Optimal conditions for foals and people

Situation

Benninghoff took over the farm in 2001 with 75 cows and now runs it with 1,200 cows and a biogas plant. The farm has grown very quickly and, with a milk yield of 14,000 kg per cow per year, is now one of Germany’s top farms. All female calves are reared, whilst the male calves are sold after 28 days. The calves are initially kept outdoors in igloos and individual pens for the first eight weeks, then moved to the open straw barn and later to a loose-housing system until they calve for the first time at two years of age. The farm manager sees the advantage of the igloos in the good light and air conditions. However, a major disadvantage is that cleaning and maintaining the outdoor igloos is an enormous amount of work, and profitability suffers with a herd of this size.

Solution

To maintain these conditions whilst at the same time creating a workplace for staff where they can work efficiently and enjoyably, Marc Benninghoff decided in 2017 to build new calf pens. The result is five structurally identical outdoor climate pens, each with 44 rearing places using the first-in-first-out system. The pens stand on a gravel bed to keep the straw dry for longer. Optimal air conditions are ensured on the high side of the barn by two Lubratec roller vents, opening from the bottom and positioned one above the other, which are operated by tubular motors. On the low side, an electrically driven roller vent opening from the top has been installed, running the full length of the barn.

Advantages

The WLU vents can be opened and closed independently at the top and bottom. This allows the farmer to decide, depending on weather conditions, whether to create an exhaust air area at the top only or to let in fresh air at the bottom as well, so that no temperature differences arise. A rear mesh with windbreak netting ensures in any case that the young calves are not exposed to draughts. One of the barns is equipped with a Lubratec ventilation tube in addition to the roll-up vents. This ensures continuous air exchange and germ-free air in the straw barn, thereby preventing respiratory diseases and infections. The well-designed barn construction and Lubratec products create optimal conditions for both people and animals, laying the foundation for healthy and high-performing heifers.