Calf feeder: large groups
Do you want or have larger pens for your youngest calves, age differences in one group and are you looking for convenience? Then the calf feeder is a good fit for you. The feeder is comparable to a milking robot: you need routine in the maintenance. Twice a day you check that all the animals have finished their milk. In addition, check the cleaning agent daily, whether the mixing cup is clean and whether the tubes are intact and clean.
Teat buckets or milk bar: small groups
Do you have smaller housing and do you want manageable groups? Then teat buckets or a milk bar are a good fit. Johan himself is enthusiastic about the milk bar with one compartment. “If you neatly replace the teats with every round with new calves, in practice you will see virtually no differences in drinking”, says Johan, who sees that this milking system is much easier to clean than drinking systems with compartments. Replacing the teats on time is also important for teat buckets. Also view the tips for using a milk taxi or milk mixer here.
Preferably change the entire group
In the most ideal situation, you always make new groups of calves of this age that stay together during the milking phase and after weaning. This gives the least changes, prevents stress and keeps the infection pressure as low as possible.