Providing calves with clean, fresh air without causing a draft is vital for their development. Proper air movement helps remove harmful gases and pathogens, promoting a healthier environment. The target airspeed at calf lying height (0.5m) is 0.3 meters per second (m/s), ensuring air circulation without draughts. Around 4–8 air exchanges per hour is necessary to maintain a healthy environment. During the summer months these air exchanges should increase to avoid calf heat stress, being able to open the buildings sides can help achieve this using products such as the Rollerscreens or VVS. Clean, dry air is essential as it helps kill pathogens and reduces the risk of respiratory disease. In 2025 our Animal Welfare Team delivered a presentation to the National Youngstock Conference addressing options for optimising calf housing. 

Understanding the lower critical temperature for calves is key to their welfare and performance. For a typical newborn Holstein calf, this temperature is 10-15°C dependant of air speed. If the temperature falls below this level, the calf uses energy to stay warm rather than to grow or strengthen its immune system. Both wet bedding and draughts of 2m/s can increase this lower critical temperature, further reinforcing the need for calves to be kept in a dry, draught-free and comfortable environment, which is crucial as their immune systems are still developing.

Providing a clean, dry, and well-ventilated space helps to prevent common calf illnesses such as pneumonia and scours, ensuring healthier, more productive animals. As customer, Molly from Panda Holsteins explains “Ventilation is important for both the calves and mature animals as it helps with fertility, and our business is revolved around fertility!”.