Cold-Weather Calf Care: Feeding, Bedding and Housing

Young calves are more vulnerable to falling temperatures than older cattle. As autumn progresses across Yorkshire and Lancashire, cold nights, damp bedding and draughts can increase the amount of energy a calf needs simply to stay warm.

Preparing early makes it easier to protect calf health and maintain growth when temperatures fall. This practical guide covers feeding, bedding, ventilation, calf jackets and the warning signs that a calf may be feeling the cold.

Why are young calves vulnerable to cold weather?

Calves have a temperature range in which they can maintain their body temperature without using additional energy. Once conditions fall below their lower critical temperature, more of the energy obtained from milk is directed towards keeping warm instead of growth and immune function.

AHDB advises that calves under three weeks old are particularly vulnerable. Their lower critical temperature is approximately 10–15°C, depending on factors such as airspeed.

For calves over three weeks old, the lower critical temperature is generally around 5–10°C, again depending on the conditions.

The temperature shown on a wall thermometer does not tell the whole story. A calf’s experience is also affected by:

• Air movement at calf level
• Dampness and humidity
• Whether its coat is wet or dry
• The depth and condition of its bedding
• Age and bodyweight
• Milk and feed intake
• Health status
• Whether it is housed individually or in a group

A cold, wet and draughty building can feel considerably colder than the recorded air temperature suggests.

Monitor temperatures at calf level

Place a minimum–maximum thermometer at approximately calf height rather than relying on a reading taken elsewhere on the farm.

Recording the lowest overnight temperature can help you identify when additional cold-weather measures may be needed.

Check the forecast, but also record the actual conditions inside the calf building. Temperatures can vary considerably between different parts of the same shed.

It is useful to agree a cold-weather protocol with everyone responsible for the calves. This should explain:

• When milk feeding will be reviewed
• When additional bedding will be supplied
• When calf jackets will be introduced
• Which calves receive priority
• How often jackets and bedding will be checked
• When veterinary advice should be requested

Review milk feeding as temperatures fall

When calves use more energy to maintain body temperature, the normal milk allowance may no longer provide the same amount of energy for growth.

AHDB recommends providing additional milk or milk solids during cold weather. The correct adjustment will depend on the calves, feeding system, milk replacer and manufacturer’s instructions.

Possible options may include:

• Increasing the volume supplied at each feed
• Providing an additional daily milk feed
• Reviewing the energy content of the milk replacer
• Reducing long overnight intervals between feeds

Do not simply add extra powder to the normal volume without checking the manufacturer’s mixing instructions. Over-concentrating milk replacer can result in excessive mineral intake and an incorrectly mixed feed.

Feed at a consistent temperature and concentration, using clean, accurately measured equipment. Our existing guide to mixing calf milk replacer correctly explains the basic mixing process in more detail.

Keep starter feed and clean water available

Calves should have continual access to a suitable, palatable starter feed and fresh drinking water.

Replace stale, damp or contaminated starter feed rather than repeatedly topping it up. Small, fresh quantities can encourage intake while reducing waste.

Check that:

• Feeders are clean and dry
• Rain or wash water cannot enter the feed
• Shy calves can reach the feeder
• Water is clean and accessible
• Drinkers are working correctly
• Pipes and valves are protected against freezing
• Spilled water is not soaking the bedding

Browse Skipton Dairy’s range of calf feed, milk replacers and cattle supplies when reviewing your calf-feeding equipment and supplies.

Any major feeding change should be introduced carefully and discussed with your vet, nutritionist or feed adviser where appropriate.

Provide deep, dry bedding

Good bedding helps insulate calves from a cold floor and allows them to nest.

AHDB recommends enough straw for a calf’s back legs to be hidden when it is lying down. If the legs remain clearly visible, the calf may not have enough bedding to nest effectively.

Inspect beds closely rather than judging them from the passage. The surface may appear dry while the material underneath is wet and cold.

Good bedding management includes:

• Removing heavily soiled or saturated material
• Adding clean, dry bedding regularly
• Preventing drinkers from leaking into beds
• Repairing damaged gutters or roofs
• Maintaining effective drainage
• Keeping fresh bedding under cover
• Paying particular attention to newborn and sick calves

Straw is generally considered the best winter bedding for nesting and warmth. Other absorbent materials may help manage moisture, but they do not necessarily offer the same insulation.

