FETF grants see sales of calf jackets soar 

Cosy Calf Ltd saw a significant rise in orders for calf jackets thanks to the FETF grants for Animal Health and Welfare (item code 228A).

Mandy Turner, of Cosy Calf, said orders started coming in thick and fast after customers received their confirmation of a successful application.

She added: “With many of our breeds today, and the time of year we calve our cows, calves really struggle with, firstly the cold temperatures and secondly the dramatic change in temperatures from day to night or even day to day – especially during the first four weeks of life.

READ MORE: Calf scour: Another tool in the armoury

“Rearing calves in large open plan building with high roofs, which are easy to access with large farm equipment and give plenty of ventilation often subject the calves to massive temperature changes in a matter of a few hours, easily a drop of 12ºC between day and night.”

Key problems are keeping calves at a comfortable, regular body temperature without restricting airflow or increasing humidity – plus avoiding scours whilst getting enough milk/feed into them to keep them growing.

“The use of calf jackets/coats as a matter of routine improves conversion of energy to growth rather than to keep warm; which reduces feed costs, risk of pneumonia and scours from chills and therefore medication costs and calf mortality,” she concluded.

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