Calves are the dairy cows of the future. That’s why it’s important to invest in proper housing for youngstock. According to Bertjan Westerlaan of Vetvice, calves can be housed in cubicles (freestalls) from around five months of age. “Youngstock need to be trained for the transition to the milking herd,” says Bertjan. But what are the recommended cubicle dimensions for youngstock?
Just like with dairy cows, the size of the cubicle is important to provide calves with a comfortable place to lie down. Too little space can discourage animals from lying down frequently. On the other hand, too much space can cause them to not lie straight in the cubicles, which makes the cubicles harder to keep clean. Curious about the appropriate dimensions for youngstock cubicles? The table below shows the minimum recommended dimensions for youngstock housing.
| 0,5 – 3 months | 3 – 6 months | 6 – 12 months | 12 – 18 months | 18 – 22 months | |
| Cubicle width (cm) | 60 | 70 | 80 | 90 | 100-110 |
| Cubicle length - outside row (cm) | 130 | 160 | 180 | 200 | 220 |
| Cubicle length - inside row (cm) | 130 | 160 | 180 | 190 | 210 |
| Feeding area (cm) | 175 | 200 | 220 | 275 | 350 |
*minimum dimensions for youngstock housing: source Handboek melkveehouderij 2020/2021 (Wageningen Livestock Research - WUR)
Dairy farmer Geurt has installed Meadow Vista cow mattresses and Profit cubicles in his youngstock barn. When the calves are 4 to 5 months old, they move from the straw pens to the cubicle barn.
“It is important for calves to learn to lie down in a cubicle. Before we had the Meadow Vista mattresses, they would sometimes lie on the slatted floors. Because the Meadow Vista mattresses are soft and flexible, they find their spot in the cubicle much faster. Once they have lain on one, they keep doing so,” says Geurt.
For Geurt, the Meadow Vista mattresses have made the calves look healthier and grow better. Read his full story here!
Want to improve the calf housing in your barn? Download our renovation e-book here for useful tips!