Skipton Dairy’s animal bedding collection includes products for livestock and other animals. Always select bedding that is suitable for the intended species, age and housing system.

Provide fresh air without draughts

Closing every opening to make a calf shed warmer can trap moisture, stale air and airborne contaminants.

Calf housing still needs effective ventilation during cold weather. The aim is to bring clean air into the building and remove stale, damp air without directing a draught onto calves.

Check for:

• Draughts at calf height
• Condensation on roofs or walls
• Damp or humid air
• Strong ammonia smells
• Blocked air inlets
• Obstructed roof outlets
• Wet bedding that does not dry
• Noticeable differences between pens

Simple temporary windbreaks can help protect calves from a localised draught, but they must not block the building’s overall ventilation.

Seek specialist advice before making significant alterations to ventilation openings or building design.

When can calf jackets help?

Calf jackets can provide additional insulation, particularly for young calves during colder periods. However, they should support good feeding and housing management—not replace adequate nutrition or dry bedding.

A jacket should be:

• Clean and completely dry
• Made from a breathable material
• Water-resistant where required
• The correct size for the calf
• Secure without restricting movement
• Easy to remove and wash
• Checked regularly as the calf grows

Only fit a jacket to a dry calf. Placing one over a wet coat can trap moisture and leave the animal chilled.

The jacket should cover the body from the neck towards the tail without rubbing or interfering with normal movement. Check the straps frequently and adjust them as the calf grows.

AHDB suggests prioritising calves under three weeks old when temperatures fall below 15°C. Older calves may not require jackets unless conditions fall below approximately 5°C, although health, air movement, dampness and individual condition must also be considered.

Keep calf jackets clean

Dirty jackets can carry infectious material between calves. Allocate clean jackets to individual animals where possible and wash them thoroughly between uses.

AHDB warns that calf jackets can harbour Cryptosporidium eggs. Its guidance recommends treating contaminated jackets with an appropriately licensed disinfectant, following the stated contact time, before washing them in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and drying them completely.

Always follow the disinfectant label and jacket-care instructions. Do not place a damp jacket back onto a calf.

Watch for signs that a calf is cold

Check calves at least twice daily and pay additional attention during sudden changes in weather.

Possible signs of cold stress include:

• Shivering
• A raised or fluffed-up coat
• Cold ears or legs
• Reduced activity
• A hunched posture
• Poor milk intake
• Slow or reluctant feeding
• Spending unusually long periods lying down

These signs can also accompany illness. Check the calf carefully and seek veterinary advice if you are concerned.

Record other early warning signs, including:

• Coughing
• Nasal or eye discharge
• Scour or dirty hindquarters
• Fast or laboured breathing
• Reduced appetite
• Poor weight gain
• An abnormal temperature

Do not assume that a quiet calf is merely cold.

Complete a daily cold-weather check

A simple routine helps ensure that small problems are noticed promptly.

Check that:

• The shed’s minimum overnight temperature is recorded
• Every calf has taken its expected milk feed
• Starter feed is fresh
• Clean water is available
• Beds are deep and dry
• There are no draughts at calf level
• Ventilation openings remain clear
• Jackets are clean, dry and correctly fitted
• Drinkers and pipes are not leaking or frozen
• Every calf appears bright, alert and comfortable

Continue monitoring growth through regular weighing or another reliable method. This will help show whether cold-weather management is maintaining performance.

Prepare for colder weather with Skipton Dairy

Skipton Dairy Services supplies calf milk replacers, starter feeds, calf-rearing equipment, bedding and everyday cattle supplies for dairy farms, beef units and smallholders.

Browse our cattle and calf supplies, view our animal bedding range, or call 01535 603361 for help finding suitable products.

You can also visit our trade counter at Unit 1 Worth Enterprise Park, Valley Road, Keighley, BD21 4LN.

This article provides general information only. Feeding and health decisions should be based on the individual calf, the farm’s veterinary plan, product instructions and professional advice.