Pre-purchase checklist

All requirements must be met, including having a Property Identification Code (PIC) and registering for Livestock Production Assurance (LPA).

Tools and Resources: Refer to the GBfD Traceability Module.

Environment – Make sure your sheds provide enough shade, shelter, good drainage, and ventilation for the calves. It’s important to keep draughts to a minimum.

Cleaning – Clean out and disinfect the sheds before the calves arrive. Ideally, you should power hose the sheds and all contact surfaces, then disinfect them thoroughly. After cleaning, let the sheds dry out for a few weeks before adding fresh bedding.

Maximising the periods in which the calf rearing area is free from animals and dirty bedding will help to minimise disease.

Pest control – Check for signs of pests like rodents or insects in and around the sheds, and take steps to control them. Pests can spread disease and contaminate feed and bedding.

References & Tools: Review DA’s Rearing Healthy Calves manual, chapter 02 – Clean, comfortable environment.

Soft bedding at least 15cm deep should be provided. In cold weather (below 10 °C) calves should be able to nestle deeply in the bedding so their legs are not visible.

References & Tools: For detailed information on different bedding types refer to DA’s Rearing Healthy Calves manual, page 30.

Ensure you have electrolytes on hand to help calves replace essential salts and fluids lost due to scours. This is crucial to prevent dehydration and aid in their recovery.

If you are feeding an electrolytes that contains bicarbonate, it is recommended to allow 2 hours between feeding milk and electrolytes. This is due to the interference that bicarb plays in the formation of the milk clot.

Tools and Resources: For detailed information on electrolytes refer to DA’s Rearing Healthy Calves manual, page 93-96

Consult your vet – Talk with your vet about your calf-rearing setup and discuss any specific vaccine needs. Regular check-ins with your vet can save you time and prevent issues down the track, making sure you have the right vaccines on hand when needed.

Consult your supplier – Have a conversation with your milk replacer supplier to ensure you’re getting the right products for your calves. Different products may have varying benefits depending on the age and health of the calves, so it’s important to match the replacer to their needs.

Concentrates – Start calves on concentrates (such as a quality calf meal or pellets) as early as possible to support rumen development and make weaning smoother. The more concentrates they eat early on, the better they will transition.

Roughage – Make sure calves have access to good-quality fibre from at least three weeks of age to help the rumen function properly. Too much fibre can lead to reduced average daily growth rates so it should not make up more than 10% of a calf’s ration.   Planning for this ahead of time is important to ensure you have enough supply when needed.

References & Tools: Review DA’s Rearing Healthy Calves manual, chapter 05 – Good Nutrition, page 60.

Efficiency – Set up your system so that feeding and any health treatments for calves can be done quickly and efficiently. This will save time and reduce stress for both calves and staff.

Labour Planning – Estimate the labour required and budget for it. Make sure staff are well-trained and provide them with the right equipment and clear procedures to get the job done effectively.

References, Tools & Training: It is recommended that you and your staff complete Dairy Australia’s Rearing Healthy Calves Fundamentals course.

Calves must have access to clean, fresh water from birth or arrival on-farm. Regularly check water sources to ensure they are clean and functioning properly.

Water needs to be supplied separately – never rely on milk/milk replacer to supply the water requirements of calves.

Ideally hot water should also be available for cleaning equipment.