“Calf Saver” Warming Box

“Calf Saver” Warming Box DAIRY EQUIPMENT & IDEAS “I haven’t lost a single newborn calf since I started using this simple idea many years ago ” says cow-calf operator Bob Holloway Trenton Mo about his homemade calf-warming box The box is made from 2 by 4’s covered with plywood and measures about 4 ft long by 3 ft wide and high It’s open at the bottom and has a removable lid that can be latched down Holloway fills the box about 2/3 full of straw and lays the cold calf inside the box and on top of the straw He then fills six to eight clean 1-gal antifreeze jugs or similar heavy-duty jugs with hot tap water “I place the jugs right up against the calf’s body so the heat soaks in Then I cover the calf and jugs with more loose straw and place the lid back on the box ” says Holloway “Usually in about 2 hrs the calf is warm and standing up and wants to get out If the calf’s temperature is 101 degrees which is normal for a calf I bring the calf back to its mama and make sure that it gets a belly full of milk “The box has no bottom so whenever fresh straw is needed I can dump the box by just tipping it over and letting the mess fall out ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Bob Holloway 474 N E Hwy NN Trenton Mo 64683 ph 660 358-2128; hollowayhay@hotmail com

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