Farmers in Ireland have started acquiring warm clothing for calves due to a shortage of straw for bedding. This forces them to insulate each calf.
“Many farms are experiencing a straw shortage. The use of jackets for calves can help farmers address this issue,” reports the online publication agriland.ie.
Jackets for calves are becoming increasingly popular on dairy farms in Ireland, the publication notes. They are purchased so that calves do not expend energy on maintaining body temperature and can direct it towards growth.
It is reported that manufacturers of animal clothing have already sold over a thousand jackets for calves. Farmers are buying this clothing in anticipation of the spring calving season. Livestock producers claim that jackets help keep calves warm, although there is currently no scientific basis for this.
However, the use of jackets for calves has its challenges. They need to be constantly adjusted on the calf and monitored to ensure the animal does not sweat.
Another issue is the need for regular maintenance of such clothing. It is not possible to take a jacket off one calf and put it on another – the clothing needs to be washed after each use.
“When using jackets, it is important to wash them after each calf, as putting a dirty jacket on a new animal can increase the risk of disease transmission,” emphasizes the publication.
The situation regarding the straw shortage in the country was previously commented on by the organization Animal Health Ireland (AHI). Experts recommended that farmers prioritize providing straw for young stock. The organization also advised using wood shavings as bedding instead of straw.
