The benefits of a calf pen to optimize your livestock farming

The first weeks and months of a calf's life are crucial for its growth. From birth, individual housing helps to reduce health risks and better manage its development. Terwagne, a store specializing in breeding equipment, explains why the installation of a calf pen offers numerous advantages for your farm.

Published on 26 jan 2026

Reading time:3 minutes

What is the use of a calf hutch?

Calf in a hutchInstalling a calf hutch ensures optimal hygiene and precise care monitoring from birth.
This individual housing limits direct contact between young animals, which significantly reduces the transmission of common diseases such as diarrhea, cough, or other frequent infections during the first weeks.

The hutch also facilitates daily care management: observing behavior, monitoring diet, providing supplements, or administering treatments. This allows the farmer to intervene more quickly and effectively.

Finally, a calf hutch offers a clean, dry shelter protected from drafts, allowing the calf to rest in optimal conditions.

Why use an individual or double calf hutch?

There are two types of calf hutches: individual or double. The choice depends on the age of the calf and the farmer's objectives.

The individual calf hutch is ideal for the first weeks of life, especially right after birth, during the management of colostrum. It greatly limits the risk of contamination and facilitates the administration of daily care.

The double calf hutch then allows for the gradual introduction of socialization while maintaining a good level of hygiene. It is perfect for the transition phase when the calves are robust enough to be grouped. This is an intermediate step before moving to collective housing.

What are the benefits of a calf hutch for their well-being?

It is essential to choose suitable housing from the birth of the calf. A clean hutch directly contributes to optimal growth. Easy access to water and dry food in a healthy environment encourages regular intake.

A well-insulated calf hutch limits thermal stress and reduces risks related to temperature fluctuations. Installed outdoors, mobile hutches offer fresh air, which is very beneficial for respiratory health.

The mobile calf hutch, easy to move, allows for space adaptation according to the season, improving natural ventilation and providing healthy outdoor housing, often more beneficial for respiratory comfort.

How to choose your calf hutch?

To select the most suitable hutch for your calves, several essential criteria should be considered:

  • Dimensions: sufficient space to allow the calf to stand up, lie down, and move easily.
  • Ventilation: good aeration, without drafts, to preserve respiratory health.
  • Maintenance: a structure easy to wash and disinfect to ensure optimal hygiene.
  • Mobility: a hutch easy to move to adjust space according to needs or seasons.
  • Configurations: the possibility to choose individual or double models based on the age and breeding objectives.

Terwagne offers calf hutches in different sizes and configurations, suitable for all types of farming.

Want to order your calf hutch from Terwagne?

The Terwagne team is available to advise you on the installation and choice of the most suitable model for your farm. Contact us via the online form, by phone, or visit us in-store.

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