop calves from getting wet.
1. Platform: level, with a load height of 1200mm.
2. Loading doorway: width of 800-900mm.
3. Pens side height:
a. 900mm-1100mm solid construction (ply or closely spaced rails to provide shelter. If rails are used spacing must not create a hazard for calf heads/legs.)
b. If using rails, the gap between the bottom rail and floor shoul be no more than 100mm.
c. If using a top rail, the gap between the top rail and the rail below or solid side must be no more than 450mm.
4. Flooring: solid construction, free-draining non-slip surface. Slatted flooring is ideal. The use of non-slip rubber matting or geogrid stretched and secured over a timber slated floor can add grip and prevent hooves from being caught in floor slats. A gap of 15-20mm between slats is recommended.
5. Total size: large enough to allow all calves to lie down in comfort. Pen size depends on farm size and calf numbers. 2.4m x 2.4m is considered suitable for most farms as this size pen will comfortably hold 15-20 calves depending on calf breed/size. Smaller farms could reduce the size to 2.4m x 1.2m. Larger farms may need multiple pens. For a large pen, use a divider/backing gate to manage larger numbers of calves and to help confine the calves during the loading process.
Area guide for calf breeds
Breed Area/calf Calves/m³ 2.4m x 2.4m 2.4m x 1.2m Jerseys/Cross breed 0.3 - 0.35 2.9 - 3.3 17 - 20 calves Up to 10 calves Holstein/Friesian 0.35 - 0.4 2.5 - 2.9 15 - 17 calves Up to 8 calves 6. Construction and hardware: covered pens and loading facilities need to be safely accessible for people and safe for calves – avoid sharp edges, trip hazards, protrusions, etc.
7. Water: calves must have fresh water available in the pen.
8. Shelter: calves that have been removed from their mothers must be provided with shelter from weather likely to affect their welfare. The loading facility should either be:
- within an existing building or in the shelter of one or
- have a roof that is high enough to be accessible for people and have solid pen walls or
- a moveable pen on skids that can be stored within a building and moved into position immediately before the truck arrives.
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Ramps can be used to load calves either into a raised holding pen before pick-up (recommended) or to load out of a ground level pen onto the truck.
- Internal width: guideline 800-900mm.
- Slope: as a general rule, the shallower the slope the better. 5:1 (11 degrees) is optimal.
- Incorporate 50mm x 20mm cleats at 200mm centres into the walking surface to provide additional grip for calves and people, or build a stepped ramp with 50mm risers and 250mm treads.
- Geogrid mesh securely fastened to the slope is an effective way of adding grip.
- Adding solid sides to the ramp at a minimum height of 900mm to 1100mm is recommended.
- If using the ramp to load onto a truck, construct a level platform approximately 1.5m in length at the top of the ramp so stock load on to the truck from a flat even surface and not directly from a slope.
- If converting a sheep or adult cattle ramp, ensure there are no overhead barriers or railing that would be a hazard to people. Also ensure the slope and surface is appropriate for young calves.
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- It is the farmer’s responsibility to select calves that are fit for transport. The holding pen should be a dedicated area where only calves that have been assessed and confirmed as being fit for transport are placed before collection.
- Calves to be transported should be tagged and clearly identified to avoid any animals being collected by mistake. The holding pen should provide a safe, sheltered, well drained and ventilated area for the calves. By raising the holding pen, calves may be loaded directly on to the truck; alternatively use a ramp to load from the holding pen.
Holding pen
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Earth bank with wooden retaining wall
Use existing topography; dig into a bank or create an earth mound against a wooden retaining wall to provide face to load off. Depending on existing topography and available drainage, it may be possible to reduce the necessary loading height by digging down to lower the deck height of the truck so that the access point is lower.
Packed earth ramps
Form sides and loading face using treated posts and timber rails, then create the ramp by filling between the timber sides using packed earth.
Using an existing raised structure
Adapting an existing woolshed or utilising a disused tanker stand may provide a low-cost option to achieve correct loading height.
Modified existing loading ramp
Typically loading ramps for cows are not suitable for calves as they are usually too steep and often have wide gaps in the sides that become trap hazards for calves. Attaching plywood with cable ties to create a solid-sided ramp may be an affordable option. You might have to create a sheltered holding area as well.
Raised platform
You can get a commercial holding platform from a timber merchant or a farm supply store in some regions. They offer a variety of kit-sets, typically moveable, made of timber on skids. Not all kitset platforms are supplied with a roof, so you may need to place them within an existing structure to provide sufficient shelter from extreme weather conditions. Alternatively, build your own using the specifications outlined above.
If you are purchasing a commercially produced holding pen, check to ensure that it has been designed to meet the New Zealand Building Code requirements and that Producer Statements are available.
Raised platform with loading ramp
Another option for raised platforms is a ramp that can be incorporated into the design so you will not have to lift calves into the holding area.
Hydraulic platform
Using a tractor-mounted carry tray may be an option on some farms.
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Click on the image gallery below to view loading design examples. The design of your facility should depend on where the platform is situated, wind direction, exposure and rain fall, additional windbreakers may be required to stop calves from getting wet.
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Setting up for calving
Set your team up for a successful calving season.
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Calving cows
Essential skills and information to increase your number of successful births.
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Calf care
Give all calves the best possible start to set them up for a healthy and productive life.
