Calf Housing Time: Ready for Winter?

Erin Brackenridge

Oct 18

6 min read

For many beef and dairy farms, housing is one of the busiest periods of the year. From pneumonia and parasites to nutrition and housing conditions, getting things right before the calves come inside can make a significant difference to their health, growth and performance throughout the winter.

At AgriPet UK, we understand the importance of keeping youngstock healthy and thriving. We've put together some practical considerations to help you prepare for a successful housing season.

1. Pneumonia Prevention – Don't Wait Until There's a Problem

Pneumonia, also known as bovine respiratory disease (BRD), is one of the biggest health challenges facing housed calves.

The combination of changing temperatures, increased contact between animals, handling stress and housing conditions can increase the risk of respiratory infections.

In fact, respiratory disease outbreaks are particularly common during the first month following autumn housing.

Before bringing your calves inside, consider:

Vaccination: Discuss your farm's pneumonia vaccination programme with your vet well ahead of housing. Some vaccines need to be administered in advance to provide protection at the right time.
Ventilation: Ensure there is sufficient fresh airflow through the building without creating draughts at calf level.
Stocking density: Avoid overcrowding, which increases stress and the spread of infection.
Stress reduction: Where possible, avoid combining weaning, mixing, transport, castration and other stressful procedures around housing.
Daily monitoring: Watch for coughing, nasal discharge, rapid breathing, dullness or reduced feed intake.

Our tip: Prevention is always preferable to dealing with a pneumonia outbreak. A good herd health plan, suitable housing and early identification of illness can help protect your calves and minimise setbacks in performance.

2. Worming – Are Your Calves Carrying Unwanted Passengers?

After spending the summer grazing, young cattle may have picked up gastrointestinal worms and lungworm. Parasite burdens can affect growth rates, feed efficiency and overall health, with some problems only becoming apparent later in the winter. Housing provides a useful opportunity to review your worm control programme, particularly for calves in their first grazing season. However, not every animal automatically needs worming.

Things to consider:

The age of your calves and their previous grazing history.
Whether they have received worming treatments during the grazing season.
Faecal egg count results and the farm's parasite history.
The risk of inhibited worm larvae, which can cause disease later in winter.
Whether lungworm has been a problem on the farm.

Choosing an appropriate treatment is important, as different products have different activity against parasites and their developmental stages. Unnecessary treatments can also contribute to the development of anthelmintic resistance.

3. Liver Fluke – An Important Autumn Consideration

Liver fluke can be a significant problem for cattle, particularly on farms with wet or poorly drained grazing land. Cattle may pick up liver fluke during the grazing season, with infections contributing to reduced weight gain, poorer feed conversion and reduced productivity. One of the challenges with liver fluke is that infected animals may not show obvious signs until the disease has progressed.

When planning fluke control, consider:

Whether your cattle have grazed wet or high-risk pasture.
Previous liver fluke problems or abattoir feedback.
The likely age and stage of fluke infection.
Whether diagnostic testing would be beneficial.
The timing and effectiveness of any proposed treatment.

Not all flukicides are effective against every stage of liver fluke. In some circumstances, treatment at housing may be appropriate; in others, delaying treatment can be more effective.

Our tip: Base fluke treatment on your farm's individual risk and seek advice on the most appropriate product and timing. Using the correct treatment at the correct time is essential.

4. Lice – A Small Problem That Can Cause Big Irritation

As cattle spend more time indoors and in closer contact with one another, lice can become an increasing concern. Lice infestations are particularly common during the winter housing period and can cause considerable irritation and discomfort.

Signs to look out for include:

Excessive scratching or rubbing against gates and barriers.
Hair loss, particularly around the neck, shoulders and back.
A rough or untidy coat.
Restlessness and signs of irritation.
Visible lice or eggs within the hair.

Heavy infestations can affect welfare and performance, so it is worth inspecting cattle regularly. Where treatment is required, ensure the product is appropriate for the type of lice involved and the class of cattle being treated.

5. Nutrition – Getting Calves Off to a Good Start

Moving calves from grazing onto a housed winter ration is another important transition.

Sudden dietary changes can upset rumen function, reduce feed intake and affect growth rates. For weaned calves and growing youngstock, a well-balanced ration is essential to support continued growth throughout winter.

Key considerations include:

Introducing silage, concentrates and other feeds gradually.
Ensuring sufficient good-quality forage and effective fibre.
Providing an appropriate balance of energy and protein.
Checking mineral and vitamin requirements.
Allowing all calves sufficient feeding space.
Providing continuous access to clean, fresh drinking water.

Mineral and vitamin requirements will vary depending on the age of the calves, forage quality and the rest of the ration. Supplementation should therefore be based on the diet rather than simply added as a precaution.

Our tip: Take the opportunity to assess your calves' weights and condition at housing. Monitoring growth throughout winter can help identify problems before they become costly.

6. Housing Conditions – Clean, Dry and Well Ventilated

Even the best health programme can be undermined by poor housing conditions.

Before moving cattle indoors, take time to inspect sheds, pens, bedding areas and feeding equipment.

Your housing preparation checklist:

✅ Clean and disinfect housing and equipment using suitable products and allow surfaces to dry.

✅ Check ventilation inlets and outlets for obstructions.

✅ Ensure there is plenty of clean, dry bedding.

✅ Check gutters, drainage and water troughs for leaks.

✅ Make sure all calves have enough space to lie comfortably and access feed.

✅ Check water supplies and prepare for freezing temperatures.

✅ Ensure handling facilities and gates are safe and secure.

✅ Prepare a suitable isolation area for any animals requiring additional attention.

Remember, good ventilation does not mean allowing cold draughts to blow directly onto calves. Fresh air is essential for removing moisture, gases and airborne pathogens, while dry bedding helps calves maintain their body temperature.

7. Keep a Close Eye on Calves After Housing

The first few weeks after housing deserve particular attention. Even calves that appear healthy when brought inside can develop problems as they adjust to their new environment, diet and social groups.

Regular observations should include:

Appetite and feed intake.
Coughing or changes in breathing.
Nasal or eye discharge.
Changes in dung consistency.
Signs of rubbing or irritation.
General behaviour and activity.
Weight gain and body condition.

Early detection is important. A calf that is slow to come forward to feed, standing away from the group or showing signs of respiratory disease should be assessed promptly, with veterinary advice sought where necessary. Keeping accurate health and treatment records is also a useful way of identifying recurring problems and improving your management for future housing seasons.

Our Final Thoughts – Preparation Pays Off!

Autumn housing doesn't have to mean a winter of health challenges.

Taking time to prepare your buildings, review parasite control, assess nutrition and plan ahead for respiratory disease can help give your calves the best possible start to the housing period.

Every farm is different, and there is no single treatment or management programme that suits every herd.

The key is to understand the risks on your own farm and put the right measures in place before problems arise.

Get Winter Ready with AgriPet UK!

At AgriPet UK, we're passionate about supporting farmers and livestock owners with their animal health and husbandry needs. Whether you're preparing for calf housing, looking for nutritional support, reviewing your livestock care essentials or trying to source a particular product, we're happy to help.

Can't find what you're looking for? Send us a message and we'll see what we can do!

🛒 Visit our website: www.agripet.uk

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Please note: This article provides general guidance only. Veterinary medicines must be selected and supplied in accordance with their legal classification, product authorisation and relevant prescribing requirements. Always consult your veterinary surgeon or appropriately qualified medicines adviser about treatments suitable for your animals.