3 January 2026
With the calf rearing season just around the corner, now’s a good time to refresh on the procurement protocols being followed by farmers enrolled in the Teagasc DairyBeef 500 Programme that may be of use of your farm this spring.
Each year, over 2,500 dairy beef calves are purchased onto DairyBeef 500 participating programme farms from a range of farm sources. The aim of the programme farms is to minimise the number of sources that calves are purchased from in order to reduce the disease risk. Given the large numbers of calves required on some farms, this can be a challenge, and it is often necessary to buy from multiple farm sources. Some of the DairyBeef 500 farmers have built up good relationships with dairy farmers and calves are sourced directly from farm-to-farm. Other programme farmers buy their calves through marts or local agents.
Calf selection
It is recommended to always buy from a reputable source. Ideally calves should be three to four weeks of age, but they should be a minimum of two weeks old when purchased onto beef farms. The purchased calf should be at least 50 kg when moved to their destination farm. Keep the number of source farms to a minimum to reduce the disease risk being brought on to your farm.
Herd information
The more information you can gather about the herd health status of the source farm, the better. Important details include colostrum management practices and the milk feeding regime used on the birth farm. It is also valuable to know the vaccination programme in place (particularly for scour and respiratory diseases), and any history of disease on the dairy farm.
Additionally, information such as the calf’s Commercial Beef Value (CBV), which reflects the beef genetic merit of both the sire and dam and estimates the calf’s profit potential in a finishing system, should be reviewed carefully before making a purchase decision.
What to look for in a calf when purchasing?
Appearance
Avoid buying calves that appear dull or weak. Healthy calves should be bright, playful, and curious about their surroundings. There should be no signs of dehydration. Their coats should be shiny and in good condition, with good skin elasticity and no evidence of hair loss or injury.
Head
The calf should be alert and bright, with clear eyes that are not sunken. There should be no discharge from the nose or eyes. The ears should be upright and alert, with no drooping, and breathing should be easy, relaxed, and unlaboured.
Legs/feet
The calf should be sound on all four feet, with no signs of swollen joints or stiffness. It should stand easily and quickly, with a relaxed posture and have no signs of hunching.
General
Each calf should have a clean, dry tail with no signs of scouring. The navel should be dry, clean, and well-healed. Calves should be in good body condition and have an appropriate weight for their age. Older calves should be observed for rumination and show good rumen fill with no signs of bloat or any digestive disorders. Ensure a normal temperature of 38 – 39ºC.
Transport
When transporting calves, try to keep travel distances as short as possible. Long journeys increase stress levels, which can weaken the calves’ immunity and make them more vulnerable to disease. Always wash and disinfect the trailer before use, and bed it with plenty of clean straw. The trailer should be covered, with side openings for proper ventilation.
Ensure the number of calves matches the trailer size to prevent overcrowding. Once the calves arrive on the home farm, unload them as soon as possible.
After arrival
Once calves arrive on the farm, they should be quietly and gently unloaded. They should be allowed to settle for a number of hours, after which they should be fed a minimum of two litres of an electrolyte solution to aid rehydration. Electrolytes replace water and minerals/ salts that are lost during times of stress, and they also promote the absorption of nutrients from the intestines. Purchased calves should be isolated from resident calves for up to a week to reduce the risk of disease transfer.
Calf feeding
When the calves have settled, they should be fed enough milk or milk replacer to support their growth potential. They should be fed six litres (0.75 kg milk replacer, in two feeds per day) during their first month of life, after which, volume can be reduced to increase concentrate intake. Clean, fresh water should be available at all times. Straw can be provided in racks to help promote rumen development. A high-quality, palatable calf ration should be readily available each day ad-libitum.
Housing
As calves spend up to 80% of their time lying down, a clean, dry, warm bed is necessary. Ensure that plenty of straw is provided. Calves require up to 2.2 m² of space each. Ensure that there is adequate ventilation to remove bacteria, viruses, smells, etc., but allow for no draughts at calf level.
Summary
Having a well thought out calf purchasing plan in place from the outset and buying calves within the criteria of the plan should ensure higher quality healthier calves end up on your farm.
The above was prepared by Gordon Peppard, DairyBeef 500 Programme Advisor, and first appeared in the Teagasc Moorepark 2025 Open Day Proceedings (PDF).